Are campgrounds turning into low income housing?

[Tom N]

I drove through a campground near Ebensburg, PA that had so many children living there that it was a school bus stop. The place was a dump.

-Tom

[palehorse89]

Bottom line here is : It is up to the land owner what his land looks like, he makes the rules. We were at the Grand Canyon Trailer Village for 7 nights this September and when we first arrived there we were in a end spot across from the long term area of the campground on the right hand side of the campground. I had to ask a campground worker what the camping area was and who lived over there. Got my answer, all's I can say about this is nothing different that homes we go by in our travels, it is up to the owner to what he allows his land to look like, and the renter is in control of what his rented lot looks like is the biggest point here. I have went past homes in my travels as everyone has and wondered how the hell someone could live in such a place, from what I have seen even from the less fortunate that it simply appears to me to be just plain lazy and not cleaning up around their dwelling whatever it may be.........

[laj]

Originally Posted by Tom N

I drove through a campground near Ebensburg, PA that had so many children living there that it was a school bus stop. The place was a dump.

-Tom

and all the side condiments and garbage that goes with it

[BigBaron]

All the long-term residents we saw on our trip to America were probably richer than we will ever be!
They were also in 40+ foot class A motorhomes... LOL

[docj]

I am a volunteer admin for campgroundreviews.com and, as a result, read lots of reviews of lots of different parks. One thing I find disturbing is that a large percentage of reviewers will downgrade a park solely because it has a large number of "long term" residents. Furthermore, many reviewers fail to even differentiate between "seasonal" tenants at destination parks and others who may be in a city for work, etc. In many reviews there is an underlying "hint" that long term people are trailer trash (in quite a few reviews, it isn't such a hint, it it pretty blatant.) Quite often the park is given a low rating even if the long term sites are well kept; there might be a condescending comment along the lines of "the park didn't look too bad despite the large number of long term residents."

Personally, I find this philosophy rather "stuck up" and phony. It's as if long term residents, as a group, are somehow lower class than RVers who use their RVs as they were intended--for family vacations. Most of the year my DW and I probably look like everyday vacationers since we like to move around the country every couple of weeks. But in the winter we stay in one place for a couple of months, which, I guess, makes us long term residents. Are we any lower class in the winter than in the summer? Sure we have a few more "toys" out at our site during the winter, but we try to keep it neat.
Why should the length of someone's stay at a park make them a less desirable neighbor? I've had plenty of "short term" site neighbors with lots of kids and barking dogs who were not pleasant to be around, either.

My philosophy is that if you're my neighbor and your site isn't an eyesore and doesn't smell from trash and you keep your noise to a tolerable level, then it really isn't my business why you are there or how long you are staying. I also won't judge as to whether or not you seemed friendly or stand-offish. Some people like to chat with strangers and some don't; I don't think that has anything to do with your length of stay or your social class. The wonderful thing about being an RVer is that my home is on wheels; if I don't like my neighbors I can always roll on!

[Cooperhawk]

Totally agree.

[DBOL]

Originally Posted by t55watson

Best comment in the whole thread but i bet it went right over some heads.

Well I assume the post on Camping at Wal mart was meant to reflect one's dislike of us cheap skate's who like to stop at Walley world for a few quick wink's after driving 500 miles and don't want to spend $40 or more for 6 hrs. It's doesn't really matter why many now live in RV's after they lost are chose to let their over priced, over fianced houses go back,and we all really know when and why so many got 100% financing like after 2006 and we know what happened then,and who's fault it really was.I for one would stay at Wally World even if I was worth million's because i have spent many $ over the last 47 year's of marriage at Wally World and remember Mr.Hunt Browned bag it every day and drove old car's.

[BigBaron]

Originally Posted by DBOL

Well I assume the post on Camping at Wal mart was meant to reflect one's dislike of us cheap skate's who like to stop at Walley world for a few quick wink's after driving 500 miles and don't want to spend $40 or more for 6 hrs.

I think it's great that they allow folks to stay. They get some business, and make the roads safer by providing a refuge for weary travelers. If I were full-timing, I'm sure I'd plan a rest stop every now and then at Wally World!

[Tha_Rooster]

For me the rent is pretty high for a couple of hours at Wally world when you come out with a buggy load of stuff. I think it's a high rent district.

[jmckinley]

For me WalMart camping is more about convenience than money. When I just need a place to sleep, it's a lot faster to just pull in to WalMart. Finding a campground, registering etc takes a lot more time

[jpharley]

As a fulltimers we just do not travel like that. We try not to drive more than 200 miles per day even if we have a destination in mind. We usually are on the road by 0900 and parked for the evening by 3:00. That is a little early to show up at a Wal-Mart. Not everyone can do that though. It is good that Wal-Mart is an option to a campground for those who have to drive lots of miles each day.

[bdickson]

Folks, this thread is about Are campgrounds turning into low income housing? Let's stay on that topic please.

[Kro1957]

Some interesting reading on RVIA on the trend of unit growth and reasons behind the industry growth.

We have seen in past 10-12 years a lot of new CG's built. Both private and public in South Dakota.

Near our home base CG where we are perminately located within 15 mile radius there are 7 new private such CG's and expansions of existing public CG's. Demand had grown so much that it warranted the expansion.

We also have a boat and finding parking at the Marina's is even hard unless you go really early and or park along the road side.

The beauty along with great hunting and fishing has brought on a lot of RV'er growth. Our CG along with many of the others we have visited or have friends at all have established rules. It has been interesting to see which CG's enforce those rules and the ones who seem to be a little more loose. You can see it in the pride of that CG and how well they keep them groomed and the pride taken by individual's staying there.
If you start letting the place look trashy you will start attracting trash.

Keep the place looking like 5 star location. You will attract the ones with the same level interest in mind. I guess it is up to owners perspective and where their priorities are.

[Lifemember]

[ makes me happy I can not afford one of those "high brow" rigs