What's with Class A only Resorts?

[bronk]

That was an intersting observation by hondo122. As a psychologist, It never ceases to amaze me how some people can,and will, exhibit different behaviors when around peers. The "group think" mentality becomes more common when the group thinks that they can make an impression on those with lesser means, items (in this case motor home) than someone who has less to display (in value). Much can be gained from association with people who display a haughty attitude, but more often than not it is the exception rather than the rule, in my experience. Most people of means feel confindent and secure in "their own skin" and display a friendly attitude towards most people in general (ESPECIALLY RVers). It is only a shortcoming with the insecure and pretentious crowd that seemingly needs to project a "better than you " personality. The best way to deal with those people is to be yourself and smile amicably as you go on your way. It is their (people with this attitude) loss and in the long run a "design flaw" which will not serve them well in the long run.

Being originally from Maine (Bangor), I hope that your stay in the Pine Tree State was enjoyable and not too many blackflies (Maine's state bird)!

Bronk

[bucks2]

Originally Posted by sirpurrcival

I really don't agree with this practise. If you take a park with restrictions and change the words "motorhome type" for "skin colour" or "religion", you would be subject to all sorts of allegations of racism and even possible legal action. It may be a private business and they maybe make their own rules but if they feel the need to make those kinds of rules, then they are in the wrong business. If you are trying to cater to a particular demographic, then call it as such (ie, Over 55's what have you) rather than try to weed out people by what kind of RV they are driving. I would even be ok with have some rules around general condition but be it a Camper, Class C, Class B, 5th wheel, so long as it is in decent shape, it should be allowed.

So if having membership restrictions is subject to "possible legal action" tell me how the "Red Head League", NAACP, Negro College Fund, Chocktaw Indian Nation, Lutheran Retirement home, and Harvard Reunion Committee stay in business. All require some type of unique entry credential from having been accepted to Harvard to having red hair to being Black or Indian or believing in the Lutheran Religion.

If the Choctaws feel the need to limit their membership then why isn't that discrimination? Why doesn't the Lutheran home have to allow anyone to live in their facility, not just Lutherans?

Why should I have to join the Elks Club to be able to go in and enjoy their facilities? I stay many nights at Elks Lodges thruout our country for a very reasonable price because I chose to join that group. Are you claiming that it's illegal to restrict who can stay at that private property because our rules state that only members can park there? Anyone can join, just as anyone can buy a Class A motorhome.

What really is the difference between only redheads, blacks, indians, class A motorhome, Elks members, Lutherans, or Harvard graduates being able to have a separate group?

[melvonnar]

Its called class war fare guys; rich Vs poor blacks Vs whites north Vs south haves Vs have nots; always was; always will be. Why anyone would want to associate with someone that doesn't want them is beyond me.

[Larry Barnhart]

We stay at Palm Creek golf and rv resort that has the ten year rule. Around 4 years ago the park wasn't filling up so because of money the rule has been changed to if it is ten year old we will take alook and see if you can stay. Lots of over ten year old RV's and we will be one of them starting before October. Friends that have MH's tell us well you can't visit us because you have a fifthwheel. I do talk to everybody I can and we winter in a very friendly 1888 site park. Really doesn't seem to make a difference what you have. We are doing the same thing.
chevman

[RickO]

IMO some are missing the point here. These are NOT camp grounds. They are specialized resorts and most I have seen are deeded sites so the owners belong to the HOA and they make the rules just like a condo development.

The difference between a class A only resort and a place which dictates that people of a particular religion, race or sexual orientation are excluded is that one is legal and the other is not.

Rick

[splintair]

New to RVing and pulling a pop-up, I have been browsing Good Sam and Camp Club USA sites and have seen quite a few which do not allow any other than self contained. And you are right, they are too pricey for me anyway. We get out to enjoy the road and those whom we meet along the way . We don't need to flie for a mortage each time we come back.....Happy RVing !

[sirpurrcival]

You raise a very good point for which I don't have simple or maybe even a satisfactory answer. The fact is that society will accept some discrimination's more easily than others. Let's take your Elks for example. Would it be ok if they said you couldn't join unless you have a Class A motorhome? Probably not. The reason being is that it isn't germane to being a member. How about if you were Black or Jewish? Definitely not! This seems to be in the same category. i.e. "You can't stay here unless you have the right kind of vehicle". Not everybody can afford a Class A, nor is it practical to do so in many cases. But because of that, you can't stay in this park or that park. See where I am going with this. 75 years ago, some of the above practises were ok. Today they aren't. Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be done. It isn't a big step really to say if you don't drive the right vehicle to if you don't have the right colour skin. For some that might seem a stretch but let me give you a modern day example of a case of discrimination.

I live in Canada, less than 20 years ago, in the city in which I live, there was a big court battle here. Over what? There was a very well established "Mens" club. And being a men's club, they had a policy "no women members". Did the club really have anything to do with mens issue's? No, largely it was just place where businessman and professionals drank and did lots of networking. The woman who took it to court had to litigate (successfully) to be able have that same opportunity as the men.

Getting back to the point. RV'ers are a fraternity/sorority of a type. They share a common love of travelling the roads, enjoying what this planet has to give them. Since when did that have restrictions to certain kinds or modes of doing this? The mode by which you do this is not germane to the practise. Whether it is a VW Bus or a 45' Prevost or even a canal boat (road issue not withstanding), the commonality is there. That is what "RV Parks" put of the welcome mat for. They say, come and and stay with us, enjoy our hospitality and share our slice of the world for awhile. It shouldn't include the provision "only if you meet our standards". How far do you allow that ethic to run? At a point it is becomes destructive. Have you ever been made to feel unwelcome somewhere? If you have, then I encourage you to remember how that felt, the humiliation, anger and sense of injustice. That lasts a lifetime. It says you aren't "good enough to be with us". Are you really willing to believe that because someone has a Class C rather than a Class A or even a Class A that isn't "new enough"?

Now I don't necessarily expect to change anybody's minds or behaviour and I am a realist too. Not everybody is good to be neighbours with in a campground with but this about the person, not the vehicle they drive. I am quite content to let RV parks eject disruptive or ill-behaved guests. I am not so content to let them bar the door unchallenged based on what appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to keep out the "wrong class of people". In my opinion as I stated before, if that is the way they feel, then they are in the wrong business.

[Norm4015]

It seems most people say owners of large expensive motorhomes are snobs, but all negative comments come from people who don't own large expensive motorhomes. So who are the real snobs?

I have been RVing since 1972 including over ten years of fulltiming and have stayed on over 1,000 campgrounds. Only once did I stay in a resort and that was because a had a coupon - pay for one night and get two nights free.

Actually I'm more at home camping at Walmart and they allow all RVs to camp there.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by 336muffin

I've not heard any of the "snooty" people say anything rude about the class C,B,TT, PU campers, seems to me it's the other way around. I'm just saying

I agree, you have to start someplace, just like we did. I don't care if you're in a tent or a Newell or anything in between. But I do like it when people follow the rules, like keeping their dogs on a leash. we're at a park right now where the people next to us have three big dogs, never on a leash. Another group washing their dishes at the spigot next to them (against park rules and state law here). That does bother me.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Norm4015

It seems most people say owners of large expensive motorhomes are snobs, but all negative comments come from people who don't own large expensive motorhomes. So who are the real snobs?

I have been RVing since 1972 including over ten years of fulltiming and have stayed on over 1,000 campgrounds. Only once did I stay in a resort and that was because a had a coupon - pay for one night and get two nights free.

Actually I'm more at home camping at Walmart and they allow all RVs to camp there.

Uhh, Wal*Mart allows you to rest for a few hours at their stores, not "camp".

I consider a KOA to be a "resort" due to the high prices they charge!

Always glad to have you newcomers to RV'ing around . I've been Rv'ing since 1957.

[Francesca]

I don't think that big rig owners are snobs- I just think they're kind of annoyed that there are so many places that they can't go!
Having a place where others are excluded sort of compensates for the really severe shortage of recreational sites big enough and smooth enough and with enough infrastructure to support such cumbersome rigs...
It must be a bummer to spend eleventy-bazillion dollars on something that you can't take to the Lake you camped at when you were a kid.

And let's do remember that many resort-type destinations with age and type restrictions are backed by RV manufacturers...
Why shouldn't they impose restrictions that "encourage" folks to replace their very expensive rigs with the latest even MORE expensive rig?
Nothing wrong with that!

Francesca

[docj]

Last spring we stayed for a month at a "high end" resort in Naples FL that had some "Class A" only sites with the rest being open to all types of RV's and park models. It was a "buy-in" park and most owner-occupied RVs were Prevost's, Wunderlodge's, Essex's, etc. As renters we were treated politely, but with a "Stepford Wife" sort of smile.

What we found amusing about the place was that for all the snobbishness about 70% of the sites are currently occupied by park models which was something the "resort" began allowing when the economic climate became rough. Except for the Class A-only areas you are likely to find yourself surrounded on both sides by modular housing units (since that's all a park model really is.) For all intents and purposes, the place has become nothing more than a high-class trailer park in a city in which "real" homes are extremely expensive. It seems a bit incongruous trying to be snooty when you live in a double-wide. LOL

IMHO the bottom line is that you can find snobby people anywhere. Some folks just aren't happy unless they can be "better" than other people. So they establish rules to separate themselves from the "other kind" of people. Maybe that's good, so the rest of us don't have to associate ourselves with them.

[RickO]

Originally Posted by Francesca

And let's do remember that many resort-type destinations with age and type restrictions are backed by RV manufacturers...

Francesca

I wasn't aware of that Francesca. Any examples?

Rick

[Francesca]

Originally Posted by RickO

I wasn't aware of that Francesca. Any examples?

Rick

Sure!
Here are a couple that my in-laws are hooked up with:
Hearthside Grove : Luxury Motorcoach Resort in Petoskey, Michigan

Signature Partners | Signature Motorcoach Resorts

That kind of partnership makes a lot of sense to me...

Francesca