New style of RV park needed

[dave&ginny]

As Ginny and I travel around we've discussed the needs of current RV travelers.

There's a real need for a different type of RV parking on a temporary basis. No pools or hot tubs, just paved areas for self contained overnight parking. A dump station could be added for a fee. With online shopping hurting the "sticks and bricks" stores, I'm surprised somebody in the real-estate business hasn't put one of these together. Wouldn't be much overhead.

[brobox]

Originally Posted by dave&ginny

As Ginny and I travel around we've discussed the needs of current RV travelers.

There's a real need for a different type of RV parking on a temporary basis. No pools or hot tubs, just paved areas for self contained overnight parking. A dump station could be added for a fee. With online shopping hurting the "sticks and bricks" stores, I'm surprised somebody in the real-estate business hasn't put one of these together. Wouldn't be much overhead.

Just saw a new one that just opened like that advertised. I was shocked at the price of $45. for a parking lot with hookups and those were paid as needed. Maybe I have RV'ing too long and just no in tune with the new prices for "not much".

[dave&ginny]

Originally Posted by brobox

Just saw a new one that just opened like that advertised. I was shocked at the price of $45. for a parking lot with hookups and those were paid as needed. Maybe I have RV'ing too long and just no in tune with the new prices for "not much".

Chuck,

without much infrastructure, I'd think something could be put together for $20-$25 a night.

If I was a little younger and not looking forward to retirement, I'd consider looking into this. Where I am, nobody wants to travel.

[NITEHAWK]

Every time I have been in the hospital (way too many times in the last two years, by the way) I have brought up the subject that there are more and more full time RVers, with pets, that need a place to park the RV while their partner is in the hospital.
Notice I said "A place to park the RV." Not a dump station or power pedestal.
Large medical complexes have an even greater need for a facility for these folks. What do they do with their RV if the DW doesn't drive it? What about the care of the pet? The cost of lodging the pet(s)?
What about the prohibitive cost of a hotel or motel room plus meals, plus rent for parking the RV?
Commuting distances in a big city?
Marshfield Medical Facility in Marshfield, Wisconsin does allow some RV parking, altho it is just the far end of a parking lot and not terribly level. I have seen a couple Class A coaches parked there.

[RayandWendy]

A rehab facility where we lived before hitting the road actually had 3 full hook up sites on the end of their lot just for family of rehab patients.

Later...
Ray

[oneknight]

I've never had trouble finding someplace for an enroute overnight. Next to the highway campgrounds are fairly cheap and fine for a one night stay.

Sent from my moto z3 using iRV2 - RV Forum mobile app

[amosnandy]

Being from the Med City capital of the world, the #1 rated hospital and clinic 7 of the last 10 years with 120,000 employees and 2,000,000 patients a year it has baffled me why someone in our little town of 120,000 people has not done this.

When I was younger, much younger, there were several in town. But in the wisdom of the city officials slowly they closed down. There is even one, that is behind a motel, walking distance from the hospital that still has all the concrete pads for 2 dozen sites. With not much effort, some updated electrical, I think sewer is already there, probably new water lines, it could support itself 7-8 months out of the year.

The only 2 options for medical RVers is a flat lot just off a busy highway 10 miles north for $1,000 a month and another 10 miles south for $900. There is one junkyard “trailer park” that has had 2 murders in the last 3 years, mostly permanent residency. The city could come down and make them clean it up, but as they say, “that just moves the problem somewhere else.

There are also several mobile home parks that have multiple empty lots, but city ordinances won’t allow short term usage.

I looked into doing something on one of the many empty lots where large buildings have been torn down so most utilities would already be there, but the hoops to jump through are crazy.

I understand regulations, but it is mostly the “it’s fine, just don’t put it in my backyard” that restricts this.

[amosnandy]

Originally Posted by dave&ginny

Chuck,

without much infrastructure, I'd think something could be put together for $20-$25 a night.

If I was a little younger and not looking forward to retirement, I'd consider looking into this. Where I am, nobody wants to travel.

I was thinking the same. I stay in state parks and municipal parks when I don’t need much. I have one private park I’ve been to for 6 years that has gone from $17 to $21 a night. Thinking that is not bad.

But I recently installed a Hughes Power Watchdog. Part of its Bluetooth function it records KWH. I am amazed. I can easily use $10 per day in electricity. That doesn’t leave much margin.

[JHinman]

One of our local hospitals (Boise, ID) has RV space. I think there are 10 or 12 spaces, with power and water. I have seen trucks come around to empty holding tanks, but don’t know how that works.

The parking is available for families of people in the hospital.

I used to walk through that parking area on my way to and from the office. Most rigs are there for a few days, but some for extended periods. I’ve seen a few times where people had big exterior propane tanks delivered, which must mean a very long hospital stay.

[777 Driver]

Originally Posted by dave&ginny

There's a real need for a different type of RV parking on a temporary basis. No pools or hot tubs, just paved areas for self contained overnight parking. A dump station could be added for a fee.

We found just that kind of place in central Kansas. https://sundownrvpark.net/

$35, electric and a dump station. Perfect for a 'one night stand'!

Take care,
Stu

[DSL417]

Price out the cost of a single concrete pad with 50 Amp electric and water. Add the price of five acres near the interstate. I think you’ll find the price exceeds $3m fr 30-40 sites. $12-15 a night…ain’t going to happen.

[LarryJB]

The COE Park called Maumelle which is actually in Little Rock, AR has a section in one of the loops that is specifically for long-term patients of UAMS hospital. You must have a doctor's note to park your rig in one of these sites, and they are free to these patients. These are mostly cancer patients requiring chemo and other related treatments that require them to be close to the hospital, but not IN the hospital. They can stay as long as the doctor says they need to stay. It is a great service, that I believe is a joint project between the hospital and the COE. These are the only sites in the park that have full hookups.

An idea I have had for a while is a self-service RV park for overnight parking. The power pedestals would be like a vending machine that accepts credit cards.
Of course there would need to have some staff available for maintenance and security, but I can see these being operated by DOT sort of like the rest areas in place now.

[Old-Biscuit]

Originally Posted by DSL417

Price out the cost of a single concrete pad with 50 Amp electric and water. Add the price of five acres near the interstate. I think you’ll find the price exceeds $3m fr 30-40 sites. $12-15 a night…ain’t going to happen.

Price of land, cost of approved plans/permits, cost of infrastructure, cost of construction, roads/pads etc
Add in Dump station.....$$$

Lucky if $45/nite covers overhead and profit margin

[DoggieDaddy]

There used to be Walmarts. And I'm not paying $45 dollars a night for just a place to park. Offer me utility hook ups, different story.