Let's design an RV Park!

[Moonrover]

Zoning codes are a beast when you get near uppity-yuppie communities. Mention "RV park" and they go ballastic. The mental picture they have is a broken down trailer park, and no amount of fancy architectural drawings will change their minds. Now if you were to tout a pro-class golf course designed by some big name golfer, then the nearby community would lay rose pedals in your path.

[baraff]

One of my pet peeves is RV parks, especially in destination areas that do not allow washing of your rig. I would add a dedicated wash station, and you could even make a profit on it by installing a coin operated pressure washer. Many times after a long trip the motorhome looks like it hasn't been washed in months, and it would be nice to be able to clean it up.

[Moonrover]

A large washing area with coin operated pressure washer would get my attention as a nice feature ... yes, for sure.
We have found parks that promote a small side business of washing your rig on site. Sort of a mobile washing system towed behind a pickup. Someplace in central Florida had a team of three guys offering to wash, blow dry and wax a 40' rig for $115. We watched the rig next to us get spray washed. The guys even climbed up on the roof of rigs to soap and scrub the dirt off. The blow drying was done with an electric leaf blower. Waxing was a mopped on affair then hand wiped. Overall, the finished product looked OK, including wheel cleaning.

Then I've been in parks that leap on your case if you get out a step stool and wash the bugs off the windshield.

[Wanabes]

Redbox machine
Tool rental
Angled sites
Well stocked camp store (with online sales to pick up the slack? )
If there is a dog park, what about dreaming and having doggy daycare available so dog owners can enjoy some of the not pet friendly activities and sites in the area?

[Moonrover]

My crystal ball has never had a stellar future-casting record, but ... it is forecasting an economic sea change, and I'm not sure how to handle it.

If I were an upscale resort RV park owner, I'd be agonizing over how an economic slide would impact park customers. Will the high rollers still be "rolling" into the park?

Possibly the best hedge is to strive to build an RV park that can weather a tight economy. There may be more full-timers who are looking for a park as a base to live while in temporary employment. Job floaters, so to speak. Not by design, but out of necessity.

We've all noticed an increase in the "mobile homeless" as we visit RV parks. These are not vagrants, or lazy people. They are people dealing with the reality of being unable to maintain the fixed home and steady job lifestyle. The ideal park for them is more than likely selected first, by affordability, and second by location near employment. Beyond the standard W/E/S utilities, they may be unconcerned about heated spa pools, tennis courts, or golf courses.

I'm not suggesting trailer trash parks here, just an efficient and affordable location to accommodate the growing trend. There is a park a couple of miles south of Mineral Well, TX that we visited for three days that really fits the above scenario. I think we may have been the only retired travelers there at the time. The park has the basics, and is not considered a resort destination. Yet it has the necessary comforts. Contrast this with a closed park that we saw on the gulf coast. The entry gate (chained closed) was impressively lavish. Very upscale. Streets had curbs, and of course were paved. The parking pads were large concrete, and from our angle of observation, looked to have the utilities behind a bricked up visual barrier. Since there didn't appear to be buildings, I assume the project never had been completed. Failed financing? Maybe, but obviously somebody's dream park dropped out of the race before it was completed. I don't think the area had been hit by a hurricane because nothing else around there looked impacted.

Sorry for the yammering. Hope I didn't go off-topic too much.

[JohnBoyToo]

No, you didn't - u r on topic ! As noted throughout this thread, we can all spend other peoples money very easily

IMHO, a couple of the ideas take up valuable space that would be cost overhead not income producing ...
in some cases, RV related links would do a lot of this at no cost to you... but still give the rv'er the 'feature'...
Like cat scales, Blue beacon truck washes, etc...

The no washing AT ALL thing is somewhat stupid to me too...
I mean, do you not water your grass and landscaping ?!?!
are you worried about too much water usage ? If so, a catch basin for irrigation works well

I know they are not everywhere, but we have the blue beacon app on our phones and tablets and stop there just before getting to our destination - makes for a purty coach and no work for me while I sit in the air conditioned coach while they do the work !

[MSHappyCampers]

I remember one park where we stayed in NC that had a paved pad designated as a washing station. You furnished the hose and washing materials. They charged $10 per wash for the water. I think that's a great idea!

[johnhicks]

Sometimes forbidden on-site or provided washing is due to ordinance or regulations.

[iamblum]

And a rule for no grumpy old codgers😜

[NevadaNick]

How are you going to make $$

[t55watson]

I want a park like I encountered in B.C. on our way to Alaska. Overnight guests only. A one man operation and it gave him all day to get his work done in the park or errands in town.

[Santara]

some sites with curb side facing ea other so friends running to gether could face ea other, for socializing ect

[t55watson]

Originally Posted by Santara

some sites with curb side facing ea other so friends running to gether could face ea other, for socializing ect

Sam's Town Casino RV park on Boulder Hwy in Las Vegas has that setup in most of the park but one rig must be a MH as the sites are not pull thru.

[OLYLEN]

Been to several Parks lately that have the pull thru going back to back (pulling in opposite directions). Nice to sit outside and eat a BAN without staring at the other guy's poop tube. Plus met a couple new friends during dinner hour but never during happy hour. LOL

LEN