America's first automated RV park

kfp, everything you have said, I could not agree with you more. This would solve two problems for tired drivers and the public at large, 1) it would remove tired drivers from the road, thus reducing accidents and 2) reduce the number of RVers in say, for example, Walmart parking lots overnight when town ordinances forbid it.

I only think this would work in that way if the cost was minimal.

Most folks parking overnight at Walmart do so because it's a free overnight. Unless the park was under $15, most people won't choose it over Walmart.

Yes, I know there are exceptions to that. But in most cases, folks who overnight at Walmart do so for the cost savings, not because they didn't want to deal with humans at an RV Park.

toedtoes wrote:
I only think this would work in that way if the cost was minimal.

Most folks parking overnight at Walmart do so because it's a free overnight. Unless the park was under $15, most people won't choose it over Walmart.

Yes, I know there are exceptions to that. But in most cases, folks who overnight at Walmart do so for the cost savings, not because they didn't want to deal with humans at an RV Park.

Per the website, its $39 for 14 hours. That's cheaper than a state park site here in PA. I don't stay at walmart because it's cheap. I stay there because we are not retired and have limited time, so I push every day/night as far as I can go and then start looking for a place to stop. That's usually 10pm to 1am and I never have an idea of how far I will make it (or not). Starting to get tough to find walmarts but when we do we setup generators and cary some water with us. Not the end of the world but would much prefer a secure location with hookups. My wife is always nervous when we stay at walmart or cabelas.

As I said, there are exceptions. But, the majority of folks who overnight at Walmarts, etc, are NOT going to pay $39 to park overnight.

And in many areas, $40 will get you a full 24 hours with hookups at an RV Park or campground. And a dry campground could cost as little as $8-$12 with a NP senior pass.

So while this concept at $39 might work in a few areas, it won't significantly reduce the Walmart overnighters or be more cost effective than many other existing opportunities.

I think someone missed something, “. . . . . when town ordinances forbid it.”

I personally like the idea. I don't park in parking lots because it's "free". I park because it's convenient. I have "older" campers and many RV Parks and Campground do not want my older campers. The newer RVs might get cooties or something (not sure what). I would like to pull into a parking lot, plug into the electric (to run the AC or heat if needed), dump tanks, get water, walk the dog a few times, roll out the next morning. Or wait out a storm. I don't care to talk to my neighbours (when traveling, I avoid strangers). I think this is a good idea. And it would be a good option for those who start foaming at the mouth over the idea of someone parking overnight at a Wal-Mart or similar store. Basically it's a parking lot with hookups.

As I noted above, I'm a big fan but the buy in cost I am having trouble wrapping my head around. If you click on the franchise details they estimate $600-$800k plus the land. Assuming you don't already own the land this is likely a $2-5mil expense. That's a lot of $39 stays to make it up. Never the less, I hope it works out and I see these along highways.