America's first automated RV park

Personally I could care less if I have contact with a person to check in. About the only thing I get there is advice about things to see and do in the area. I do enjoy talking to fellow RVers in the park. That is still possible regardless of the method of check-in.

I am not about to knock this park. I do believe it is grossly overpriced. I wonder about security and that remains to be determined. It does appear better than truck stops, rest areas, Wally World, Cracker barrel, etc.

Someone invested a huge amount of money and I hope it makes a go of it. Otherwise we will continue to complain about the lack of RV parks. There is room in this endeavor for all parties.

Honestly, I was not bashing this idea. I personally don't care for it. Would I use it? Certainly if it fit my needs at the time. There is a place for all ideas....like electric vehicles and automated RV parks...oh, and next will be fast food establishments. You will order at a kiosk and the robot cook in the back will make your order in no time...then you can use the code on your receipt to open the box it gets dropped into. Totally secure and contactless. I prefer mom and pop places to eat myself, so I don't care if people use things like this. There is a niche for everything.

Good point Ken. I too believe the whole contactless future will undoubtedly have a detrimental affect on society. Hell, just look at kids these days who can't talk face to face with someone or don't like to go to a store and interface with a cashier. Due primarily to the little 4x2" rectangular device they are glued to.

I also think Valhalla has a great point. Is this campground trying to leverage the whole "we are contactless" bandwagon as a gimmick to draw customers. Who knows, but it is plausable.

Mike

bgum wrote:
Ken,
It is my understanding that you register online and then answer a email to turn on electricity and water and gain use of sewer. After your term expires water and electricity are cut off remotely.

If you think that compares to an envelope in a slot then to each his own.

When we were in Germany a few years back, they had self check-in and electricity was coin operated (50c Euro got you 1kwh, if I remember correctly)...so I think that would qualify as "automated" by your definition.

Honestly, sounds like a gimmick more than anything else.

Staying in a county park in Idaho at the moment. Reservations are online only and no checkin. You just pull into the spot you reserved. The staff doing maintenance, have an app so they can see if a site should be occupied while mowing and doing other tasks, so pretty close to zero labor cost to monitor people trying to cheat the system.

But $50 for a freeway overnight stop is way too high. We are usually looking at $20-30 for those types of stops.

The problem with E-systems, they glitch or lose power on a Friday night, and get no service fix until Monday despite what claims the owner/manager make when you are talking to the video head. We all know ET never breaks down, but we all know ET always breaks down, and for whatever reason, it seems to happen during off-hours.

We prefer a live person, or as mentioned an Iron Ranger. Neither one breaks down.

It doesn't seem like a place I'd want to choose as a vacation, but for an overnight when full hookups were needed, it definitely fits the bill. We've paid more at KOA's for a quick overnight stay (10+ years ago). It would be nice if they had an eight hour rental for when we just want to get some rest and empty the waste tanks and refill the fresh water tank.

I like the contactless check-in. I've used it at Hotels in the recent past and it is nice not to have to wait in a line to check-in. No need to hold onto a key either, just use my phone.

-Michael

Ken, Very well said!

I really don't see what the appeal would be for the RVer. What do you gain staying at this place over a manned RV Park?

Likewise, I don't see any reason to avoid it. Except for the "anyone with a reservation can hook into the surveillance cameras and check things out" - as a woman, that makes me uncomfortable.

Outside of the manned vs not-manned, I might stay there as an overnight to recharge batteries, etc, but I don't like staying in parking lots and that's what it looks like to me. I prefer campgrounds over RV parks.

I just stated how I feel about it. Some have said it's expensive for what is offered despite the savings on labor. Kind of negates that argument. The few parks I have stayed at that had an "iron man" for the money were acceptably nice for my needs. I had no complaint and would stay at them again. Granted, if you want a resort then GO to a resort. I go to many of them myself. I just find the contactless everything online I don't want to interact with people thing to be detrimental to society. To each his own.

I agree with Wapiticountry. Not sure I see the return on investment.

Mike