A friend said I should consider becoming an Elk. Supposedly they have campgrounds all over the country and fairly inexpensive. Has anyone stayed at an Elk RV camp and do you need to be an Elk to camp at their camp sites.

I know about the Elks club. Had a great time at one of their Octoberfests. I've not heard about them having campgrounds tho. Wonder if your friend meant you could stay overnight in their parking lots?

Being able to stay in an Elks's RV park should not be the only reason you should want to be an Elk.

I am an elk member and stay at the lodges when permitted while I travel. I see it as way to support the lodge, additionally I usually give donation at the end of my stay, lastly its a great way to meet people in the community

gwol wrote:A friend said I should consider becoming an Elk. Supposedly they have campgrounds all over the country and fairly inexpensive. Has anyone stayed at an Elk RV camp and do you need to be an Elk to camp at their camp sites.Yes, you need to sign up to become an Elk member in order to use any Elks lodge RV facility. My dues are $160 per year. You have to have an current Elks member sponsor you to be considered for membership, then you will go through a initiation process. Elk membership prices will vary slightly in different lodges. The RV facilities are based on first come, first served, no reservations. There is a limit to how many days you can stay at a particular Lodge. Generally about 10 days, then you have to vacate for a day and then you can reregister. You can buy Elks RV directory set up by regions , state by state. The USA is divided into 4 regions and each directory covers a region. The Directory will give you all the information about the facility and accomations. Some Elks lodges do not have RV facilities but most do. Most Elks lodges will allow you to park in there parking lot if all the RV sites are full, so you at least have a place to stay overnight buy you still have to be a Elks member. You have to show your Elks ID card every Lodge you want to use. The prices are generally about 50% of what you would pay in a normal/public RV park. Email privately if you want more information.You should NOT join the Elks Organization if using the RV facilities is the basis of your decision to join. Being a Elks member in good standing is much more than just finding a cheap place to RV.

We belong to the BPOE (Elks) and we've stayed at dozens of Elk Lodges across the country. Some are very nice RV spots that have been created specifically for RVing, and some are upgrades to existing elk properties near the lodge. Sometimes the campground is separate from the lodge. An example is Tilamook Oregon Elks. They have a wonderful campground just south of Tilamook Oregon. Many times we will just stop for one night while traveling. Then we stop by the lodge for a meal and a beer, and we leave in the morning. There are many Elk lodges close to major highways. The Elks have realized the RVing is a viable way to bring in income. We pay from $10 to $25 a night, it depends on the facilities. Dinners at the Elks is usually very reasonably priced and the quality is pretty good. I've read on here where some lodges have a special RV week, where potential members can send in paperwork ahead of time, and then they have an expedited membership process that takes just a few days to complete. I don't know which lodges do that, but the info. was on this forum. Those lodges will sign up several new members at a time. I would encourage you to check into this as it does offer many possibilities for RVers.

Becoming an Elk | Good Sam Community

Blazing_Zippers
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2014
We just held a fund raiser that will help dozens of needy families food supplies for the holidays. Idaho ELKS are raising funds for a rehab hospital in Southern Idaho that is open to anyone needing care. The Idaho lodges have had this hospital in operation for years.

Our lodge has 30 sites on grass, water & elec. and it's usually busy in the summer months with nice people wanting to travel and have fun.
MarkTwain
Explorer
Dec 16, 2014
Right on Bro:):):) Fellow Elk in Calif.
answerswillvary
Explorer
Dec 16, 2014
Some offensive posts have been deleted from this thread. I hope we can now continue with a civil discussion.

Thank You,
Sandi (Moderator)
Bigdog
Explorer
Dec 16, 2014
We are thinking about joining the Elks as I have a number of friends that belong to the local lodge and I get to hear about the great things they do. They also have a nice lodge with good food and entertainment and a great little rv park.Another thing is that we often see Elks club RV groups when we're out camping and they really look like they're having fun.
It can't just be about the rv parks that are free or inexpensive,it's also about doing good and having fun while doing it.
aerbus32
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2014
I'm thinking this might be a great opportunity to share what it is the Elk's do. Besides offering the occasional RV site, of course! :).
garmp
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2014
I am a member of the Elks and the VFW. Both offer hook-ups to a limited extent. Most that do offer a parking spot for the night and elect. Just be sure to check with the particular location you are headed to. And don't expect too much other than good comradery and fellowship.
jwmII
Explorer
Dec 16, 2014
As a side benefit many Elks lodges offer some to none RV parking. They offer a variety of hookups. Some have several spots and others have 1 or 2. It's done for members and their guests. It always nice to leave a donation to the host lodge.
Some lodges don't offer any Rv parking as they usually don't have the Room or they are like the Lodge in Flagstaff Az. where they sit in the middle of a few acres and forbid overnight parking because they have members in the RV park business and want to force RVers to park at their members establishment. Just sayin.
Rice
Explorer III
Dec 17, 2014
CA Traveler wrote:
Plus all of the modest CG charges are donations to a non profit organization and hence they are part of our income taxes every year.

I assume you mean you deduct the donations. But that "donation" is associated with receiving the benefit of an RV space, and if a benefit comes with a donation, the donation is not 100% tax deductible.

This is from the IRS website:

If you receive or expect to receive a financial or economic benefit as a result of making a contribution to a qualified organization, you cannot deduct the part of the contribution that represents the value of the benefit you receive.

I think this example of a contribution that isn't 100% deductible is instructive:

Contributions to a retirement home for room, board, maintenance, or admittance. Also, if the amount of your contribution depends on the type or size of apartment you will occupy, it is not a charitable contribution.

You can deduct the amount of the donation that exceeds the value of the RV space, but since Elks generally charge less than other places in the area for their RV spaces, I don't see how there could be much (or any) excess.

Really, there's no difference between the charge for an RV space and the charge for renting the lodge ballroom for a wedding reception, and you know that's not tax deductible.
billkaufmann
Explorer
Dec 18, 2014
4aSong wrote:
rv2go wrote:
Being able to stay in an Elks's RV park should not be the only reason you should want to be an Elk.

X2

There is much more to being an Elk than joining to just use the parking/camping facilities.

X3
billkaufmann
Explorer
Dec 18, 2014
CA Traveler wrote:
A story: One day at the Boulder City, NV lodge a member of that lodge said to me (he knew I had a RV in their park). "Bobbie see those 14 RV sites?" "Yes" "they pay for 100% of the lodge expenses and we use our other income to support the Elks and community. So even if you just stop for a night you help out.

Have stayed there many times. Debbie is GREAT!! Be there 12/23/14

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