Building an RV Park from scratch under 50k?

If they are planing on a bare bones RV park they can probably get it done. Having it all contracted, maybe not.
The septic will be the biggie. ditching, pipe, and hook ups, plus the permitting. no idea the cost.
Electrical. Three wire in conduit, have the power company help as to size per footage run. The plastic conduit and boxes aren't that much, but the copper cable is.

Good luck with it, we need more RV parks in S. A.

DrewE wrote:
You asked for help. My suggestion is to give what advice you can to your friends and then stay out of the business as far as possible, because it unfortunately sounds to me like a scheme doomed and underfunded from the beginning. Marine By Choice has good basic advice: get a plan and make a sensible budget, and get the proper permits, and then proceed. I would suggest talking to some other campground owners in the general area.


What are the legal requirements for wells and septic systems? In Vermont, at least, septic systems generally have to be designed (or at least stamped) by a properly licensed engineer and involve a good bit of costly paperwork. In some cases, particularly for commercial or large-scale systems, the actual installation must be observed by a state engineer, at the builder's cost. $50k might not be enough to cover septic for a small campground around here, though I have not priced such services to really have any idea (and much less priced them in Texas).

Thank you, I kind of agree. I'm still hoping someone has a clever way of figuring this out so i can help before it tanks...

You asked for help. My suggestion is to give what advice you can to your friends and then stay out of the business as far as possible, because it unfortunately sounds to me like a scheme doomed and underfunded from the beginning. Marine By Choice has good basic advice: get a plan and make a sensible budget, and get the proper permits, and then proceed. I would suggest talking to some other campground owners in the general area.

Does the zoning permit campgrounds as an accepted use? If not, I'd think the first step would be to seek a variance, which may not be forthcoming. If the zoning board says no, you won't get a little campground. The requirements may be different for having long-term/permanent campers rather than transient ones. Likewise, the tax implications (property, business, ....) and insurance situation should be checked out.

What are the legal requirements for wells and septic systems? In Vermont, at least, septic systems generally have to be designed (or at least stamped) by a properly licensed engineer and involve a good bit of costly paperwork. In some cases, particularly for commercial or large-scale systems, the actual installation must be observed by a state engineer, at the builder's cost. $50k might not be enough to cover septic for a small campground around here, though I have not priced such services to really have any idea (and much less priced them in Texas).

Fifteen 50A sites would I think need somewhere in the vicinity of a 500A electrical service, possibly more if any expansion or buildings are also to be included at some point. There's a good bit of heavy (expensive) wire involved in hooking up fifteen pedestals, and conduit to bury the wires in.

There certainly is a good bit of opportunity to save money in campground construction by doing things oneself. Much of the site work and labor doesn't need a lot of skill or, with enough excess energy, even a lot of equipment. Ditches can be dug with shovels just as well (though certainly not just as fast) as with a backhoe or excavator. But there are also many expenses that are inherent in the project.

That's my worry that its too little and the process is backwards

Seems like they need a plan, calculate the costs, get permits and THEN proceed.
Sewer, water & electricity are mandatory for long term dwellers. Anything less, in my humble opinion, will not be well received.
50K sounds way, way, way too little.