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punomatic's avatar
punomatic
Explorer
Jan 03, 2016

Changing my mind...

...about KOA. I have not had good experiences with KOA. They are mediocre parks, in my experience, with incredibly high prices and unsympathetic staff. Well, we are camped at Benbow KOA in Garberville, CA. The park is old and in need of upgrading. KOA apparently bought an older park and is in the process of upgrading it.

So, we have been pleasantly surprised by the friendly, helpful staff, and the fact that, instead of charging us the advertised $57 a night, we were charged $35 minus a 10% discount because I am a veteran! :) Not only that, but the cable service is good, and I can watch my Oregon Ducks as they lead the TCU Horned Frogs 31-0 at halftime in the Alamo Bowl. Way to go KOA. We will stay here again.

BTW, the park has a little golf course and a pool, for those of you who like that sort of thing. The setting is beautiful, in the California coastal mountains. So, I am warming to KOA...at least to this one. Thanks Benbow KOA.

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  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Jan 03, 2016
    Actually I think KOA is more of a franchise operation. They lease their KOA name and enforce the KOA culture on independent operators. I get the impression that there are roving inspectors that grade the parks on how well they comply with that corporate culture. Failure results in the parks being given the boot.

    I was moderately a fan of KOA, not a cheerleader. We would stay at them several times a summer camping season. At least you know that you are getting certain amenities at a KOA. But their huge price increase last year made me write them off our list except as a last resort. At Devils Tower for example ($85/night after the KOA discount).

    People griped at me that the parks had the right to set whatever charge that they wanted to. That's true, I am a total believer in Smithian economics. But the buyer has a right to refuse to pay that fee and to vote by finding somewhere else to spend his money. That is what we did.

    But I'm glad you found, maybe, the last sensible KOA park.

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