Why did the KOA's close?

As usual, this KOA thread has gone to a bashing fest rather that just answering the OPs question. Thread closed.

Sandi (Moderator)

Controlling a franchise operation is not easy. McDonalds seems to have it figured out, as I've never seen one that is run down, dirty, or where the food is bad (or worse than you would expect at such a place).

Exactly. I do not like McDonalds food but in a pinch if it's what's around and we need to eat, I'll eat there because I know EXACTLY what I am going to get.

I'm with the group that thinks there are good and bad, as in anything.
Controlling a franchise operation is not easy. McDonalds seems to have it figured out, as I've never seen one that is run down, dirty, or where the food is bad (or worse than you would expect at such a place). But some other franchise operations like Kentucky Fried Chicken are just horribly monitored by the corporate overseer. Many are filthy, dingy, poorly maintained, and the food quality runs from bad to inedible. Yet others are well kept.

KOA is no different. You won't get a backwoods, solitude, boondocking experience there, but you know that going in. Most I've stayed at have met my expectations, but a few have not. I don't go to those again, and I also answer their follow-up survey with truthful responses.

I'd like to thank all the KOA haters on the forum. It leaves more room for me. I like them and don't mind paying for them. I've never been in one where the utilities, including cable and WIFI, didn't work. Some have laundry rooms which is a bonus. Most have a small store that sells that one thing that I ran out of. If they have a dog walking area, a swimming pool and/or a playground for kids, that OK as well. As a single adult traveler, I don't use them, but other people's kids do, so that they're not playing outside my door. I've even been to one that had a picnic table at every site and a free newspaper laying on it every morning. Another one had free ice cream cones at the office every evening. Nice way to meet other campers. Even stayed at one in southern Georgia where there was a Tornado watch announced. The owners went to every camper, told us about the threat in case we didn't know, and moved a few people out from under trees, opened up the clubhouse for free snacks and soft drinks and told us that both restrooms were built to withstand tornadoes, just in case.
They're generally located near what I came to see and near, but not next to, the Interstate. Most that I've visited have pull thru sites so I don't have to unhook and move my toad to park for a single night.

After KOA runs a campground into the ground they abandon it as they are unable to keep fleecing people with their overpriced and undervalued campgrounds. You know KOA stands for 'keep on adding'. In our travels we have seen many parks that were KOA's but were let go and some of them were upgraded by the owners and are very nice places to stay. Of course some of them are still******holes not worth staying at.

Lauren wrote:
Yup, Crowe nailed it.

But some are just looking for an excuse to bash KOA. And, when that runs it's course once again, we could start a bashing WalMart thread again. And then Camping World once again as well.

X2!

Yup, Crowe nailed it.

But some are just looking for an excuse to bash KOA. And, when that runs it's course once again, we could start a bashing WalMart thread again. And then Camping World once again as well.

Jumping on mass negativity is quite popular these days.

And not just on these Forums.

I have stayed at a number of KOA's and haven't ever regretted staying at them. I have stayed at several non-KOA's and have regretted them. There is an ex KOA at Olympia that is a POS and they didn't want to upgrade when asked by KOA. There is also an old one at Vantage where we had to look at 5 sites untill we could find one that had all the hookups that worked and they wouldn't give us a refund if we left. Sure glad we had a full water tank in the TT that day.

ScottG, I have stayed at a number of the KOA's here in our state and most are pretty good. I'm not sure which ones you're talking about. Mebbee Kent ?

Here in CA I haven't noticed gains or losses for KOA. I've found some of them very nice and a few of them overpriced with less than perfect maintenance. I pull up the review sites and if the KOA gets the best ratings in area and it is halfway reasonable, I'll do it. I'm not wedded to them but they're not an automatic no either. I'm usually passing through for the night and I don't get any of their ala carte extras. Just basic water/electric site.

Example of a nice one: Richfield UT. Was there a couple weeks ago. Lots of shade trees, grass, attractive grounds. Pool looked good, clean bathrooms.

There's another one fairly local to me which will remain nameless. I actually like the place in a funky sort of way. Kind of throwback to rustic western campgrounds in the past. But geez, at $50. per night maybe break out some paint cans, and throw in a few trips to Home Depot.

Crowe wrote:
.....but I've seen bad KOAs and good KOAs, bad private campgrounds and good private campgrounds. Same with Good Sam.

Bulls-eye. Our "home" CG (where we spend each Memorial Day & Labor Day, not to mention the odd weekend here & there) is a KOA. Well maintained, well managed.

Inexpensive? No.

Good value for the money? Yes.

Can these things be said of all CG's, KOA or not? No.