Forum Discussion
westernrvparkow
Apr 11, 2020Explorer
SDcampowneroperator wrote:Looks like you picked a great time to sell. Hope you didn't owner finance the sale because it sure looks like this is going to be the leanest year ever, assuming parks are even allowed to open. The businesses in the Black Hills are going to suffer greatly if Mount Rushmore is closed and Sturgis is cut back or cancelled.
Sold my park. From the other side, our troubles WERE , in no order, with late arrivals that cant park, quieting the party, people driving on grass, bringing unapproved firewood, noise ( voices, music, trucks) during quiet hours, forgetting time changes, so ringing officebell an hour early or late, babies without swim diapers and dogs in pool. Damage, abuse of free provided sports equipment, those who do not read the info for wifi log in, or CATV hookup, even when we bring a test tv set or ipad to their site and show them the wifi is good, CATV is good, so sorry, it must be something with your equipment. Cutting weiner sticks from camp trees and shrubs, trash in firerings, barking dogs left in the rig, theft of backflow preventers( pity that guy that thinks he scooped a regulator) Trash in recycling bins, sewage spills, leaking hoses, both types, A/C on with windows open, dog poop, even poor reviews about wildlife poo along hiking trails, , tree sap, pine cones falling on the roof, lawsuits and medical claims ( never won by them) for injury or illness for their own actions or tripping over a natural hazard while drunk.
My point is so many faults are attributed to the private camps that are beyond their control, yet are expected by many to maintain social order as it exists around their home. Some People go camping to get out of that regimen. My pity is for those who little time off work have to schedule late arrival, early departure, with no time between to just hang out.
People behave better in state and fed parks because the hosts wear official uniforms and have authority to enforce.
Few private camp owners last more than 5 years. The burnout from long hours, a demanding public, staffing, regulations, takes away all the romantic vision. Only someone who approaches this industry as a business with a thick skin lasts.
Oh Yeah, cut that tree limb under 14' We lasted 19years.
You left out my greatest pet peeve: people who think park owners are somehow omnipotent. Contrary to popular belief, we cannot change the weather, suddenly make a cell phone carrier provide service to the area, bring an Oceanfront Beach to Montana or make the fish bite. We cannot turn a Grizzly Bear into Yogi Bear and make them talk and play the banjo. We don't write the rules for the National Parks and can't waive things like prohibitions on ATVs or give you a pass to take your dogs on the trails. Walmart is not going to build a store next door because you want one close by. And no, we actually don't set the prices at the local market or the local restaurants. We only have control over our little piece of ground, not the entire state.
About RV Families
501 PostsLatest Activity: Apr 25, 2025