Campground pricing.
We just took a road trip. Just driving our truck, not with the TT. Got good MPG of about 18. Motels were expensive. Got a couple of good deals but some were outragous in price. Went this option becaus...
Forum Discussion
Our family in Florida still owns 6 campgrounds in the S.E. USA and myself having been on the board of directors of a large CG resort in Michigan for 9 years (had/have no personal financial interest in the CG's ownership) can assure you they are no money tree in your wildest thinking. Most are sideline operations, retiree owned for supplemental income, family owned, or a part of larger operation. All of our families CG's have the CG totally paid for which is a huge help. One 284 site CG was sold several years ago for big dollars as it was the perfect place to build a new large shopping center. The owners are now reaping MANY times the annual income from the investment of the sale money than the CG ever made and they don't ever have to lift a finger. Pretty smart move? It was the land value appreciation over the years that did it for them, not the CG as it was bulldozed away. Most CG owners certainly won't have that happy scenario though.
It was time for them to sell the CG anyway as by then the local ever increasing unfriendly restrictions coupled with the ever increasing insurance premiums and taxes had now ammounted to more than what the monthly land payments (mortgage) plus the monthly electric bills, taxes, and total 7 employees cost was about 15 years ago.
The 50 amp electric sites should actually be $8-$10 more min than the 30 amp sites and it's not only the extra cost of the electric but that you may notice most 50 amp sites are normally the larger sites in a CG which means there are fewer that can be in the same size CG and presently, usually have the very large electric gobbling RV's on them, 2 A/C's, 2-3 electric heaters, 10-12 gal water heaters, very large or side by side friges, etc. $2 - $3 more for those sites is a money loser. The 50 amp sites do not carry their own share or the % of the CG operational expenses. Usually 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 average 30 amp sites could be on the same plot as one 50 amp site. $35 per night for a FHU site with 30 amp X 1-1/2 = $52.50 income to the CG while $35 site + even $10 more for 50 amp and ammenities average site = only $45 income to the CG. The financial spread sheets show this so clearly. RV'ers with the smaller RV units at $35/day on the average 30 amp sites are subsidizing the 50 amp site users big time presently and they are taking it in the shorts!
Simply put, the average site in the private CG's have raised their daily fees about $5+ to make ends meet and make up the difference lost with the larger 50 amp sites and also why CG owners are dividing up their various sites into groups/areas and have been and will be more so pricing the sites according to their actual % of the CG monthly/yearly financials. It's long overdue. Pay equally for the costs you create!
How about this? A very cheap barely affordable used little 16' TT or a 12' Scamp or a popup trailer with a family on a small 30 amp site pays the same daily rate as a $100,000+ 36'+ RV with a family on a 30 amp larger site and uses so much more land space and electric etc. Who's really being ripped off? Some food for thought!
It was time for them to sell the CG anyway as by then the local ever increasing unfriendly restrictions coupled with the ever increasing insurance premiums and taxes had now ammounted to more than what the monthly land payments (mortgage) plus the monthly electric bills, taxes, and total 7 employees cost was about 15 years ago.
The 50 amp electric sites should actually be $8-$10 more min than the 30 amp sites and it's not only the extra cost of the electric but that you may notice most 50 amp sites are normally the larger sites in a CG which means there are fewer that can be in the same size CG and presently, usually have the very large electric gobbling RV's on them, 2 A/C's, 2-3 electric heaters, 10-12 gal water heaters, very large or side by side friges, etc. $2 - $3 more for those sites is a money loser. The 50 amp sites do not carry their own share or the % of the CG operational expenses. Usually 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 average 30 amp sites could be on the same plot as one 50 amp site. $35 per night for a FHU site with 30 amp X 1-1/2 = $52.50 income to the CG while $35 site + even $10 more for 50 amp and ammenities average site = only $45 income to the CG. The financial spread sheets show this so clearly. RV'ers with the smaller RV units at $35/day on the average 30 amp sites are subsidizing the 50 amp site users big time presently and they are taking it in the shorts!
Simply put, the average site in the private CG's have raised their daily fees about $5+ to make ends meet and make up the difference lost with the larger 50 amp sites and also why CG owners are dividing up their various sites into groups/areas and have been and will be more so pricing the sites according to their actual % of the CG monthly/yearly financials. It's long overdue. Pay equally for the costs you create!
How about this? A very cheap barely affordable used little 16' TT or a 12' Scamp or a popup trailer with a family on a small 30 amp site pays the same daily rate as a $100,000+ 36'+ RV with a family on a 30 amp larger site and uses so much more land space and electric etc. Who's really being ripped off? Some food for thought!
