I have been going thru my travel logs and photo books of our campouts since we started camping. I went on the internet hoping to look at some of the photos of those campgrounds and was amazed at the number that have either closed, gone out of business or just changed names.....That seems to be the case when a KOA franchise can no longer afford the fees charged to use the KOA name. My newer log book I actually wrote down the address and phone number so I could contact them when I wanted to return.....

I can only guess that your travels extended back before the economy went into the toilet for a few years. The RV industry, as well as the RV parks and associated industries were not spared from the down turn.Those places that were able to survive, are still in operation, but many of them couldn't afford to stay in business, so either sold out to another company, or closed down completely. The KOA fanchise does cost money, but it really depends on the location (remember that adage: Location, location, location!) is probably more important. Plus, just how well the operators did their jobs, to create a campground that folks will want to be visiting over and over again.We are constantly reading about some CG that the folks were just plain nasty...or the bathrooms were a mess, trash wasn't picked up, and other such things that would cause most of us to go somewhere else. And these people wonder why they are out of business???This is a service industry.....if the service is sub-par, you're out of business. If you are located in the middle of nowhere, and only see a couple of people a year, and have nothing to offer, you'll be out of business.It's the nature of the business.

Sorry for the owners that affiliated with KOA and were priced out of business..........

PapPappy wrote:I can only guess that your travels extended back before the economy went into the toilet for a few years. The RV industry, as well as the RV parks and associated industries were not spared from the down turn.Those places that were able to survive, are still in operation, but many of them couldn't afford to stay in business, so either sold out to another company, or closed down completely. The KOA fanchise does cost money, but it really depends on the location (remember that adage: Location, location, location!) is probably more important. Plus, just how well the operators did their jobs, to create a campground that folks will want to be visiting over and over again.We are constantly reading about some CG that the folks were just plain nasty...or the bathrooms were a mess, trash wasn't picked up, and other such things that would cause most of us to go somewhere else. And these people wonder why they are out of business???This is a service industry.....if the service is sub-par, you're out of business. If you are located in the middle of nowhere, and only see a couple of people a year, and have nothing to offer, you'll be out of business.It's the nature of the business.Well said. Double ditto.

The best toolbox for finding CGs is right in front of us. The best tool in that toolbox is RV Park Reviews. The thing is, it is up to us to keep RVPR up to date.Too often we use a CG, which has not been written up in a long time, & don't update it to say if it is the same, better, or worse.

Didn't even get off the first page before the KOA haters showed up. Thanks for not staying at KOAs. It leaves a space for me.

Previous Campgrounds | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

gotsmart
Explorer
Mar 03, 2014
tsetsaf wrote:
Veebyes wrote:
The best toolbox for finding CGs is right in front of us. The best tool in that toolbox is RV Park Reviews. The thing is, it is up to us to keep RVPR up to date.

Too often we use a CG, which has not been written up in a long time, & don't update it to say if it is the same, better, or worse.

Rumor has it that rvpr sold out too...

Not a rumor. It was purchased. linky
joe_b_
Explorer II
Mar 02, 2014
Around this part of Florida, we have had several campgrounds close in the last 10 years or so. I read a couple of years back, in the Orlando newspaper that something like 17 campgrounds within a 75 mile radius of Orlando had closed.

The main predator of both private RV campgrounds and marinas, are developers. Up until about a couple of years back, Florida law allowed cities and counties to set property taxes on the "potential" use, not what it was actually being used for. This was putting small marinas out of business as they were being taxed as though there were large condo developments on them instead. One was just north of here in Fort Pierce, where a big money developer from south of here bought a private family owned and run marina. Then he closed the marina to the public and built several high rise condo apartment buildings, with starting prices at $750,000 but you did get to rent one of the slips in the marina if you wanted. LOL The same thing has happened to campgrounds, just not as much since most were not in the most desirable locations, on the water, as were the marinas.

Campgrounds, in many cases, are like farms. If you don't inherit one, then it is very difficult to make enough profit to make the land payment each year and have anything remaining to live on. Campgrounds face the double whammy of having to compete with other private campgrounds as well as with the tax payer supported ones run by the government. The ones in the Florida Keys have this problem. The state campgrounds are in some of the best locations, well staffed and run, and only charge about 1/2 or less of what a private campground has to charge to stay in business and make a go of it.
Campground ownership has to be tough at best.
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Mar 02, 2014
We like federal, state, county and municipal campgrounds more than most private CGs. We to have seen a lot of closures and prices rise from $6 or $8 a night to in some cases, no, a lot of case rise to over $50 a night.

Some have made dramatic improvements and then raised the prices accordingly but most have just raised prices or shuttered the CGs.

As stated it's a sign of the times.
mdcamping
Explorer
Mar 02, 2014
Matt_Colie wrote:
I want to second the vote for RV Park Reviews. As an officer in an FMCA chapter, I am often looking for venues.
When we get a good one, I write about it.
When we hit a bad one, I write about it.
When we hit a mediocre one, I still write about it.
I read these reviews a lot and try to take them all with a grain of salt.

It does specifically annoy me when you get to a website and have to go deeply into the reservation section to find out the rates. The is covered early in RV Park Reviews.

Matt

Another vote for RVPR,

Your thinking is the same as mine....if the campground is good, bad or just average, I will "review" the campground.

Mike
wbwood
Explorer
Mar 02, 2014
I know there was a KOA about 15-20 miles away that is no longer a KOA. It's now good Sam affiliated.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Mar 01, 2014
dewey02 wrote:
colliehauler wrote:
The campground I use to stay at on lake superior sold out and became condos.

A lot of Mom and Pop Resorts and Campgrounds in some of the more popular vacation spots are closing and selling to individuals who then use the acreage for a lavish personal home, or in some cases, a summer/vacation home. Or as colliehauler said, condos.

Over the past 20 years, property taxes, especially on lake frontage, have become so high that the Mom and Pops just can't make a go of it. Sad, because a lot of very nice camping opportunities are now lost.
The campground I use in MN had their property taxes double two years ago. I think that is so wrong on so many ways.
dewey02
Explorer II
Mar 01, 2014
colliehauler wrote:
The campground I use to stay at on lake superior sold out and became condos.

A lot of Mom and Pop Resorts and Campgrounds in some of the more popular vacation spots are closing and selling to individuals who then use the acreage for a lavish personal home, or in some cases, a summer/vacation home. Or as colliehauler said, condos.

Over the past 20 years, property taxes, especially on lake frontage, have become so high that the Mom and Pops just can't make a go of it. Sad, because a lot of very nice camping opportunities are now lost.
magnusfide
Explorer II
Feb 26, 2014
tahiti16 wrote:
\ So 2 parks can get a good number because they both have a pool. However one is closer to an over grown spa that maybe 20 people fit in all standing up. The other one looks like they could hold the Olympics in it! Big difference but the straight numbers won't show that.

That's why we check out the photos at the cg website in addition to the Woodalls/Good Sam's rating system. If you know what you're looking for, you can get a good idea of the situation.:W
tahiti16
Explorer
Feb 26, 2014
One with customer reviews anywhere is read the comments! Joe thought it was a 10 because it had a great pool. Fred then rates it 4 because they only had back in sites and he didn't care if they had a pool!

From the comments you get a much better picture, maybe what Fred didn't like is what is important to me or another site I really want a pool/spa and a right says they have one but wouldn't get in it with how bad it looked!

You get the idea, problem with commercial rating systems is to try and be consistent and as fair as possible they have a table with certain requirements and qualities that get certain scores. So 2 parks can get a good number because they both have a pool. However one is closer to an over grown spa that maybe 20 people fit in all standing up. The other one looks like they could hold the Olympics in it! Big difference but the straight numbers won't show that.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Feb 25, 2014
Jim Shoe wrote:
At one time, RVPR wouldn't publish any reviews of a CG until at least 3 reviews had been submitted by the same reviewer. I'm more interested in the hookups and accommodations than a stranger's opinions. I've seen bad scores for RV parks that didn't have a pool and/or playground. I don't use either one. I'm looking for pull thru sites with FHUs. Cable and WIFI are a bonus. That's my '10'.

For the information you want, all you have to do is check the CG website. RVPR posters usually comment on the state of the CG. Is it worth the $. Does it deliver what is advertised? Lots of them say they have WIFI. What they don't say is that it only works close to the office.