Forum Discussion

Bob_Vaughn's avatar
Bob_Vaughn
Explorer
Feb 22, 2014

Previous Campgrounds

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.....

27 Replies

  • Jim Shoe wrote:
    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.

    I must of missed the KOA hater was the post removed by a moderator?
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Sorry for the owners that affiliated with KOA and were priced out of business..........
  • 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.