walmart

The local 24-hour Super WM has a large lot, bordered on two sides by a city river park; actually a very nice place. They use to allow overnighting. But it was abused, with the same 5-6 rundown units there continuously for months. I don't know it for a fact, but very strongly suspect that's why it's now signed for no overnight parking for RV's and trucks. Dam' shame.

Jim, "Dear Algebra, Stop asking me to find your X. She's gone, and she's not coming back."

Just because you own the land, doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want on it. Zoning regulations exist. I spent 15 years on my township's zoning board. Its a growing area and still being developed. There are still large tracts of land that are zoned 'agricultural', which is the default. If a developer is smart, they talk to my township's zoning administrator for advice before they buy the property. Sometimes, they don't. We had a developer that bought a large tract of zoned 'Agricultural' land directly across a two lane road from established nice homes on half acre lots. The developer wanted to build a 'storage shed' business across the street. Denied.
We also have a WalMart. With a smaller than average size parking lot. They asked us to prohibit overnight parking so they wouldn't be the bad guys. BTW, we don't have any RV parks in our township, public of private. Not exactly a destination area. And the neighboring township has a dandy state park with great camping facilities, some with hookups, and a large lake for fishing and boating.

OnaQuest wrote:
So much speculation and so little factual information. Back in the day, WalMart owned the land that their stores were built on. They set the rules about parking. Where this situation still exists, WalMart welcomes the RV traveler.

Most of the newer stores are in shopping centers where they might not even be considered the anchor tenant. The Owner/Management of the center sets the rules and has the wishes of all the other tenants to consider. The center hires the security force and WalMart holds no sway over any of them.

Although I understand what you are saying just owning the land doesn't mean you can set the rules in most of the over litigated towns these around these days. You own the land your house sets on too. But, in a town near me called Windom you can't store your RV there. Or, your snow mobile/ motorcycle trailer, your lawn mower, your picnic table, your outdoors kids toys, your clothes line, your boat, or any of another 100's of things. Thankfully I don't live there or I would have a fit.

I pulled into a wally world one night late. Shut off the engine and crawled into bed. Next morning I went to get donuts and saw the sign.No overnight parking. No one bothered me that night and I received no ticket. Had I seen it I probably would have moved on. Try other chains like target kohls home depot etc. because the camp owners don't target co's like them.

So much speculation and so little factual information. Back in the day, WalMart owned the land that their stores were built on. They set the rules about parking. Where this situation still exists, WalMart welcomes the RV traveler.

Most of the newer stores are in shopping centers where they might not even be considered the anchor tenant. The Owner/Management of the center sets the rules and has the wishes of all the other tenants to consider. The center hires the security force and WalMart holds no sway over any of them.

rhagfo wrote:
Really sad on several points.

WalMart is providing a safety service, getting tired drivers off the road, both RV and long haul.

Sad that slobs, make look bad for others.

I don't think I would stay at one but, you never know.

I guess then all lodging businesses should be given civic awards for keeping the public safe. They all provide services for getting tired drivers off the road, and most all but Walmart collect a lodging tax that is remitted back to state and local coffers. So maybe Walmart is the least civic minded of all of them since the local tax base suffers when an overnighter chooses them over a local lodging facility. Walmart allows overnighting when permitted for one reason, and one reason only, it makes money off the occupants. There is no high moral code guiding their policies.

We stayed at the Walmart in Crestview, Florida last night along with 5 other rv'ers plus a few trucks.

wa8yxm wrote:

WETSNAIL wrote:
has anyone heard that Walmart or Sams no longer allows campers to spend the night? Did I miss that? I saw a sing at our local Walmart that no overnights for trucks or campers.
thks Cork

Here is what happens.. There is an outfit known as the Campground Owners Assn. They take stories like one that recently appeared here about a "Bad Egg" dumping his sewage in other than an approved manner and they go to the city, county or state government and petittion for a law that says No Overnight RV parking save in a licensed campground.

They cite all sorts of .. Well, Politeness does not let me properly describe it but suffice to say "Stuff that goes into the black tank" fits. to support their claims.

And the City, County or State agrees with them and passes a law or ordinance or regulation prohibiting "Wal*Marting" .

Then the signs go up, as required by law.

...... but most all the "No overnight parking" lots are due to the government, not Wal*mart.

So, please ask them why the signs went up and get back with us.

The "government" often is involved at the REQUEST of WM.
Also, some WalMarts have found the necessity to initiate their own parking restrictions - via private security.
Ex:
The Dalles, Oregon - had short-term and long-term folks "camping" in the parking lot with tents, some sleeping on the ground.
WM asked for a city ordinance to prohibit same.

Pismo Beach, CA - WM visible from the heavily traveled 101 fwy.
(CA is notorious for "few and far between" rest stops)
*Security* will politely evict you, and tell you where you can overnight free - just a couple of blocks from the WM.

There's lots more - try to imagine a WalMart in Santa Monica or the L.A. (CA) area close to Venice. "Bad eggs" by the dozens.
The "homeless campers" could *fill* the parking lot in a heartbeat.

Westminster, CA - had an abundance of that - which neighboring city's leaders were/are aware of (if they have eyes!).

Many cities have the ordinance in place long before WalMart construction begins - Ex: Huntington Beach, Laguna Niguel, Portola Hills (Lake Forest), CA - which had nothing to do with campground organizations - but everything to do with "aesthetics" and supposed affluence (or lack therof) of the potential WM clientèle.

No need to ask and get back....it is what it is, and no big deal..;)

~

Of the 4 walmarts that I have occasion to use,one of them has no signage prohibiting overnite parking. Watkins Glen being a NASCAR town is perfectly understandable in my mind. Auburn and Geneva are because of security problems, although from the looks of thing Geneva does not enforce it. Seneca Falls is OK..

Our local code does not permit it at Wally World either because of local camp ground objection. However there are always Rigs in the parking lot over night. I guess the store doesn't bother them.