What do you want in a long term RV site?

I'm not sure of the objection to pets. From what DW and I have seen in the last four years of full timing, at least 90-95% of RVR'S have at least one pet. Have saw some have 2++!
It is all how they are taken care of!! Again level, wide, good 50amp. Easy access.

mgirardo wrote:

4X4Dodger wrote:
A no pet policy would be a very poor business decision.

Our seasonal site does not allow pets or golf carts and they have no problem filling the campground. The sites are about 75% full seasonally and the other 25% usually fills up with weekend warriors. No pets and no golf carts was a primary reason for staying here.

As for the OPs question - I think the car port next to the camper would not work. Most people park in front of or behind their camper, next to the camper is usually living space. As a previous poster mentioned, damage to the car port is very probable.

We love our seasonal campground. We have full hookup with a pretty close to level site. We have grass and trees. Free WiFi is available and usually pretty good. Fire ring on site and a picnic table. They maintain the lawn. The campground has a lake with slides, diving boards and rope swing. There is also a large pool with kiddie pool and a play area for the real little ones.

They have tons of picnic tables between the lake and pool with lots of BBQ grills and two pavilions, 1 large and 1 small, that are free to use. There are about a half dozen public docks for fishing and boat launching.

The only thing that we could use would be a little bigger laundry with either a change machine or a card based system. They currently have 2 washers and dryers, 4 would be nice.

Cable TV is not available, but there are plenty of OTA channels (we don't have Cable or Dish at home and we only get 2 OTA channels, so anything is better than home).

The owners (3 - mom, dad & son) are great. They live on premises and work 7 days a week. They are always visible, approachable and helpful.

-Michael

I understand your thinking. And while catering to a Niche market is often very successful, and in this case a no-pet policy would classify as doing just that, the basic issue is creating and maintaining cash flow and that is best done by appealing to the broadest spectrum of potential customers.

The figures you cite while impressive to you actually look pretty bad. In high season a place should be running at more than 100% occupancy ie it should be full (actually overbooked) and turning people away.

And it is not the high season that defines how you are doing it is the LOW season. Turning away perfectly good customers (cash flow) for the reason of a pet policy is as I said before a poor business decision. It is however his business to fail or succeed either greatly or in some lesser way. But in my book it is not good business.

It's important to have a Texas Hold'em Poker Room with friendly ****tail waitresses & plenty of slots.....:B:B:C

noplace2 wrote:

westernrvparkowner wrote:
As the last few posts show, if you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing no one. You need to develop your business plan and stick with it. The unfortunate thing is those people who are left out of your business plan will not just go seek out a place that has a different plan that includes them, they will, instead, take it to the internet and blast your business unmercifully. And it won't just be blasting the policy they don't like. If they have a dog and you are dog free, they will not only point out you hate and abuse animals, they will say the park is filthy and full of drug addicts, that the all the utilities are unfit for usage, that the owner and manager are drunken child molesters and that only an idiot would even think about staying there. And the amazing thing is they can determine all this without ever laying eyes on the property.

The OP was asking for responses from PATRONS and what we would like in a long term RV site. He/She did not ask you about how to run said venture or about your property. That might best be handled in private, if at all.

Especially with all the garbage he spewed with it. Geesh must be great to think your perfect.lol

westernrvparkowner wrote:
As the last few posts show, if you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing no one. You need to develop your business plan and stick with it. The unfortunate thing is those people who are left out of your business plan will not just go seek out a place that has a different plan that includes them, they will, instead, take it to the internet and blast your business unmercifully. And it won't just be blasting the policy they don't like. If they have a dog and you are dog free, they will not only point out you hate and abuse animals, they will say the park is filthy and full of drug addicts, that the all the utilities are unfit for usage, that the owner and manager are drunken child molesters and that only an idiot would even think about staying there. And the amazing thing is they can determine all this without ever laying eyes on the property.

Can you share your secret for being such a happy, positive, generous and compassionate soul? Your stream of uplifting and thoughtful posts leaves me breathless with admiration.

westernrvparkowner wrote:
As the last few posts show, if you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing no one. You need to develop your business plan and stick with it. The unfortunate thing is those people who are left out of your business plan will not just go seek out a place that has a different plan that includes them, they will, instead, take it to the internet and blast your business unmercifully. And it won't just be blasting the policy they don't like. If they have a dog and you are dog free, they will not only point out you hate and abuse animals, they will say the park is filthy and full of drug addicts, that the all the utilities are unfit for usage, that the owner and manager are drunken child molesters and that only an idiot would even think about staying there. And the amazing thing is they can determine all this without ever laying eyes on the property.

The OP was asking for responses from PATRONS and what we would like in a long term RV site. He/She did not ask you about how to run said venture or about your property. That might best be handled in private, if at all.

Thinking about it

Maybe I should qualify my above posts where I said "No pets"

I have stayed at two different RV parks that have had separate areas.

One is a "No pets" area,

And the other is for "pets"

That would be well worth looking into and might keep all of us happy, if the rules were obeyed

Jack L

As the last few posts show, if you try to please everyone, you will end up pleasing no one. You need to develop your business plan and stick with it. The unfortunate thing is those people who are left out of your business plan will not just go seek out a place that has a different plan that includes them, they will, instead, take it to the internet and blast your business unmercifully. And it won't just be blasting the policy they don't like. If they have a dog and you are dog free, they will not only point out you hate and abuse animals, they will say the park is filthy and full of drug addicts, that the all the utilities are unfit for usage, that the owner and manager are drunken child molesters and that only an idiot would even think about staying there. And the amazing thing is they can determine all this without ever laying eyes on the property.

Yet another vote for dog free. Love them, raised them from pups over many years.

In my tarnished brass years, I don't care to listen to them (YES, yours DO bark, as did mine when I was not there because that's what they do about their territory).

Someone posted earlier that somewhere around 68% of folks in the US have pets. I would ask where that figure came from, but, even not disputing it, I would suggest that even a GREATER percentage of RV'ers have pets.

As someone else also mentioned, we seek out places that disallow outside pets. Even given the likely 30% of us in that category, we have encountered MANY parks booked well in advance in mostly non-destination areas that do not allow pets.

I suggest that not only would a no-outside pet policy be helpful, it would actually boost your business. That other 30% is yearning for places without, well, you know! :B

Another vote for dog-free. I will always go out of my way for a dog-free park, and I have not been to one yet that had a problem attracting people. They all seemed to be filled with people seeking them out.