Quartzsite snowbirds not here..Update They have arrived.

[was_butnotnow]

OK just a few days before the Big Tent Show opens on Jan 17 (updated) AND the BLM and RV parks are very very shy of RVers. Not just shy but mostly empty as in vast open spaces where in past years would be wall to wall with RVs. So if you are thnking about coming to Q for the shows come on over as this place is empty. The venders are here big time but no customers. Even Rice Ranch across form the tent show is mostly empty.
Now if the RVs pull in for the show week they can to do it now as there is no backup at the BLM entrance stations.
Now we wish the venders well but this is much different from years past.
We hve come to Q for many years and the talk of the town is always are they going to come back again this year.
In the past they always have but this is very much different as it is Tuesday night and the show opens on Thursday.
Guess we can go to the show on opening day or the next day without a parking problem.
Even in the past we couild find a parking site right at the tent in the afternoon after a day or so from opening day when people got tired and left for the day. Go about 2-3 pm and parking on site is open.
Anyway it's fun to be in Quartzsite this time of year as we come here not so much for the venders and shows but for the Quartzsite Gem and Mineral Club.

[amandasgramma]

Yes, lots are leaving....:( 😞 on the rains....dang. Sat outside till dark tonight.....SO NICE!
And traffic WAS a breeze today!

[MrWizard]

a bunch left rice ranch and the show area today
traffic very busy yesterday/saturday
traffic was a breeze today no problems or jams

[tuna_fisher]

Is it safe to come over yet? Have they started to leave yet? Suppose to rain Mon & Tuesday, that might help.

[SuzzeeeQ2012]

are they still there? I guess the show ends today.


Saw a cool video (must have been a drone camera) overhead of all the camping area (la posa) and the tent.

[DAS26miles]

FYI Avoided the morning rush at La Posa South dump station and went at 2:30pm this afternoon. Took 35 minutes with 10 RVs ahead of me to get to one of the two dumps. Filled the fresh water tank with their potatable well water which I filtered and added 3 ounces of bleach. We then went up Central into town and stopped at RV Pit Stop for propane. They filled it in record time and the price was something like $2.50 per gallon. Great friendly service. I see why they have good comments. No one was waiting at their dump station. Wonder what they charge? Then we went back to La Posa West and our spot was still vacant. Heading out tomorrow. Had a great time. We did see an big increase of folks at the big tent and Tyson Wells today.

[NinerBikes]

Diesel was 2.59 at the Texaco on Tom Wells Rd. I filled up at a 76 Unocal in West SFV $2.49 a gallon today, that was my credit card price.

[DAS26miles]

Thanks Amandasgramma we will check it out tomorrow, looks like walking distance from where we are.

[amandasgramma]

The RV show is over on Sunday, Jan 25.

Here's a link to the rock and gem show: Rock and Gem

[DAS26miles]

We took SCVJeff's suggestion and got off at mile 19 instead of 17. Saw bumper to bumper traffic at 17. No traffic at 19. Drove down to Central making left to La Posa west. Plenty of spots. Got one about 100 yards from tent. Thanks Jeff!
Tomorrow we may walk over to Rice Ranch and into town. Any suggestions??? DW wants to see rocks, is Rock show over?

[tuna_fisher]

What's the last day of the big show? When is the crowd from that gone?

[MrWizard]

If I find cheap diesel, I'll fill up before we go back next week

[SCVJeff]

John & Angela wrote:

SuzzeeeQ2012 wrote:

DAS26miles wrote:
Starting to load the MH for Monday's drive to Quartzsite. Guess the best place to gas up is in Blythe or the Flying J across the river. I would expect the Chevron in Quartzsite to be very crowded with hours long lines???
Any information on the water and dump trucks that frequent the BLM? Do they just roam and you hail them down to service your MH? We are only good for 3 days tops. 30gallons fresh water with 30 gal black tank and 32 grey water. Yes, we take navy showers and drink bottled water.

do NOT buy gas in California!!! Lots more expensive, in our experience!

2.29 here in Palm Springs. How much is it in quartzite. ?

today it was $1.97ish

[jwmII]

rjxj wrote:
Why do you think this has happened? I plan on coming out there next year for our first time. Has there been an increase in crime? I hear about people having generators stolen etc.

It is a combination of things pointing to greed. The show promoters keep running up their charges for space. Then the vendors can't make their 300% so they raise their prices. Then most of the customers who by the way are mainly on Social Security and who have not had a decent cost of living increase but who have seen Groceries, electric and heating bills along with greedy municipal increases for water, sewer, and garbage all rise just simply refuse to pay for all that is offered in Quartzsite. The drop in fuel prices helps get folks there but it does not feed them or pay their park rent. An example, The phone case I bought in Quartzsite for $6.00 last year is $12.00 this year. There is going to be some changes,(can't help but be) in the coming years. It'll still be a fun time and experience.

[amandasgramma]

SO....we drove around with our elderly friends yesterday......went up 95 to Plamosas Road....OH MY GAWD!! The rigs out there are incredible. So that got us curious....... we drove out the Dome Rock area.......RVers EVERYWHERE. RV parks fuller than I've EVER seen in the 7 yrs we've been coming. We're at LaPosa South.....just before the dump station. We drove out further and were AMAZED at the number of RVers here!!!!!!!!! WOW WOW WOW! Our friends have been coming for 30 yrs......and say they've NEVER seen so many RVers. 🙂 🙂 Amazing what a dip in the fuel prices will do for the economy,eh?????? 🙂 🙂