Is Quartzsite history?

[The_Texan]

Just received this from a friend who lived there for over a decade, but sold and moved further north this past year. I guess the politics of the town really got nasty this year and vendor fees, plus the taxes went through the roof.

"We were in Q-Town for a Christmas party about 2 weeks ago. The free BLM campsites are virtually empty, the Main Event only had about 5 vendors there, and the RV parks along Main street all had an abundance of empty spaces. I think the town is toast! When we first moved there, vendors came before Thanksgiving and stayed almost until May"....

[SuzzeeeQ2012]

ps. we will always go to Quartzsite. Love the area. love Sweet Darlene's (hope THAT doesn't close) Love to camp out in the boonies. If there's less people, we'll still go, I'm sure.

[SuzzeeeQ2012]

RoyB wrote:
Does BLM and the hugh solar power generator base have anything to do with it? Never been there but heard that is starting up almost on the same grounds...

I think the solar thing is out by Plomosa road, I believe unless things have changed. There's a thread about this solar tower here that I started last year, not sure where it is 😮 The main town is about 7 miles from Plomosa, and I think there's still camping allowed, since the tower is not ON the camping grounds

[SuzzeeeQ2012]

The Texan wrote:
Just received this from a friend who lived there for over a decade, but sold and moved further north this past year. I guess the politics of the town really got nasty this year and vendor fees, plus the taxes went through the roof.

"We were in Q-Town for a Christmas party about 2 weeks ago. The free BLM campsites are virtually empty, the Main Event only had about 5 vendors there, and the RV parks along Main street all had an abundance of empty spaces. I think the town is toast! When we first moved there, vendors came before Thanksgiving and stayed almost until May"....

we were there last year for Christmas and new Years. It was fairly full. We're heading there in a couple weeks. We'll see what it looks like now. I wouldn't mind having more room but as it was said before, not good for business.

[Highway_4x4]

I am not changing the subject and this is not political, but, do you think the economy is rebounding the way we are told in the news? Don't answer that.

[Mike_LeClair]

Yes, still pretty slow in Q. We are in Earp, only 30 minutes away and last week there were signs of increased life at the BLM's and the in town RV parks. It should start picking up dramatically now until the big show next month. The vendors that we have spoken to do say that this year is slower than usual and that the rent increases and so on make it difficult to keep coming back. We see several new RV's in our little park here at Big River just over the last two days.

Happy New Year!

Mike and Carol

[tahiti16]

Hershey when we arrived at TT on sunday of T-day weekend the ranger plenty of spaces 60 rigs checked out that day! First time he ever saw that. We have been going there for 3 years now at this time of year and this is the emptiest we have ever seen it, looked like being there late April just before it closes for the season.

[revump]

It is usually history if you look at it today ... wait until mid January

[hershey]

I'm IN the TT campground at Palm Springs right now and the place is filling up at a record pace. Yes, before Christmas it was slow, but the park says that January is completely booked and on into February.
We will spend three weeks in Quartzsite during the Big Show (Takes us only two days to do that 🙂 )

[tahiti16]

I think it is much bigger than just Q. We were in Palm Springs at the TT campground for 2 weeks. Normally anytime from T-day through late march there are only a few empty spots anywhere in the campground. This year huge holes through out, we didn't have anyone closer than 2 spots away in any direction for 5 days and then only got somebody behind us for the last few days.

Rangers said they had never seen it before either and some had been there 5 or more seasons. Nobody is sure why, figure gas prices may not be cheap but better than some of the prices we have seen the last 1/2 dozen years.

See the RV dealers still selling coaches every week of every description, new to used, big to little and every class and model of trailer. :?

[Supercharged]

The Texan wrote:
Just received this from a friend who lived there for over a decade, but sold and moved further north this past year. I guess the politics of the town really got nasty this year and vendor fees, plus the taxes went through the roof.

"We were in Q-Town for a Christmas party about 2 weeks ago. The free BLM campsites are virtually empty, the Main Event only had about 5 vendors there, and the RV parks along Main street all had an abundance of empty spaces. I think the town is toast! When we first moved there, vendors came before Thanksgiving and stayed almost until May"....

The man who ran the main event back when it was on the top was moving it to Gail Bend, but died in the middle of working it out with the City of Glia Bend.

[The_Texan]

Here is a reply I got from another friend today, when we all got to talking about what is happening there. They are still there and observing what is happening. There are several websites that tell all and NONE are giving any positive reports of what is happening in Q town.

"the city council wants to charge a tax for "per chair" in restaurants here???? They're killing the vendors here. Corruption in police dept is unbelievable....Chief forced to retire, 9 out of 12 officers were put on leave for being whistleblowers and have started a suit against Q....they say over 100 vendors have gone off to Yuma rather than pay the huge fees here."

The Desert News

Quartzsite News

[hershey]

Actually, the vendors could dwindle down to only 20% of normal and we wouldn't miss a thing. Theres always 10 times too many tool peddlers, 10 times too many pill peddlers, 10 times too many jewelry peddlers...get my drift? There is only so many items you can sell at a flee market.

[RoyB]

Does BLM and the hugh solar power generator base have anything to do with it? Never been there but heard that is starting up almost on the same grounds...

[The_Texan]

Highway 4x4 wrote:
Q is all set up for the events, but it's not the only little town in the middle of no where that would love to have the RV crowds. They better think about that.

It appears Yuma is chipping away at the vendors, as over 50 have moved their operation to the Yuma area this winter. I know Yuma has a lot of BLM and state dry camping areas, so that is not a problem. Going to be interesting to see how long Q town can survive.

[Highway_4x4]

Q is all set up for the events, but it's not the only little town in the middle of no where that would love to have the RV crowds. They better think about that.