They never told me about this going into the RVPark business

[westernrvparkow]

Owning parks brings a lot of challenges. Over the years I have posted about problems with slobs, with carelessness,with the self important, with crazy people and on and on. There is one big issue I have never mentioned, and it is an issue that is actually causing me to think about selling out.
Many great friends we have made over the past decade are dying or becoming so imfirm they can no longer travel. It is becoming all too often that I pick up the phone and get the sad news that a friend will no longer be visiting.
With the normal problems in the parks, I can rant, rave, spew venom and get over it. This is different. When a long time guest has taken their final trip to the park, I feel sad whenever I pass what was "their" site. Sometimes I just hate this business.

[bobsallyh]

No political motivations. I was just wondering as a mutiple Montana Park owner how you thought if or how would affect you. And now that it has passed I guess we will see. I don't do park reviews at all, never use them or write reports. Just thought as a seemingly conscientious RV park owner you would be interested in future business. Sitting here in Island Park, ID. and will be wandering over to "The Western Montana" area when we leave here after the 4th. Also I did check my PM list and the latest PM I sent you did not go for one reason or another and the last was the latter part of April about the future passing of the bill in the Montana state legislator. If I ruffled your feathers, I'm very sorry!

[noe-place]

Here's my take after reading your thread. You sound like a feeling, sensitive, decent person. You seem to enjoy providing a quality service to others. It's people like you that make me want to go to campgrounds because of your attitude. I have lost a number of friends over the last few years (I'm 66) and it always makes me ask the question; Why was it their time and I'm still here? It's the great mystery; life goes on and God gives us the time to use as wisely as we can. I encourage you to go on being the good person you are no matter the path you choose. Just for the record, we've been to Montana a number of times and we love the West:B

[BrianinMichigan]

As one of the Dr. Seuss Quotes go...
Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened.

[antiquedrose]

Gale Hawkins wrote:
I was told today one of my childhood friends is on a cruise with his new wife after his mother passed and inheritance showed up.

Fabulous sentence, it'd be a great opening line of a summer read.

[RangerJay]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Owning parks brings a lot of challenges. Over the years I have posted about problems with slobs, with carelessness,with the self important, with crazy people and on and on. There is one big issue I have never mentioned, and it is an issue that is actually causing me to think about selling out.
Many great friends we have made over the past decade are dying or becoming so imfirm they can no longer travel. It is becoming all too often that I pick up the phone and get the sad news that a friend will no longer be visiting.
With the normal problems in the parks, I can rant, rave, spew venom and get over it. This is different. When a long time guest has taken their final trip to the park, I feel sad whenever I pass what was "their" site. Sometimes I just hate this business.

Everything I read in your post here tells me you are exactly the kind of person running exactly the kind of park operation most of us want to find - so think again - you got into this business for the right reasons - you are good at what you do - people obviously value your park - so stick around ..... you have a lot of new friends out there you haven't met yet .....


Jay

[westernrvparkow]

bobsallyh wrote:
Inquiring minds for the last several years have always asked WESTERNRVPARKOWNER where and what park he is the owner of. I sent him a PM a couple of months ago asking the above question and if he had a web site. No answer as of today!

And you will never get an answer to that question, so maybe you should quit asking. I have e-mailed every single PM request the same response. I do not give out the locations of my parks, I am not posting here as an advertising gimmick, and I am not going to load up the gun for some people to shoot negative reviews about parks they have never visited all across the web. If you find that offensive, tough. BTW, I looked at my past PMs and the only one from your user name was about some change in Montana Subdivision laws no mention of wanting my parks locations. I purposely didn't respond, because I have no idea who you are or what your political motivations might be. I keep my mouth very shut when it comes to politics and people I do not know.

[Doug33]

Yes it is sad that people get old, infirmed, incapacitated and then eventually die. The good thing is if this happens and they get to live out a good long life. I am 51 and just went through treatment and surgery for cancer. My follow up testing in somewhat inconclusive, so I'm not sure how long I have to live on God's green earth. But I decided to enjoy life as best as possible, especially through RVing. We pick up a new upgraded and larger TT this week and will be camping immediately.

So while it is sad to see people pass on, you should be able to take solace that you helped them enjoy a good life.

[EgorKC]

I see where the pain comes in but I would suggest you consider the good. Those "customers" you came to know and care about are the very reason you tolerated the; slobs, carelessness, self-important and crazy's all these years. Think back about all of those friends you made over the years and the joy you gave them through owning and maintaining a park they cared to revisit time after time. You and your staff's efforts gave them loads of opportunity to relax and have fun. Smile inside for that accomplishment. It was, is no small task.
🙂
Greg

[RaenMark]

WesternRVParkOwner, I understand your dilemma and your heartache. I've seen it here at work with retirements and deaths and all of a sudden X isn't there anymore. As others have said, try to remember the good times and good memories you have of your former guests and share that with your new guests as they start to move into your park, your life, and your heart.

[bobsallyh]

Inquiring minds for the last several years have always asked WESTERNRVPARKOWNER where and what park he is the owner of. I sent him a PM a couple of months ago asking the above question and if he had a web site. No answer as of today!

[mr__ed]

I empathize with your feelings. My mother worked as a nurse at a care center for the elderly in NY and was always saddened when a patient she may have known for a long time took a turn for the worse and died. She finally had to leave that area of nursing. She looked at these people as friends, not just patients...

[dspencer]

Hey there WesternRVParkowner i can totally understand where your coming from. My wife and i are regulars at a campground a few hours south of us. We make the trip down there about once a year and have become good friends with the owner and his staff. Him and i have talked about this very thing several times in the past. He did make a good point one evening setting under the canopy having a beer with me. He said i am now seeing the children and grand childred coming in to stay with us. He said he didn't realize that until several of these kids started coming up to him saying i used to camp here with my parents X amount of years ago. His comment was that seeing that is the payback for loosing his friends. His father started the campground a number of years ago and now he has had it for over 25 years himself with his dad still helping out when needed. I'm know its hard loosing your friends but there will be more and i'm sure you already have kids coming that started out with there parents.

[Wheel_Estate]

MotorPro wrote:

Eycom wrote:
Keep your eye on the donut... and not the hole.

GREAT answer!!! Just remember you would not have had the chance to meat all these people if you did not have that job.

great .. i always say "don't be sadened because its over; rejoyce that you were able to !"

[grindkore]

paulsang wrote:

CKNSLS wrote:
I think if an RV owner wants to sell out-now is the time. The baby boomers will be the last generation to care about RVing in any large numbers.

The "Greatest Generation are now the ones who primarily use the RV parks, and they are passing away."

The Generation "Y" and beyond will not have the disposable income to go RVing. The cost of houses are increasing (witness the last 12 months) and then there are always the fuel costs. Then look at the ever increasing prices of food and especially healthcare. The days of pensions are basically over for Generation "Y" and beyond. They will have to provide for their own retirement and hope there is some kind of social security.

Yep, if I had an RV park now is the time to get out.

That statement is wholly unfounded. While there is certainly a cost to be considered, the RV industry is far from dead. I am 45 and retired.
Whenever I am in an RV sales place, there is an amazing amount of people my age in there shopping - usually looking at TT and 5ers. Last week, I stayed in a park where I was the old man...LOL

The industry will adapt to the changing consumer, just like it did for your generation. The dotcom kids made some money, and the smart ones saved it. MY greatest generation father taught me how.

However, healthcare - and the corruption- will be the struggle for future gens alike.

There are plenty of us generation X in mid 30s with families that enjoy RVing and boating, we have money and time. Personally I avoid parks that have high concentration of older folks. My children are "too loud", the dog is "too aggressive", my RV is "too cheap". I prefer not to hang out all day in the aircondined condo on wheels. Rather play a guitar by the campfire and not getting hassled by management at 10pm because neighbors are complaining.

Many us are your doctors, lawyers, we run small businesses, we are raising kids. The RV industry will be fine. The parks that cater to younger families or provide friendly environment for party goers will prosper.