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.

Yea,But think of all the great memories their friends had with them while visiting your park, while they where still around. All the pictures of your park that where taken of them in the "Good times".Your park is making a lot of wonderful memories for other families.Fred.

Hmmm.... Now you have me thinking! We were thinking just the opposite. We are planning on going full-time in our RV and were giving a lot of thought to building/purchasing an RV park to live in and work as we got older.

It seems the great circle of life is everywhere I suppose,

I feel your pain and understand what you are going through. We stay ever year for 3 months at an RV Resort in the San Diego area. Over the past 16 years we have become close to the older couple in the spot directly behind ours. Every year we would spend time with them going to lunch, sight seeing, even helping them pick out a new RV...etc. When not at the RV Park we would talk to them on the phone or via e-mail. Two years ago they didn't show up. The park staff didn't know what had happened to them.We finaly discovered that he had passed away and we haven't been able to find out what happened to her. The phone is disconnected and no response to our e-mails. She had been showing signs of dementia but has family nearby where they lived, I'm confident she is being cared for.It wasn't the same without them last year. With you this would be multiplied by several more couples...I take comfort in knowing that we had fun and hopefully added to our friends enjoyment while they were at the resort. I hope you can feel comfort that you helped enrich the lives of your guests.

"There's not a d*** thing good about getting old."All around me, people are getting old, going to live in "homes" even.The next thing I know, one of us will die.My mind is younger than my body, that's not so good either. I want to get on the fast track for getting lots of things done, but my body is not up for it.I know the feeling, sorry.

They never told me about this going into the RVPark business

bobsallyh
Explorer II
Jun 26, 2013
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
Explorer
Jun 26, 2013
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
Explorer
Jun 25, 2013
As one of the Dr. Seuss Quotes go...
Don't cry because it's over, Smile because it happened.
antiquedrose
Explorer
Jun 25, 2013
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
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
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
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
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
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
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
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
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
Explorer
Jun 24, 2013
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
Explorer II
Jun 24, 2013
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!