WHAT IS THE PERFECT CAMPGROUND?? - Montana Owners Club

Montana_1181 · 03-12-2004, 01:45 AM

I have been milling this over for a while, but what really makes a perfect campground? What are you likes and dislikes. What actually draws you to a specific campground?

Yes I am asking this for a personal/business reason. I am hopes to withen the next couple of years begin production of a new campground in the central florida area. I have looked at property that is right off the highway right in the middle of it all. But I began thinking is this really what the majority want? So this I leave to you to help me out, and help me decide. HOW, WHERE, WHAT type of campground to build?

Also one other question I have, does it matter if its part of a chain for you to stay at diffrent campgrounds (ENCORE,KOA,ETC.)?

Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing your responces.

Douglas Parker
Doug@suncoastrv.com

Any day in a RV is better than any day at work!!!!

w4nfr · 06-16-2004, 08:44 AM

The best CG we have stayed is the Terrible's Lakeside RV Park and Casino in Pahrump Nevada. Reasonable price, paved streets and sites with grass and nice lake. Full hookups, WiFi Internet etc. Nicely laid out too.
Bill

Montana_621 · 06-17-2004, 04:41 AM

I'd just like to add SPACE!!! With these big rigs our ours, some of the roads are hard to maneuver and the sites are hard to get in. It makes it so much easier on the RVer if you have ample space to get in and out of the site.

Montana_1520 · 06-17-2004, 02:30 PM

It looks like most of us want the same kinds of things in our CG. We wholeheartedly agree with the SPACE issue...it's nice to have a little breathing room between us and the next rig. We also like the segregation idea...don't get us wrong...we love dogs and have had our share, but there is nothing more annoying that a dog that barks at you while you are out walking or one that is left is the rig while the owners are out and who spends the time barking constantly. These annoyances do seem to be in the public/popular CGs and I know that our MOC members would never allow their pets to do those things.(WE know we are going to hear from you on this one!)

And we do like the "adults only" idea. We have grandkids and love them dearly but when we are off on our adventures we do prefer the company (and quiet) of adults. But the absolute #1 thing with us is DO NOT locate CG near a busy highway or freeway. Traffic noise is what we are trying to get away from.
#29 fans
04 3670RL Big Sky
04 Chevy 3500 CC Dually 4WD Duramax/Allison

jimnkaran · 06-17-2004, 05:47 PM

Perfect campground,
Full hookups with 50 amp service.
Large, shaded sites
NO DOGS

Not near any major highways

Montana_621 · 06-18-2004, 03:49 AM

The kid and dog segregation issue seems to be a big thing here on MOC. As a young person with children and a dog I think those @*#$# who don't care what their kids and pets are doing are ruining it for everyone. I know what you mean because I have been there, done that with the damn barking dog next door and he kids who are running around like crazies and their parents don't even know what they are doing. In my own defense, not all people are like that. I know where my kids are AT ALL TIMES and my little dog has yet to bark at anyone or anything while we are camping. Most people don't even know she's with us.

I'm sorry some people are so rude..... and I have no problem saying something to them if I think they are. I don't want to be stuck with the horrible kids and barking dogs either. LOL

Montana_464 · 06-21-2004, 06:23 AM

So are you going to build a family CG or an Adults only CG?
You could probably fill it every winter if it is an adult only CG
And if it is like a lot of CG here in Arizona they close up for the summer and the owners go somewhere cooler.
If you build one don't do it like a parking lot. be creative in the design. Don't line the spaces up in a row. I know that maximizes suare footage but I know get on line and look at Buena Tierra Campground in Casa Grande Arizona. They did it wonderfully. There are little park areas all over the place and when you step out of your trailer you are not looking at a trailer right next to you. You are looking at the landscape. This is one CG we love to visit just because of the way it is layed out. In Florida you can almost guarantee filling it up every winter for the snowbirds and you could make enough money in the winter to pay for the place.
If I were to build a CG I would build it like Buena Tierra, charge a reasonable price one that will make me money but not rob the customer blind. besides if it is too expensive you won't get any renters. I would have a resteraunt on site for breakfast and lunch. Not dinner but have barbeque pits just in case the customers would want to do a pot luck. I would have bands come and play on the weekends. I would have a meeting room for movies at night. Definately a swimming pool or two and some spas.
A general store Ice machines maybe even a good water dispenser
Nice level sites a table and chairs on a good size slab lots of trees and in florida put in some citrus trees for the customers to pick their own fruit i could go on and on and on

Montana_1718 · 06-22-2004, 10:37 AM

I am a newcommer to this forum. But I have a few opinions on the subject of campgrounds. I have been camping for the past 47 yrs. I've seen alot of changes in parks. From pulling off the road in a wide grassy spot or a sm gas station for the night back in the 60's. Now RV parks are everywere ! We have camped in the back of a pickup to a 37' 5th. I still like the State and National parks the best. Private parks are just to conjested for my taste. Their is no reason that they have to be they just like the income and the more they can cran into a space the more they make. We also belong to Coast to Coast Resorts,most of them are just as bad, but they serve a function. I agree that their should be a separte area for RV's with kids. I traveled with 4 of my own, so I know. They want to be with other kids so put them all together. As far as pets go... we travel with a cat (Abby) and a 80lb dog (kye). The cat of course is no trouble we go in any park (even the no pets ones) they never know. As far as the dogs are concerened I loth people with unruly, unmanerd, loud dogs. If you can't have a well behaved dog, don't bring them along. There is no reason that people with dogs can not reside next to a non-dog RV, you would never know we have one,if it wasn't that way we would not have one with us. Picking up after is a must !! The only draw back to State and National Parks is as a rule they are not big enough for our 37'5th, so if we know that we want to stay in them we just slide out the 5th hitch and slide in the Lance 11'pickup camper and tow our Jeep behind. Then we are ready for any advanture that may come our way and we can park it anywhere.

gloriad · 08-16-2004, 04:38 AM

I would like to see a dog run in the campground. My dog really doesn't like to use the bathroom with someone watching and if he had a place to just run and find his spot, he would be a happy camper.

Montana_763 · 08-17-2004, 10:17 PM

The only thing I can add is, are you accepting any outside investors?
Some real good ideas out there. I like the internet option as I plan to stay at campgrounds that offer this option. The router should be free as the cost is minimal to the campground owner.
Thank you.

toolmanroy · 08-18-2004, 04:14 AM

We definitely agree with the space issue. I do think honest advertising is important, as well. I hate finding that the online photos do not represent the whole park and no one mentioned the highway or the railroad noise.

One of the reasons we have a problem with KOA is when we decided to stay in one the photos only showed the beautiful tent and cabin area in the trees. The RV section was a big grassy field where there was not enough room between RVs to open the awning. They were jammed in like sardines and we paid more than anywhere else we have stayed. At another beautiful RV resort no one mentioned the railroad that ran close by 24 hours a day.

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