Third man arrested for South Dakota campground burglaries

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:33:00 -0400

(Sept. 8, 2010) -- A third man has been arrested in connection with April burglaries at Vacation Village RV Park that resulted in damages and property loss valued at more than $19,000, the Yankton Press and Dakotan reported.

California RVers could start paying to stay at state forest campgrounds

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:29:00 -0400

(Sept. 8, 2010) -- The California Senate has approved a bill authorizing Cal Fire to maintain and improve campgrounds on state forest lands through, for the first time ever, collecting camping fees that state forest campgrounds traditionally have not collected, Lake County News reported.

Kentucky campground to host 37th annual Camper's Fair

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:13:00 -0400

(Sept. 8, 2010) -- Piney Campground will host its 37th Annual Camper’s Fair Sept. 15-19 featuring a variety of activities including arts, crafts, and evening entertainment, iSurf reported. Displays of camping equipment, RVs, and boats will be provided by area dealers.

New Mexico KOA embraces green technology

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:06:00 -0400

(Sept. 8, 2010) -- The bright green glow of healthy algae in his lagoon. The new family of ducks, feasting on dragonflies. The easily installed, easy-to-repair system of black pipes keeping his swimming pool toasty warm. He even installed an evaporative lagoon for $100,000, one-fourth the cost of a wastewater treatment facility. As a result, energy costs dropped from $500 per month to $50, the Sun-News reported.

Arizona RV park seeks permission to increase sites

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:42:00 -0400

(Sept. 8, 2010) -- Hualapai Mountain Park's RV site may get some sprucing up soon as the Mohave County Board of Supervisors will consider a request from the county parks department to sign an $80,000 work order to build at least 18 new RV spots, a ramada and more parking, the Kingman Daily Miner reported.

North Dakota campground ends extended stay provisions

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:14:00 -0400

(Sept. 8, 2010) -- American Legion Campground caretaker Bill Richardson was allowing workcampers to stay at the campground because they were helping out. But the Corps has talked to Richardson about the issue, and is giving people who have lived there longer than 14 days another seven days to move, the Herald reported.

Florida state park sees more tourists on Labor Day than July 4th

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:24:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- In Florida, St. Andrews State Park was packed all weekend with campers, and state officials credit the park's popularity in part to the slow economy.

$1 million campground set to open Sept. 18 in Iowa

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:16:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- After nearly a decade of planning, the gate to Volga River Recreation Area’s (VRRA) Lakeview Campground officially opens to the public Saturday, Sept. 18.

RV park offers glimpse into California's past

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:57:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- RVers typically stay at campgrounds and RV resorts in some of the most scenic locations in the country. But at Rancho Los Coches RV Park in Lakeside, camping enthusiasts not only have a chance to enjoy majestic oak trees and rugged California hillsides, but they can get in touch with early California history.

In South Carolina, concerns linger as proposed campground nears approval

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:20:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- A proposed recreational vehicle campground in the Socastee area of Horry County, S.C., has concerned some homeowners who live nearby.

Weather cools campground attendance in Northcentral Wisconsin

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:13:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- Windy and chilly weather kept some campers away from campgrounds in Northcentral Wisconsin.

Nashville campgrounds still hurt by flood

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:05:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- Middle Tennessee RV parks and campgrounds have been suffering since floodwater forced the Opryland Hotel, Opry Mills Mall and the Grand Ole Opry to temporarily close. 

Business is picking up for new RV park owners in Pennsylvania

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:50:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- When Pam and Bob Hasse bought the Pine Hill RV Park near Kutztown, Pa., it wasn't such a risky move. Then the gas prices hit followed by the down economy. Now, business is starting to pick up.

Washington state park closed to begin sewer replacement

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:34:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- Beginning today Dash Point State Park, and its 141-site campground, will be closed for eight months so officials can complete a major rebuild of its sewer system. The $3.4 million project is expected to be completed in May, the News Tribune reported.

Wi-fi company warns RV parks about illegal activity on their networks

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:20:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- "Especially if you have a free wireless network, people who aren't even your patrons can connect to it and illegally download intellectual property (such as movies, TV programs, and music), hack into computer systems, and bring down websites and other computers using SPAM bots, adware, and spyware," Borg said.

Competition encouraged at Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:12:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- “We’ve exhibited at dozens of industry shows in the past, and have faced competing businesses at almost all of them. It’s part of the game," said Lieberman. "If you’re smart, you concentrate on what your own business brings to the prospective customer and try not to outdo your competition. That’s always been my philosophy, and it has served my business well.”

Hardwood Lake Campground dedicates playground to girl killed in snowmobile accident

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:27:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- In Michigan, the Richland Township Board held a ceremony Sept. 3 to dedicate the playground at the Hardwood Lake Campground to a girl who was killed in a snowmobile accident.

Job seekers live at American Legion campground in North Dakota

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:17:00 -0400

(Sept. 7, 2010) -- The American Legion campground southeast of Williston, N.D., has about 30 people living in RVs and tents.

Iowa city to consider large campground near busy waterpark

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:15:00 -0400

(Sept. 6, 2010) -- The northern part of the land near Waterloo would become the Bamboo Ridge Campground, which would have 150 campsites and space for 50 more. A convenience store doubling as a campground check-in facility would be built at the entrance, and the property would include a dam forming a 15-acre lake, the Courier reported.

Cookoff a hit at South Carolina campground

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:56:00 -0400

(Sept. 6, 2010) -- An outdoor cooking challenge is no simple feat, but Sue Trimble helps the South Carolina Campground Cookoff happen without a hitch at Calhoun Falls State Recreation Area, the Index-Journal reported.

Iowa state parks see more campers in 2010

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:48:00 -0400

(Sept. 6, 2010) -- Thousands of people are spending this final holiday weekend of the summer at an Iowa State Park, and Iowa DNR’s state parks bureau chief, Kevin Szcodronski, said it appears Iowans are spending money on RVs despite the slow economy, Radio Iowa reported.

California state park campground reopens after plague threat

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:20:00 -0400

(Sept. 3, 2010) -- Effective immediately Plumas-Eureka State Park campground has been re-opened after the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) determined that flea control treatment had diminished the level of risk of plague transmission.

Legal action threatened after board rejects RV park plans

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:12:00 -0400

(Sept. 3, 2010) -- Amandio Santos had urged the Comox Valley Regional District not to accept a committee decision to reject the permit, but instead go along with staff advice to approve it with conditions. "It is my opinion, and of my advisors, that the committee has erred in the reasons for their decision in that such decision does not conform to legal guidelines," Santos wrote.

Camping is on the rise in America

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:07:00 -0400

(Sept. 3, 2010) -- Presented in detail within the report, the study reveals that 44 million people participated in camping in 2009, nearly one million more participants than in the previous high of 1996. The average camper spent 13.2 days camping and in aggregate, campers made a combined 580.7 million outings during the year.

Residents protest proposed RV park in Oklahoma

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:52:00 -0400

(Sept. 3, 2010) -- Coalgate resident Allen Leaird said he is prepared to take legal action to keep the RV park from being constructed. “It could be a wonderful park, but it still depreciates the value of our property and that’s the real world of it,” Leaird told the Ada Evening News.

Connecticut closes seven campgrounds as hurricane approaches

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:35:00 -0400

(Sept. 3, 2010) -- The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection today announced that sevent state campgrounds in Southeast Connecticut, will be closed from Friday at noon until noon Saturday due to severe weather forecast from Hurricane Earl.

Flower planting at Canadian campground spurs $1.2 million suit

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:04:00 -0400

(Sept. 13, 2010) -- A woman has filed a $1.2-million lawsuit against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Alberta Beach city officials alleging she was falsely arrested and handcuffed in a dispute that started when she planted flowers at her summer campsite July 4, 2008, CBC News reported.

Maine temporarily closes campgrounds near Atlantic coast

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:57:00 -0400

(Sept. 3, 2010) -- Acadia National Park is closing most of Ocean Drive where visitors gathered last year to watch the pounding waves, as well as the entire Schoodic Point Loop Road. In addition, the park will shutdown three campgrounds on Mount Desert and Isle au Haut, WGME-TV reported.

Maryland campers ordered to evacuate

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:50:00 -0400

(Sept. 2, 2010) -- Depending on damage done by Hurricane Earl, Assateague Island National Seashore hopes to reopen the campground Saturday, WBOC reported. At the Maryland state park in the northern part of the island, natural resources officials so far are asking campers with plans to arrive there by Thursday to delay their trip until further notice.

Massachussets campers intend to ride out approaching hurricane

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:44:00 -0400

(Sept. 2, 2010) -- According to Lisa Gufstafson, manager of Campers Haven RV park, three people cancelled their weekend reservations and a few of the camp's 230 seasonal residents left early. But most were keeping a close watch on weather reports, planning to stay through the storm, but prepared to leave if conditions were too difficult, the Cape Cod Times reported.

Oregon RV resort breaks ground on new community center

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:33:00 -0400

(Sept. 1, 2010) -- Once a component of the harbor’s $5.8-million Phase III expansion at Winchester Bay RV Resort, plans originally called for a 16,000-square-foot recreation hall. But during the government review and approval process, campground staff downsized the plans to a 2,400-square-foot building, the Umpqua Post reported.

Developer breaks ground for big RV park in Australia

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:23:00 -0400

(Sept. 1, 2010) -- RV Homebase will offer residents unlimited access to $3 million worth of RV-focused services, including a high tech van wash, a happy hour hut, outdoor kitchen and a 25-meter swimming pool. A bowls rink, hobby workshop, half-court tennis, fitness centre, three-hole pitch and putt golf course, off-leash dog area, dance floor and walking trails will also be incorporated into the plan., the Fraser Coast Chronicle reported.

Arizona residents force referendum on RV park plans

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:13:00 -0400

(Sept. 1, 2010) -- Candy Blakeslee, of the Protect Our Rural Lifestyle Referendum political action committee, said she submitted 446 signatures, well above the 188 minimum to qualify the referendum for an upcoming ballot, the Sun Shopper reported. The committee wants to overturn council approval to rezone 17 acres to allow Kampgrounds of America to open an RV park in Chino Valley with 32 cabins and 119 campsites.

Approaching hurricane forces campground closures

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:09:00 -0400

(Sept. 1, 2010) -- As Hurricane Earl bears down on the east coast, the National Park Service announced it will close the Ocracoke Visitor Center and campgrounds at Ocracoke, Frisco, Cape Point and Oregon Inlet starting at noon today, the Virginia Pilot reported.

Oceanfront campground reopens in Galveston

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:34:00 -0400

(Sept. 1, 2010) -- Galveston Island State Park was destroyed by Hurricane Ike two years ago, but thanks to park staff and countless volunteers, the park reopened this week nearly five years ahead of schedule, KRIV-TV reported.

Software ready to host Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:30:00 -0400

(Sept. 1, 2010) -- The long-awaited version 3.0 of the software that will run the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo, slated for Nov. 1 to 3, is finally complete and, on Thursday of this week, the producers, the advisory board and several invited guests will be able to see a demonstration of the actual expo.

Michigan campground says free wi-fi increased stays by 12 percent

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:29:00 -0400

(Aug. 31, 2010) -- "It's due to our free wi-fi connection that we have in the campground," Ranger Scott Slavin told Fox-UP. "Anywhere in Van Riper campground, you can connect to the Internet from your computer. People are spending more camping nights here because they can work from the campground."

Restrictions to remain at Montana campgrounds

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:25:00 -0400

(Aug. 31, 2010) -- The Gallatin National Forest will keep the restrictions in place at Chief Joseph and Colter campgrounds that limit camping to hard-sided-vehicles only for the remainder of the fall, the BIllings Gazette reported. Soda Butte Campground, where one camper was killed and two others were mauled, will remain closed.

Maryland commission okays plans for 60-site campground

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:05:00 -0400

(Aug. 31, 2010) -- Despite receiving a petition signed by 230 people opposed to the project, the Washington County Planning Commission members voted Monday to recommended that 40 acres east of Hancock be rezoned for a 60-site campground, the Herald-Mail reported. 

Pennsylvania campground enters fourth week without electricity

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:49:00 -0400

(Aug. 31, 2010) -- The electricity was been shut off four weeks ago at Otter Creek Campground in Lower Chanceford Township, and it's because the park is struggling financially in light of the economy, director Lori Heiland told the York Daily Record.

Michigan drivers get a bargain to encourage support of state parks

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:40:00 -0400

(Aug. 31, 2010) -- Starting Oct. 1, Michiganders will find a new option in their license place renewal packet -- the opportunity to buy an annual state park entry pass for $10, the Detroit Free Press reported. Normally, the passes sell for $24 annually or $6 per day.

Pennyslvania casino seeks to serve RV travelers

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:32:00 -0400

(Aug. 31, 2010) -- Penn Harris Gaming wants to transform a Holiday Inn 10 miles west of Harrisburg into a $75 million resort casino featuring an "RV World."

Arizona RV park installs modular building as convenience store

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:21:00 -0400

(Aug. 31, 2010) -- Campbell Cove 1-Stop in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., installed a modular building to serve as the RV park's convenience store, tanning salon and laundromat. The building also contains a number of energy-efficient features including heavy insulation, white reflective roofing, insulated glass windows and automated doors.

California RV resort earns improved ratings

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:18:00 -0400

(Aug. 31, 2010) -- Trailer Life has awarded Meadlowcliff Lodge and RV Resort an improved score of 8.5 / 10 / 9. This new score is an improvement over its previous score of 8.5 / 9.5 / 8.5. In 2009, the resort was one of only 31 campgrounds and RV resorts across the country to earn an all around "A" grade in the nation's first consumer satisfaction survey of independent parks by GuestReviews.

Louisiana's newest state park officially opens

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:44:00 -0400

(Aug. 30, 2010) -- Bogue Chitto State Park is host to four upland cabins and a lodge overlooking a 90-foot bluff, 81 RV camping sites, and a group camp for overnight visitors. Daytime and overnight guests have access to all these amenities along with a canoe launch into the Bogue Chitto River, fishing piers, an amphitheater, a water playground, 14 miles of equestrian trails and more than 7 miles of nature trails.

State parks explore corporate sponsorship

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:26:00 -0400

(Aug. 30, 2010) -- Faced with widening budget gaps, many states are seeking private companies to sponsor state park facilities, programs or the entire park system, the Associated Press reported.

Day of swimming turns tragic at Massachusetts campground

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:42:00 -0400

(Aug. 30, 2010) -- A teenager from Providence Rhode Island drowned at a family campground in Middleboro, Mass. This was the boy's first visit to the campground. He did not know how to swim.

Michigan state parks keep up with times

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:15:00 -0400

(Aug. 30, 2010) -- Writing for the Midland Daily News, Steve Griffin says camping is different than it once was. In various ways, Michigan state parks offer amenties to meet the wants of modern campers.

Writer says Prop. 21 stabilizes funding for California state parks

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:41:00 -0400

(Aug. 30, 2010) -- Mike Sweeney, executive director of the California chapter of the Nature Conservancy, says Prop. 21 would create a dedicated trust fund to provide state parks with reliable funding to ensure they remain open and maintained.

Nevada city to increase lodging tax to 9 percent

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:31:00 -0400

(Aug. 30, 2010) -- The Fernley City Council in Nevada has voted 3-2 voted to increase the city’s lodging tax from 6 percent to 9 percent. The increase won't be good for business, according to one RV park owner.