Eddie Walker, How's the Campground coming?

Nat · Mar 20, 2005

Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

My wife and I, and another couple are going to the San Antonio area the first of April and remembered you were building a campground. Was just wondering if you are getting close?
Later, Nat

EddieWalker · Mar 20, 2005

Re: Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

I'm still about a year away from being ready, and that's if my latest efforts all come through. Sorry I can't be more specific on when it will happen. I just don't know.

If your in the Tyler area and want to visit, feel free to PM me for directions.

That goes for anybody else who finds themselves on the East side of Texas. It's always fun meet TBN'ers and get some imput. Most of what I do is based on something that I get from reading the posts and viewing the photos.

Eddie

RobS · Mar 21, 2005

Re: Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

EddieWalker, do you have a campground site plan you could share? I'm anxious to see what you have in mind for us RVers. Of course, with gas the way it is, not sure I'm going to be lugging the rig down your way anytime soon /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Golfgar4 · Mar 21, 2005

Re: Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

( Of course, with gas the way it is, not sure I'm going to be lugging the rig down your way anytime soon )

Boy Rob, you've got that right! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

As you may recall, we're planning on doing some full time RV'ng after I retire. In all of my budget plans/projections, I've always used a $3.00 per gallon figure for the fuel. I was thinking how smart I was being, because the cost of fuel would never get that high! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Geesh, if I went out to California right now, I'd be in the RED ! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

We're not going to change our plans about heading out, but Eddie's going to have to let me park down there for at least a month so I can save a little money! /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Hey, maybe he'll let me play on his dozer for awhile! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif I can help him gain a little on his park, and I can have some really cool seat time. Sounds like a win-win to me! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

RobS · Mar 21, 2005

Re: Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

Garry, you and Eddie will have to work out a "work-camper" agreement. Pretty common actually. We stayed next to a couple last summer who stayed all summer for "free". They worked throughout the day, but the pace was pretty casual and the work was light. Enjoyed the benefits of the resort with the rest of us in their off time.

Of course, Eddie offers so much more with his vast equipment arsenal. Instead of tooling around on a golf cart emptying trash bins, you could be trenching for the sewer/water/electric/cable hookups!

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Golfgar4 · Mar 21, 2005

Re: Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

( you and Eddie will have to work out a "work-camper" agreement. )

Actually we have discussed this a little bit already.

Don't know if it would work out, but for sure I want to at least visit Eddie's place when we're down in the area. Even if he doesn't have it finished, I've got a 4wd vehicle I'll be towing. So I could have some fun in his dirt! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif We'll probably be heading towards the Ft. Worth area to visit my wife's aunt and uncle sometime in late January or early February of '06.

In fact, we're talking about staying for a month or two somewhere around San Antonio or Austin (or halfway in between?). We've never been to that area, and we have some close friends that live in Austin.

But that'll be the good thing about being retired. We can do whatever we want and go wherever we want.

Bird · Mar 21, 2005

Re: Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

Rob, the work-camper is quite common. In fact, my wife and I did that one summer in Virginia Beach. We found the job through the Workamper News and the next couple of years I did gas leakage surveys for a company near Atlanta, GA, and found that job also through the same publication.

Golfgar4 · Mar 21, 2005

Re: Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

Bird,

Yeah, we're subscribing to Workamper too! We're looking forward to finding some unusual pt jobs to do just for fun. I saw an add for a stagecoach resort that was looking for guys to ride shotgun on their stagecoaches when they took the guests out for rides. If I let my beard go a little shaggier, I could act like Gabby Hayes! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

There's all kinds of cool part time jobs thorugh Workamper. We think it'll be fun. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

EddieWalker · Mar 21, 2005

Re: Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

You guys have me laughing thinking about opening a park and putting everyone to work building it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

My plans are pretty much finalized and ready to move forward once I get my financial situation worked out.

The land sits half a mile off Interstate 20 with a large, open offramp and a real nice gas station. It's a straight shot to my entrance with a turn lane in the middle of the road. My entrance is impossible to miss.

My requirements for the land included easy access and ALL utilities. Sewer was the hardest to find in rural property. I've got access to it.

Each site will be a pull-thru with 50 amps, water, phone, cable, sewer and wireless internet.

To attract guests I'll have a fishing lake, resort style swimming pool and two wildlife preserves. One low fence as part of my entrance and about ten acres of eight foot game fence with exotics in a natural environment.

To keep everyone happy, I'm building individual bathrooms with total privacy. Each one will be similar to what you find in a nice hotel. You'll have an oversized ADA shower, four foot counter with sink and a toilet. They will be tiled from floor to ceiling with no lips or steps. Cleaning has been factored into the design. The number one complaint recieved by every park is dirty bathrooms.

Nobody has combined these features in a park that I've been able to find. I'm also aproaching it as a business to generate income. Most parks are built on land already owned in less then perfect locations. They start out at a disadvantage and struggle to overcome their limitations.

My ultimate goal will be to have over 300 RV sites, 30 cabins and around 40 tent sites. To start I'll build 100 sites, 4 cabins and 20 tent sites along with half the buildings I need.

I'm clearing roadways for half the park right now, even though less then half of them will be paved in order to open. The more I get cleared now, the cheaper it will be to expand down the road.

My buildings will be done in a rough stucco finish with exposed timbers to reflect a native African type of construction performed by native craftsman. I spent 14 months in Cameroon when I was in the Marines, and will base the finshed look on what I saw there. Interiors will be similar in rough apearance reflective of the third world.

That's the basics. I'm always looking for things I've missed and visit with owners of parks that I drive by. I've also been know to walk through a park and visit with some guests to see what they like and dislike in parks they've been to. Sometimes it's just an off comment that catches my attention, other times they have some very informative adivice. You just never know when something useful will come up.

This website has been extremely educational and inspirational in my aproach and designs. Thanks.

Eddie Walker

Nat · Mar 21, 2005

Re: Eddie Walker, How\'s the Campground coming?

Eddie, I've been in many CG's, and the one thing that always stands out to me is how freindly the managers/owners/staff is. I have put in swimming pools for years so a pool isn't a draw to me, and I can back my 5th wheel up, even though I love pull thru's. But to get me back everyone must be freindly. It all must be clean. Gravel roads sometimes look better than paved, but no-one likes potholes. From what we've seen of your work on this board, I don't think any of those things will ever be a problem.
If I can help any I'd be happy to, but we don't get to TX, but ever couple years.
Hey, is there coing to be any old tractor shows/ rodeos/ or anything that might be interesting going on around San Antonio/Boerne/Fredicksburg area on the week of 04/04/05? My wife and I are going to be camping at Alamo Fiesta, at Boerne that week. We are bring some freinds who've never been to TX with us, we're doing the Riverwalk/Alamo stuff for a while. We'll be going to Fredicksburg,Bandera,New Braunfels,Greune. I know that in Bourne they have a county park with a lot of old farm mach. that you can see anytime, but I bet there is more if I just knew where and when. Any ideas?