RV Park thoughts, suggestions & ideas.

[txdon]

Thanks for the clarification midlf. I guess with all of Eddies trophies and Steph's hunting and all of the wild game lurking about, I was thinking they would make a range to practice shooting.

 

[EddieWalker]

Eddie,

2 things would attract me to become a seasonal camper
#1 the swimming pool
#2 the owners of the campground

I know you love it and others have commented positively, however the Big Game Preserve is not of interest to me. It is the pool, my personal campsite, and how i personally connect witht he owners that makes me sign. i don't een mind construction workers who rent because they are int he area for a job. These are working people and I have learned a lot of intersting things from construction workers. They are jsut working people and there is nothign wrong with that, i surley am no "better' than them and am more than happy to ahve them as my neighbor. I have had consturction guys as my campsite neighbor for about a month at a time. Every time, I cna sya that they were nice guys.

Rox,

I agree, the wildlife preserve isn't enough to bring in guests on it's own. It's a novelty that will make me unique and offer something that most RV'ers enjoy. Wildlife.

My idea is to do what all the other RV Parks are doing, but better. I'm not inventing or creating anything new, but I am steeling the good ideas that work and combining them into one package that I feel will make me better than the compition.

Every RV Park owner I've met has told me that the pool is the biggest waste of money they have spent on thier park. Nobody uses them, but it's one of the first questions they are asked when somebody calls for a reservation. I've seen dozens and dozens of RV Park pools and haven't seen one yet that gives me the warm and fuzzies. They are just rectangular holes in the ground surrounded by concrete. No landscaping, no nice sitting or eating areas and nothing to do but get wet.

I don't consider a pool to be a place to swim. To me, it's a gathering point for people to relax and enjoy themselves. None will swim, but if it's nice, allot will get wet and cool off. My pool will be based on ideas I've stolen from resorts all over the world. It will be beautiful and apealing.

The fishing lake was designed for it's visual apeal more than anything. I could have made a simple fishing pond for less than half of what I have into it, but it wouldn't look like this one does. Very few people will fish it. If I get ten percent, I'd be suprised. In fact, I'm thinking only one or two percent of those who come here in a year will fish it. But I bet 80 to 90% will walk around it and take pictures of it!!!!

My sites will be nothing that isn't already being done in the better parks already. New parks are all doing the same thing. It's what guests want and has proven to work. Mine will be nicer than some because of my trees and how much space I'm using for each site. I'd rather have a full park with 100 sites than an empty one with 150 sites.

The bathrooms are gonna be nice. Better than most people have in there own homes. Total privacy with lots of space.

Studies have proven that the number one thing people like to do on vacation is shop. Crazy, but it's by far the biggest thing that happens. The next biggest activity is watch TV. Very few actualy want to do outdoor activities, but they want to have them available.

Studies have also proven that the fist person a guest comes across will either sell the park or ruin it. It is mandatory that they get a friendly hello. It sounds simple, but from going to lots of parks myself, it's also not very common. It might just be that fact that I pull up in a car or pickup truck that get them defensive, but I've had some downright rude confrontations from owners. I've also noticed that the attitude of the owner is reflected in the upkeep of there parks. The nicer the park, the nicer the owner.

Not to critisize other parts of the country, but here in East Texas, we have some of the nicest, friendliest people I've ever come across. Souther hospitality at it's finest. My goal is to hire people based on there personalities more than anything else. None of my jobs require any great skill level, but thier ability to make others feel welcome.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[BTDT]

One thing that has bothered me about some parks, is that if you arrive late (due to whatever reason) and all designated spots are taken, there is no place to just park (like an overflow area-say near the boat ramp) and sleep until morning. Then you either get a spot or move on. I know it's hard to keep going sometimes if you've driven most of the night and you get there and then have to keep going. I guess if you have a gate that closes at a certain time that would cause problems also, unless you have a night shift or a buzzer or something to let folks in.

 

[ronjhall]

Not to critisize other parts of the country, but here in East Texas, we have some of the nicest, friendliest people I've ever come across. Souther hospitality at it's finest. My goal is to hire people based on there personalities more than anything else. None of my jobs require any great skill level, but their ability to make others feel welcome.

Thanks,
Eddie

I will agree with that statement.
Is Steph going to quit her daytime job?

 

[BTDT]

I will agree with that statement.
Is Steph going to quit her daytime job?

Who will feed the goose if she quits?

 

[RobS]

Rox,

My idea is to do what all the other RV Parks are doing, but better. I'm not inventing or creating anything new, but I am steeling the good ideas that work and combining them into one package that I feel will make me better than the compition.

I don't consider a pool to be a place to swim. To me, it's a gathering point for people to relax and enjoy themselves. None will swim, but if it's nice, allot will get wet and cool off. My pool will be based on ideas I've stolen from resorts all over the world. It will be beautiful and apealing.

The bathrooms are gonna be nice. Better than most people have in there own homes. Total privacy with lots of space.

Studies have also proven that the fist person a guest comes across will either sell the park or ruin it. It is mandatory that they get a friendly hello. It sounds simple, but from going to lots of parks myself, it's also not very common. It might just be that fact that I pull up in a car or pickup truck that get them defensive, but I've had some downright rude confrontations from owners. I've also noticed that the attitude of the owner is reflected in the upkeep of there parks. The nicer the park, the nicer the owner.

Thanks,
Eddie

You're hitting on a couple of key things for us Eddie. We do like a pool, but tend to sit by it rather than swim in it. Our favorite spots have had pools with substantial deck/patio area around it. Nothing worse than cat-napping beside the pool and getting splashed. I also like sparkling bathrooms though my wife will use the RV bath almost exclusively.

 

[rox]

SUPER Flush! Eddie when I worked in a large ofice building they had these toilets that had unbelievable 'suction" during the flush. I often thought, 'Man I wish I could get that kind of suction at home" If you can get toilets with that "super" kind of suction that would be great.

 

[EddieWalker]

"The berm is part of Camp Fannins Rifle Range #4."

Eddie, tell us more about the range. How will the noise affect the tranquility of the park? Will automatic weapons, pistols, and shotguns be allowed?

Don,

The Army took 14,000 acres to build Camp Fannin in 1942. When they closed it down, most of the land was returned to the original owners, but some was used for other purposes. The hospital became a Terbuculosis research center, and then a hospital run the the University of Texas. Today it's called the UT Health Center. The buildings from the base are all now comercial operations owned by individual companies. Most of the remaining land is privatley held and is either farms, ranches or homes.

My piece of Camp Fannin was part of Rifle Range #4. All that's left are some dirt berms they built up to make shooting over 300 yards level. The attached pictures shows the end of the biggest berm. At this location, I'm going to build a large gazebo. It's in a really unique position with an amazing view of the lake!!!

There will be no firearms fired in the park, and of course, no hunting. I'll probably have to trap problem hogs, but I'm not sure how I'll get rid of them. Hopefully I'll be able to sell them to somebody.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

One thing that has bothered me about some parks, is that if you arrive late (due to whatever reason) and all designated spots are taken, there is no place to just park (like an overflow area-say near the boat ramp) and sleep until morning. Then you either get a spot or move on. I know it's hard to keep going sometimes if you've driven most of the night and you get there and then have to keep going. I guess if you have a gate that closes at a certain time that would cause problems also, unless you have a night shift or a buzzer or something to let folks in.

BTDT,

That's a good point you bring up. I really don't know what to do with people when I'm full. I really don't want them staying here. Free guests mean they haven't agreed to my rules and there could be some liability issues. I also don't like the idea of them blocking any of my roads.

There is a gas station at the offramp coming off of Interstate 20 that has at least 40 big rigs parked there for the night and could easily handle some RV's.

There is also a Cracker Barrell and a Walmart 11 miles West of me in Lindale, just off Interstate 20 that people can stay at for free.

My plan was to post available spots for people who get in later. I'll have a map and rely on the honor system. Those who do this say it's very rare, and in some case, it's never happened, that they get stiffed.

My thoughts right now is to have a No Vacancy type sign to let them know there are no spaces available. I'll have to figure out where to put this and how to activate it.

Any other ideas?

Because of my perminent residents, I won't be able to have a gate. I also don't want a gate for emergancy reasons. If a guest has a heart attack in the middle of the night, I don't want to be responsible for any delays.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

I will agree with that statement.
Is Steph going to quit her daytime job?

Ron,

The goal is to put Steph in charge of running the store. She will definiately quite her job to run the park, but not until we're turning a profit and can live without her regular paycheck. Even more important than what she earns are her medical benifits. I'll get that going when we can afford it too, but I want to stay cautious and not get into a situation we can't afford. Two kids with one being a daredevil who has impulse control problems means we go to the emergancy quite a few times a year.

Eddie