Blog copyright Janet Groene 2024. To donate in support of this free weekly information, use your PayPal account to send $10 once a year (52 issues) to janetgroene@yahoo.com
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS WEEK'S RESEARCH REPORT ON FUTURE, PROPOSED, OPENING AND EXPANDING CAMPGROUNDS US AND CANADA.
JUST DON'T FUGGITABOUT IT!
By Janet Groene
THE “I FORGOT” CHECKLIST
Did you ever forget to secure the awning and have it go rogue at 55 mph? Did you drive away without disconnecting the sewer hose? Is your favorite sweater caught in the door and dragging on the highway?
Insurance specialist Jim LaBelle gave me his list of “I Forgot” claims from
the insurance company's perspective. In other words, he knows the actual
dollar cost of insurance claims that RV-ers make because of 32 steps they forgot.
1. Check all fluids and tire pressure. (Don’t forget the boat trailer, toad and other wheels, not just the motorhome.)
2. Check your battery charge.
3. Check RV wheel lug nut torque and tire pressure.
4. Check propane tanks and generator levels – fill if necessary.
5. Fuel tow vehicle before hooking up.
6. Items inside camper secured, counters cleared, and cabinets latched?
7. TV secure?
8. Roof vents and windows closed?
9. Air conditioning off?
10. Awning stowed and secured?
11. Slides checked for water and debris?
12. Inside RV clear of items in slide path?
13. Slides closed and locked?
14. Refrigerator off or running on DC?
15. Black and gray takes empty?
16. Black and gray tank valves closed?
17. Treatment chemicals and small amount of water added to black tank?
18. Cable/phone, electricity, sewer hose, and water hose disconnected and stored?
19. Water pump off?
20. RV lights off?
21. Propane tank valves closed?
22. All trash removed?
23. Stabilizer Jacks raised or removed?
24. King pin lock removed if applicable?
25. RV breakaway switch, umbilical cord, sway bars, and safety chains attached where applicable?
26. Tongue or leveling jacks raised? Leveling blocks stored?
27. Chocks removed and stored?
28. All doors and panels on RV locked?
29. RV and tow vehicle lights working?
30. RV brakes checked?
31. RV brakes checked?!?
32. Walk around RV complete? No items left behind? Jacks up?
See 16 Janet Groene feature articles on RV tips, quips and trips on the free website, https://rvtravel.com/author/janet
IF YOU LOVE READING, ARMCHAIR TRAVEL AND A KICKY MYSTERY, MEET WIDOW FARLEY HALLADAY...
APRIL SHOWERS BRING
MYSTERY MURDERS
Curl up in your camper tonight with book 4 in the Yacht Yenta “cozy” mystery series, April Avenger by widow Farley Halladay. Once a sailor, Farley now operates an online boat booking business that lets her sail virtually all over the world. She shares her shortcut galley recipes throughout the books. As a grieving widow she is also a cook, caregiver and kickass crime solver. For Kindle, Nook, Google Play and most other ebook formats. https://amzn.to/3EKgaoP
Next Yacht Yenta mystery: May Misfire.
CAMPGROUNDS; GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS
This information from local sources may be tentative, premature or incomplete. We report it here to give you a heads-up to follow up on your own.
* Memorial Day weekend is the opening gala for the new Skyridge Trails Campground in Torrington, Connecticut. (860) 485-7500. The 365-acres of forest and meadows has 90 RV and tent sites, all with full hook-ups. Amenities include laser tag, a jumping pillow, archery and a playground. The campground will feature fun family theme weekends through November 11, when it closes for the season.
The Mitchell, Arizona KOA is up for sale but for now it’s open as usual for the season through November 3. The 13-acre KOA has 65 RV sites plus tent sites, cabins and mini-golf. Recent upgrades include a refurBished camp store and gift shop, new fences and facelifts for cabins. Stay tuned for possible changes under new owners
* In Fairfield, Iowa, construction of a 14-site campground is underway in Jefferson County Park. Expected to be ready by Spring 2025, Prairie Ridge Campground will have full hook-ups.
* The Jellystone Park in Woodstock, New Brunswick is going to have new owners., so check ahead for any changes in rules and policies. The park has RV, tent and cabin sites, two water slides, mini-golf, a heated swimming pool and lots more fun for all ages. Its season closes September 2. Telephone (888)-222-9644.
Summer storms ahead! There's disaster readiness, then there is RV disaster readiness. See tips for trips at https://www.rvtravel.com/disaster-readiness-rv-style-2265
* Now a camping destination for RV-ers as well as tent campers, the former site of the 1969 Woodstock (New York) Music and Art Fair has a star-packed concert season for the summer of 2024. Make plans now for a total vacation to the area with concerts including John Fogerty on June 14h, the Outlaw Music Festival on July 6, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top on August 16 and Deep Purple with Yes on September 6t
Less than a mile from the concert stages, the Best Road campground offers car camping, dry RV dry and premium campsites priced $107 to $258. Glampsites start at $335. Reserve sites separately from concert tickets. Begin your planning with a visit to (www.) BethelWoodsCenter.org/ or call (845) 583-2000.
* The Horry County, South Carolina planning commission has given a thumbs-up to a zoning change that will lead to a new, 258-site, 98-acre RV park near Conway. Still subject to additional readings and permissions, the park is promised to be a true RV park and not a mobile home park. We don’t yet have a name but further information may be available from visit myrtlebeach.com/
* Jellystone groupies alert! The three new Yogi Bear Jellystone RV Camp-Resorts opening this season are in Zion, Utah, Cochran, Georgia (south of Macon) and Watts Bar Lake, Tennessee (south of Knoxville.)
* The first RV park in San Miguel County is coming to Norwood, Colorado according to the Telluride Daily Planet. Find it about a mile east of town adjacent to the cemetery off Highway 145. The 39-acre parcel will be about five areas of campsites and the rest agricultural. Its season will be mid-March through mid-November. In Phase One, 26 pull-through RV sites will go in, about half of them with full hookups and the others with water and electric. Also added will be bathhouses and a recycling area. In Phase two, 14 more spaces and five cabins will be added. Five spaces will be reserved for extended stays by workers at Telluride.
* With the opening of the newly cleaned swimming pool at Balmorhea State Park, Balmorhea, Texas, the park’s campground shows off improvements including three new ADA sites, new paving and upgraded water and electric services. The park is known for its crystal clear, spring-fed swimming pool. While you’re in the area don’t miss the Fort Davis National Historic Site, the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine.(432) 375-2370. Contact the state park at BalmorheaSP@tpwd.texas.gov. Make camping reservations online or by phone at (512) 389-8900.
* According to the El Campo Leader-News, city officials in El Campo, Texas determined that the Quick ‘n Easy 3 RV Park is “blighted” and “must go”.
* In Wahkiakum County, Washington, improvements to the port and campground continue. Last year, more campsites were provided with power and water hookups. This year the River Mile 38 Brewery opens. Also new is an Italian restaurant, Salt and Tomato.
* Proposed for Allentown, Florida in the Panhandle near NAS Whiting Field is a 54-site RV park on 78 acres. The plan calls for a swimming pool, poolhouse, a meeting facility, shower house, barbecue pavilion, playground, tiki hut, gym and outdoor play areas. Eight cabins will be built around the park’s pond. We don’t have a name for the park yet. Stay tuned to see if the proposal succeeds.
* A 30-unit RV park is coming to Malheur County, just north of Ontario, Oregon. The 6.6-acre plot will accommodate about 30 RV sites.
* Sunny Oaks RV Park in Jacksonville, Florida is growing by 66 Premium, big rig RV sites in a section known as The Reserve @ Sunny Oaks Park. Get details at https://www.sunnyoaksrvparkjacksonville.com/
* After a $8 renovation, Turtle Point Campground at Pymatuming State Park, Pennsylvania is open again. Closed since 2009, the campground now has two loops with 100 campsites, restrooms, showers, a beach restroom, fishing pier and boat launch.
* Word from KROX Radio is that Crookston (Minnesota) Central Park Campground is upgrading. A new bath house will be added and there may be as many as 21 campsites.
* An old quarry site in North Vernon, Indiana is being turned into an RV campground. In three phases, 800 acres of a 160-acre “worthless” property will become a recreation bonanza after $2.2 million in construction. The park will include a campground with hookups, a playground, walking trails, restrooms and a section for primitive camping. According to KORN Radio, work will begin this fall.
* East of Xenia in New Jasper Township, Ohio, Caesar Ford Park has had a $3 million facelift. Opening on Memorial Day weekend are 12 RV sites with full hookups, a picnic shelter and a shower house. Primitive campsites will be completed next year.
*Opening June 30 in Whistler, British Columbia is a 39-site Whistler Olympic Park RV & Campground. Activities, which are open to the public as well as to campers, include Discover Biathlon, hiking and disc golf. Revenue from the non-profit park benefits Nordic winter sports. The campground closes October 2. Reserve at www.whistlerolympicpark.com/campground/
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