Proposed RV Parks Are Getting Denied! Why? 

People confuse rv parks with mobile home parks.

Wish RV Parks would leave more space between sites. I hate it when the sites are so narrow that you almost don’t have room for your slides.

As a full time RVer I have also seen an influx in the campgrounds. Also people that boondock in the nation forests and parks are destroying the parks and they are closing the parks to RVers destroying the camp sites. Leaving garbage burning shit and cutting trees down. We need to have more responsible campers.

When to an RV resort in Paso Robles CA. I spent $100 at the Walmart, $80 at Albertsons, $200 wineries/breweries and $70 at the gas station. Not to mention the RV park it’s self, around $300?. So putting an RV campsite in your area will boost the local economy

Our perfect campground is one next to a small town. we intentionally spend money in those small towns.

I think one of the main reasons that the proposals keep getting shot down is because of all the media on people who have never camped before going into parks and campgrounds and treating them like they’re garbage and not cleaning up after themselves and because of this communities don’t want garbage in their neighborhoods

We applied to change 2 acres to commercial so we could build a 10 spot full hookup campsite. We were denied. Hostility isn’t the word! We are NOT giving up.

I've been living full time in my RV since June and have traveled to 6 different states. I have yet to find a park that is full. Main reason is I stay off the main highways. I hit the small towns and just drive right in to the park and stay for a week or a month with zero issues. In fact, the place I'm at now has 65 lots and maybe a dozen RVs! Expand your horizons!

Right now there are so many people that lost everything and have switched to campers, living out of their vans, vehicles and tents and find it easier to move about to find work. However a strong number of them are also trashing state and federal grounds and even wealthy are causing damages with ATV's and such. We watched in the 1990's a very large privately owned wooded campground get trashed on the last day of a holiday as early risers got up, packed and left leaving behind objects, trash and even 4 used tires from the trunk of a taxi placed into another campers site. So he didn't have the money to pay to dispose the tires because he spent the money to camp? Add in central PA theft in farm lands is rampant. While security cameras catch many vehicles and faces few cases are ever solved. Why? Because the thieves are from other regions and use social media and different vehicles to case country homes and farms and even small town communities. Bringing in more for campgrounds will only add confusion to solving the problem. It won't be easy to get more campgrounds in PA.

What people don't realize is that their are rvs in the millions

This community is growing so quickly. It would be nice if we could leave a good impression wherever we go.

A recent 17-day trip from OK to NC that included time in TN answered your question for me. We stayed in some RV parks that styled themselves as “resorts” yet clearly had long-term units in place that included extensive flower pot deployments that limited adjacent space parking. These units were all showing their age which explained the rise of the 10-year rule we keep hearing about on YT. We didn’t have any notably bad experience, just observing why some communities would oppose further development. Our main purpose on the trip was to enjoy Smoky Mountain NP & we certainly did that.

I think a large part of the issue is the public perception of the run-down trailer park where drug dealers and those who are homeless end up. No one wants to live nest a collection of "vans down by the river". This may be the reason many locations are selling themselves as "resorts". Part of any proposal to government officials should include designs that completely follow local codes as well as long term maintenance plans to assure that the property doesn't deteriorate in just a few years. While underground utilities and paved roads add to the cost, they don't build support from government officials. Campgrounds located in areas that are already designed for access by commercial vehicles eliminate one complaint. I recently stayed at a campground that was almost a mile down a narrow road through a residential neighborhood. While the campground itself was great, I don't think the neighbors were thrilled with the large class A's and fifth wheels that were having to cut the corners of their property to make the turns. It may be helpful to work with the same entrepreneurs who are selling co-work spaces and sell to the local government as a place for digital nomads to work from. Work with the local cellular carriers to assure high-speed access (a tower lease located on the hill overlooking the camp could be a win-win for everyone) and target marketing at those looking for a safe place to work. A campground just on the edge of the local restaurant district could be the ultimate "walkable neighborhood".

Rving in California is near impossible. They haven't built any new sites and too many people own them(rv's) and there aren't enough(campgrounds) to go around.

Good RVers are usually kind of invisible to the community that they are visiting. The bad ones are the ones who get covered by the press, whose trash gets noticed by locals, whose "stealth" camping gets neighbors uncomfortable. So make your contributions noticeable. Be willing to look for an item locally rather than automatically ordering from Amazon - a few bucks more to keep a local business going is a cheap price to help us all have options from shops manned with knowledgeable staff. When you buy groceries or dine out take a moment and speak to the owner or manager. Complement them about your experience and mention that your RV travels brought you to their lovely town. See a fundraising jar for a sick kid or a family whose house burnt down? Make a contribution, let them see that people from outside of their community can be loving and caring. Driving and see a church supper, firehouse bbq? Stop & participate. Smile & be friendly. Put your phones down and interact when people are waiting on you. Act so they remember you as an RVer in a positive light.

Other factors to lack of new campground development: extraordinary cost and government hurdles. Campground operators say they must spend $10,000-$20,000 per campsite if they want to add on. A lot of this is because local/state regulations require tremendous infrastructure (think sewer, water and power). And developers prefer rehabbing rundown campgrounds because (generally speaking) it's more cost effective than building from scratch, plus it's one less government hurdle to clear because zoning is already in place.

Great job! Very interesting content. We'll be back to watch more of your content. ~ Danny and Lynn

I love your informational videos. I just subscribed to both your podcasts!

Buy a grabber and gloves. Pickup after the less experienced idiots that started this year with covid. The problem is and always be laziness and trash.

We definitely noticed that campgrounds were super full during our 2020 trip.

We also buy groceries and fuel in these communities as well as dining out etc... I’ve been a solo full timer for over three years and primarily boondock. It’s getting harder and harder to find parking everywhere 😕

Because I don’t think this pandemic is going away anytime soon and sites are becoming harder to book we opted for a seasonal site for next summer.

I'm 70 thinking about this life style. I have never done this before but would love to do it. Good video. Thanks

This IS great information and at the same time a bummer to know, thank you for researching and sharing with us !😎

My self i would love more rv places in ga. That stay open year round. But it sad that so many people leave trash behind.

What they need to realize is that if they don't build the NECESSARY RV parks to meet the needs of RVers, and teach/train the "newbies" to use common courtesy (which is no more common than sense these days) and how to behave like considerate, civilized human beings, with the economy crashing and the homelessness epidemic growing as it is, we will no longer be able to distinguish the difference between respectable RVers and the trashy homeless who lack a sense of self respect and dignity, much less respect for others. We'll all be parked any where we can find a place. I personally decided to purchase my motorhome in March as a direct result of covid in order to guarantee my son and I don't end up homeless homeless if it was to come to that, and we are in the process of moving in to our RV full time as I can no longer afford to pay rent without making huge, unacceptable sacrifices which I would only make by force. Instead we are sacrificing space and privacy and the other creature comforts we enjoy in a home or apt in order to guarantee a roof over our heads and protection from the elements and (to some extent) other dangers(I feel a good deal more vulnerable in the RV than the apt). But we are respectable, civilized people who appreciate a clean, aesthetically appealing environment and know where the trash belongs. When did parents stop teaching their kids proper manners, how to be neighborly and and considerate of others?? I guess if parents can't do it, the rest of us have to try- NOT by being judgmental, accusatory, shaming, and ugly, but by setting the example of personal responsibility and practicing kindness. The adults who were denied the opportunity to be raised by parents who provided the structure, discipline, and example of responsibility actually Crave it still. They were likely denied much more than that as well. If they are treated with disdain and looked down on with disgust, it only perpetuates the poor behavior we prefer to see remedied. Something to keep in mind as this chaos insues.

We travel 5 months out of the year. We have hosted many times as well. I too would have some concerns if an RV Park was wanting to set up adjacent to my sticks and bricks. I have first-hand experience with community concerns... I have never thought about it until now... I am now perplexed, thanks ;)

Too much NIMBY syndrome, with people not realizing how expensive it is to own an RV in the first place, not to mention how much money said RV travelers bring to communities they visit.

As a campground owner I would hate to have a campground next to my home.... we have gone to getting rid of our tent campers due to how disrespectful and unclean they are! And as for monthlies we do limit the age unless the trailer is shown to us because we’ve had some winners try to come in.... I could go on with all the problems we have including with churches thinking we are a homeless shelter for them to just drop off people at!

It's not just about money (revenue for municipalities and local businesses). It's also about Quality of Life and the Environment for each town, area, and region. Some people may want to keep their quaint towns quaint.

I like the story. It would be interesting to hear some examples of where it has happened.

Very interesting Jason, thanks for the video & keep up the good work 👍👍

You made a very helpful video because we are looking to invest into our own RV Park

The truck stop developers are having the same problem

We would love to have you at Park Place RV Ranch in Tolar, TX. ....3 minutes to Granbury, voted #1 Best Small Town in 🇺🇸 America.

Big mouth! Hot Springs is one of my go to secret spots. 😂

This is certainly a public perception issue. Let’s be real - - there are unfortunately countless examples of poorly managed and crime ridden RV parks that cause the public and elected officials to say “Not here.” These are not the parks used by upstanding RV’rs. These are basically permanently encamped and run-down trailers and motor homes. Making it more concerning to the public is the rise in homelessness and people living out of cars and vans parked on streets. While the public may be incorrectly conflating these distinctly different types of RV’rs, their concerns are nonetheless understandable.

Ty for the information sir.

Great content!

We’ve ran into it more times than not. Can’t find someplace to park. Park for the night, for the week, or like we normally do, 2-3 months. Something needs to change. We’ve discussed buying our own RV park, but with my numerous years of construction experience, maybe I should build one... 🤔 The entire RV travel experience is getting less “friendly”. Less Walmart’s to stay at, more “No overnight parking” signs. Not good for us fulltimers. Time for something to change!

If this is true, I don't really blame folks. It's a roll of the dice and maybe home owners just don't want to gamble with their neighborhood. A developer for RV storage got shut down in my neighborhood because folks didn't like the idea. (Personally, I don't care but I see both sides)

Jason does a great job with this you guys! Smash that thumbs up button.. and the best supporting actor nomination for Abby

The locals at Antelope Oregon did this same thing to the Rajneeshapuram commune.

Guess they prefer homeless in a tent next to them.

I believe a number of RV Associations and Clubs known to most of us do lobby legislatures and city councils when new RV parks and refurbished ones are on the agenda. Not sure if it's coordinated but it should be. Seems like it would also help manufacturers (mostly in Indiana) to have government relations folks provide the nationwide numbers of before and after economic impact of RV parks (not mobile home residences/parks). I understand there are more than one million full-timers now, and many more who go for shorter-term trips, so you're right, we need to go to our own communities and argue on behalf of RV park progress and upgrades. We need an alert system--perhaps from RVers themselves, and coordinated through clubs, associations, and the RV industry--to help. Money talks louder than fear so let's show them the money!

There is a huge issue with "camping" homeless people in many places (mine included). Our local beautiful park has become an inhospitable, dirty, and dangerous area to visit. 😢 How would a campground assure they are not overrun? 🤷‍♀️ Cost per site, and length of time limits are two that I can think of. Any other ideas?

How do you find out about theses meetings?

So glad we boondock 90% of the time.

I am contemplating at opening an RV park in British Columbia. The land cost is $800,000 CAD ($600,000 USD). 110 acres in a beautiful area near a warm summer lake and a lot of snowmobiling in the winter (mild / shorter than the rest of Canada winters but a lot of snow). Will I ever recoup the money? I will build most of the sites by myself. The land is undeveloped. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

We have the same travel trailer

The park owners pay BOTH property tax AND revenue taxes to local communities.

There’s already lots of campgrounds that closed from the pandemic and likely won’t reopen. I would like there to be more RV rental companies. There isn’t much selection where I live and I don’t intend to buy one for a short trip.

More campgrounds ⛺️

Hey! No kidding! Do they allow packages delivery up there?

It's because I happened to have stopped by each of these towns. Each place I go is like Rambo First Blood😃🤣😂

I was denied in Mt. Pleasant Tn , there is a code against Rv parks and campgrounds in general, would have been a great development, but they just say no at the building and planning department.

How i find out the cost for rv development?

Actual camping seems to have lost it's place . Most are glampers that drag basically a house around with them. Most are rude thinking they're better than you. But they can't seem to find the fish LoL 🤣😎. We did the fifth wheel thing and it was more of a burden.

Dollars and cents - show them how it benefits local businesses. Also, ask them where good areas are to locate the park, so that rv'ers don't interfere with or become obtrusive to local residents. Find locations where you are needed and wanted. Do surveys where there are no rv parks, find out where rv'ers are staying, explain benefit to the community to have it legal, regulated, organized, and earning money for local businesses. My best wishes!

I don't know why people think that campsites would be hard for a community. It would add jobs to the community and it would be on the map.

The local people who protest against campsites are called ‘NIMBY’s’, Not in my back yard!!.…… They probably enjoy regular RV camping, but don’t want the sites near them!!……Hypocrites!!

It might be a good idea to propose new campground to unincorporated towns or low income small towns. They could use the revenue. For example Transylvania, Louisiana is unincorporated town. You could also propose new campgrounds around shipyards or plants. Those places would be good for temporary workers. Just my thoughts.

We spend our money where we stay. Developers also need to make parks more visually appealing to local officials.

I can understand the push back. We have a number of RV parks in our area. Bunch of transients that cause local problems. Locals aren't quick to flip you off, or be rude in traffic. People wit out of state plates driving around...not so much. They brought NY attitudes down here, and it sucks.

Geez, you are so right! We have a proposed RV park on some Forest Service land that was recently exchanged and is under private control now, and adjacent neighbors who have had this lovely open space next to them are fighting anything this new owner is trying to do, to the point of getting a referendum to have the public vote down his proposed RV park. What do they want? The guy to do nothing? Not going to happen. What's worse is this land would then be divided into private home lots, or made into a commercial strip mall...and it's gone forever. At least an RV park will keep lots of trees, have some trails probably open to the public -- it's short-sighted, not fair to the developer (who finally said screw it and fenced off his property instead of keeping it temporarily open to let everyone enjoy the land as they used to; I don't blame him!), and they main opponents are vocal and intimidate anyone who wants to interject their alternative opinion.

Build a CAMPGROUND . That means tent sites too and limit the number of days , no long term living there . This would shut up the locals as it is not a new Trailer Park but a short term place to stay and spend money locally! It's a vacation spot not a place to live. If the locals still object show them how much revenue you expect each site to generate in local sales, groceries, gas, and curios. Don't forget to promote businesses that could also be opened due to Campground. More restaurants, tire and vehicle repairs, laundromats , Local arts and crafts . When a single business can jump start other commerce it is a total benefit to the community. The locals fear transient types that break down and decide to live in the Campground. The only long term resident at Campground should be host and they should have a home near entrance and office. Plans for the campground showing a well landscaped area , trees that line the perimeter . This creates a privacy fence so neighbors living nearby don't see the sites . Standard quiet hours .

I looked into opening a trailer park here in Sacramento, and basically would cost a fortune even if it was approved, and they won't approve them, so total waste of time to try. However, there ARE plenty of places for RVs, they are just far away from where people want to be.

I agree with full heartedly about needing more campgrounds. I’m all for it. Thank you Jason for this video. Stay safe.

Thanks for this, I'm interested in developing an RV park and I think I would ask some people to come to the city/county counsel in support of my project.

Poorly managed parks and tenants that live there full time or almost full time is a rub by locals.

There are A LOT of campgrounds that need Re-Habbed.

The smart mayors/government leaders will allow new RV parks to be built. Especially near towns that need economic development. RVers spend money in the local economy. It’s called tourism. Plain and simple.

Unfortunately in some areas like here in puget Sound area, the homeless population has run rampant and there’s garbage and stuff everywhere. So a lot of people around here don’t want the campgrounds for fear that the homeless may overrun them as well and leave their garbage and who knows what else.

Surprising and sad to hear this. This could be a real boon to small towns all across America. Money talks. All I can suggest is that people will listen to money, especially if they think they can make more of it. They need to be graphically convinced that they're losing out by not having campgrounds and RV parks. Are there any statistics that show a bottom line $ benefit with a small town that allowed new construction of a campground or RV park? Perhaps some representatives from local Harvest Hosts hosts showing the benefits. Most small towns want tourism - there's hardly a better tourism opportunity.

All the Clubs and membership groups we all have and pay for have a responsibility to show up at these meetings and represent Us. That being said, new campgrounds should not be allowed to have small packed in rv sites. The exception being overnight only spots with a three night max. A minimum width should be established for all future sites or redo's. These parking lots that call themselves campgrounds suck! They often leave huge open areas with no function and pack people in. Pipe and wire doesn't cost that much more.

You must beat city government over the head over and over with hard facts on how much money you are adding to their community coffers. The tax revenues, the local businesses that make more money, and the good and free p.r. on social media are the carrots that must be shown to government.

Communities want RV parks, they don’t want trailer parks. With the correct zoning rules and regulations, many communities would probably accept an RV Campground

The county would rather have the property used for houses or condos so they can charge property tax. That's a huge income to the crooks

Im confused new parks are expencive. Meaning you have to have money. No freeloading here. A lot of people do want cheap camping good luck with that.

If you would have ask me a year ago about cities and counties that are reluctant to put in a R.V park/resort , I would have said no way? But now? I along with a business partner put in a proposal for a R.V resort right on the Colorado River in Nevada, down river from Laughlin Nevada. This would be a great resort with private Casitas and regular camp sites also. Not your typical R.V park, the city and county compared our proposal to the K.O.A that is located at the Avi Casino, granted the two R.V parks would be close to one another, but the K.O.A is just a R.V park, not a resort, we would have been right on the river with a boat launch, tackle shop, store and a bar&grill. The perfect place to fish, ride your sea -dos and do a little gambling. So we will see what happens in the next year 2021? Hopefully they will reevaluate the proposal and give us approval. Take care.

One can ascertain that there is no RV community per se as there is with physical stable brick and mortar towns and such. Most parks would be not in cities but under county control. The best target should be state government. Goalswould be better regulation of parks: minimum fair spacings, clean water, etc. The parks would seem best regulated by the hotel division or perhaps a new separate dept. Either that or state laws to define what counties should do or not do.

The NIMBY phenomenon is not new or limited to RV park development. Whether it’s a Walmart, Costco, Whole Foods, apartment building or even a new house on a long vacant but completely legal lot the local Karen’s will come out of the woodwork with their strident objections and manufactured outrage. Anyone with any intention of building anything needs to anticipate that and plan to enter the permit application phase with allies on board ready to attend meetings, speak up calmly and articulately, and to write letters with a calm but positive ‘voice’ using well reasoned arguments to planning board members and/or county commissioners. A lot of times it comes down to zoning: if an RV park is a permitted land use of the proposed site and the applicant doesn’t seek a bunch of zoning variances or exemptions the local authorities are much more likely to approve the project despite objections - especially if you’ve done your homework and crossed your Ts and the the opposition arguments are largely baseless.

👍👍

I can see the Residents argument. There are to many trashy folks who donot clean up after themselves and trash our forests and national parks. I have seen people throw trash and garbage everywhere when there are dumpsters all around. !

Real estate persons are trending against Longterm RV’s and parks as well. They want to sell you or rent you a house if people intend to stay in a certain area . Galveston TX is an example. A city ordinance was passed concerning longterm campers. The real estate people prefer home owners or renters vs longterm campers

Wow, I can't believe people are complaining about RV parks!! I mean tourism brings lots of money to towns and especially small towns that don't have much of an economy! I would for sure vote for an RV park in my town!!

You can convince communities to host these RV by insuring regulations on noise. Who the hell wants to listen to drunken parties, ATVs, loud music and generators?

I wouldn’t want a campground in my backyard either. Don’t want to smell the campfires, hear the parties, etc. I am an RVer. I think the RV parks should be in rural areas where there are trees and lot’s of nature to enjoy. I get it...sometimes you want to visit where there’s no campground. Try Harvest Hosts or Boondockers Welcome, but don’t run down my sticks and bricks home property value.

They don't want RV parks built but they have no issue with building trailer parks that turn into dumps after a couple of years.

campgrounds with age limits for campers and their rigs are also annoying. nothing like being told you are too young and your vintage, perfect camper is too old! think RV park permit is hard to get, try a racetrack! and racetracks are 4-5 weekends a year! and we will buy all the ice, junkfood and beer you can stock in your stores! we stock up on the way in, stay at the track, and gas up on the way home.

Unreal

Well if you own the land and you're outside the city limits don't ask just do it

I have one simple philosophy, no camp grounds, no RVs welcome = zero money spent by this family of 6!

Those were Sandhill Cranes, not Canadian Geese, that were audiobombing you.

too much work and not enough rewards or appreciation may sum this up

That is correct, we don't want more RV parks, my wife plus many other neighbors went to a council meeting to voice our opposition and we were successful in stoping the park, you can keep your tax money, go somewhere else

I like the approach from Thousand Trails. They are on the outskirts of towns, but they stay in touch with the town’s leaders, and their campgrounds are clean, organized, and well maintained.

I have been tricked into staying at many run down campgrounds with OLD online pictures and glowing reviews, my rule of thumb, KOA or it has over 100 reviews, otherwise it is probably best to avoid it. If it only has less than 100 reviews, they are too easily faked by friends, fake accounts and family of the owner. The only exception would be as if the place is brand new.

Rather than build only new 'resort style' campgrounds, there's a need for more 'affordable' campgrounds. Certainly the campground can't make it by only charging $10.00 per nite, after all they often provide water, elect., sewer, bathroom/shower buildings., maybe even a pool. However, charging an arm and a leg, upwards of $85.00 per nite is making it harder for families to extend their vacation time to 2 weeks. They might be only able to affort 4, or 5 days or a week possibly. Of course campgrounds are a business, but I'm for making it enjoyable without the needless stress of spending a fortune on a stay at a campground for a vacation & lasting happy memories. If folks want to put down a trailer for a seasonal arrangement, returning year after year, guaranteeing that reserved site, that's another matter pricewise. Mostly I'm concerned with basic camping, safe & affordable. Charging whatever the market will bear is difficult for me to accept. And anyone who has eyes & ears will agree that the campground brings in revenue to the town, the food stores, sporting goods shops, restaurants, amusements, Summer events, open air theaters, antique shops, yardsales, etc, etc, etc. The hospitable community where a campground establishes and flourishes, and there is a big demand, gains much from them putting down roots, their footprint.

That was just touching the tip of the iceberg wasn't it