Very good advise!!!!

Kim------I just heard from a friend that we met when we owned a motel & camp ground------as he was one of our "regulars" back then at staying with us! We had not heard from him in a very long while-----& he got our phone number from another friend! What is he doing---he bought a RV camp ground!!!! :) I thought about you when he called us------ He is NOT in a real popular tourist type area at all but in the middle of no where ----BUT--he bought the camp ground at a really good price as the owners wanted to retire & he had found that they are building a new HWY in that area & it will take about 5 years to complete the HWY & bridges & all the work in that area------so he will be FULL all the time for most of that time with workers!!!! At the end of 5 years he will have the camp ground paid for & made some money & he will have done improvements & he can either keep it-- or if he has had "enough FUN" he can sell it! :) So I just wanted to share with you what our friend did------ he is excited about what he is doing & even through the work is hard & etc/etc---- he has his married daughter & family who are planning on moving onto the camp ground with him to work & he sees that he is going to be able to pay his daughter & SIL more money than they are making at their current jobs---& so it will be a positive for them all------& he will have help he knows & can trust-----etc-- When I talked to him for over 3 hours on the phone ---sharing with him------- I suggested that in his main office he expand the area to include selling "oh I for got items" or a small section of food products etc/etc---& that sort of thing--as we made so much money in our General Store & gift shop when we owned ------what we called "EASY MONEY"! Just thought I would share that with you-----as he said the camp ground had been on the market for over 5 years-----& when he found out about it- he also checked into what was going on in the area-- & found out a lot of construction will be going on for 5 years or more------ so he will be full of construction works most of that time!!!!!!!! Just wanted to share that with you------

I agree with Sparkle------if I invested in an RV park---I would want to know what was going on in the area-so you have more than just tourists to pay the bills!!!!!! I agree I think with the cost of expenses---those who are working out on the road making their living by construction-etc/etc-----are going to take their RV's & park them & leave them as long as they can with out moving them--- And those who RV for the fun of it /like "week enders" are going to not travel as far from home as they have in the past!

I have owned motels, 24/7/365 convenience stores/delis - and I have managed rv parks. IF I were to purchase a business, I would purchase an rv park in a heartbeat. Now, I would research the area, etc.
I disagree about the size being just as easy large as small - and the work involved will grow with the size. However, size wouldn't scare me - and I would probably prefer one on the smaller size with room for growth - but that's just me :)
Yes, it is work. No, it doesn't have to be your life 24/7/365. Now, yes, I did live on premises of my motel. I also lived on premises of the motels I was GM for over the years - and I DID take time from all of them. I learned with my first business - the 24/7/365 convenience store/deli that I had to take time off - and I learned how to hire to do so.
Yes, employees can be a problem - but, especially in the rv industry, you can, if you offer the right incentives and are in the right areas - find good workampers - sometimes even some to be asst managers - where you CAN take time off.
And you can have a park in areas that are seasonal where maybe you do work like crazy during the season - but then have it easier - to possibly travel - during the off season or part of it.
If it's something you're interested in - please don't be scared off because some wouldn't do it. I can tell you the owners and managers of the large place I workamped last summer who worked it all summer - love it and wouldn't go back to what they did before. It's been great for both families.
And, as for my working this summer - I'm working with a group of workampers who are putting in hours with a work ethic not seen usually by the "local" help they might have been able to hire. Some of us were given the job of cleaning the laundry room. Bet the hired help wouldn't have moved out all the machines from the walls, cleaned all the connections, taken the machines apart and cleaned all of them, scrubbed the floors and walls. Well, I think you get the idea - all because on the list of "to-dos" we had - it said "Laundry room, deep clean". We knew what that meant - and yes, it got done!
I'm rambling - and with gas prices, some parks are hurting - but I also know others are not. The one I'm at now isn't. I'll bet the one I was at last summer will not be hurting. But, yes, some will be - and that's one reason why location is so important. And being able to adapt for what is happening.
If you're interested in doing this - realize it will be work, but don't rule it out.
And welcome! --------------------------- Once your reputation is ruined, you can live life quite freely :) (old German saying)
Bethers

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--------------------------- Once your reputation is ruined, you can live life quite freely :) (old German saying) Bethers