Hi,
I am thinking of starting a camp ground (although will be a few years before i get it up and going) with a few diffrences from most.
I'm not looking to make it rich, but more of a investment for retirement, and a place for my other half to set up and offer Massages,(Nationaly Certified Massage Therapist)
For one, it will have one price for everything, there will be two options, go cheap, or full hook up, No dollar here for this, or dollar there for that, just one set low price, i want to include water/power/wifi/cable all in the price.
I will have to start out small, 10 spaces or so for full hook up and build up from there. It will probably be off the beaten path, here in the mountians of montana, but with good roads to access.
Pool, Hot Tubs, man made creek running behind each camp site,(unless i can find land with a good creek or stream already on it) coming from a 12' waterfall (easy to do with a well, solar pump on both ends, just circulate the water.
A central located fire pit, with benches , for gathering as well as fire rings in each camp site and bbq grills, a section for pets to run and do there thing, fenced off of course, Stuff for kids to do, (not exactly sure what yet) a seperate quiet section for campers that dont like the noise and all the traffic. up to 10 seperate 'bathrooms' as we have at home, with sink,stool, shower/tub, a section for disabled with their own bathroom geared twords their needs.
I have a few other ideas i'm working on that are mainly cosmetic, but should help make the over all experience good.
I am kicking around the idea of making it clothing optional, since here in montana there is no such thing, and no laws aginst it.
But i am not sure if that would scare away potential rv'ers, or if it would encourage them, or if they would not care.
Though i would check on real opinions, before any serious consideration was given to it. I'm sure there are all sorts of zoning and issues to deal with.
Do you want to be saddled with a 24/7, 365 day operation that you can't leave for even a day? And do you really want to see a bunch of 65+ year old people naked toting their grandkids around? Sounds like a nice idea but the clothing optional would be a turn off for me. I don't have a prudish bone in my body but if Montana has no law agains naked 65+ year olds, they should have. I'm sure Montana has the same gravitational force the rest of the world has.
Happy camping!!! See ya'll down the road!!!
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Well; I wish you luck. With today's economic uncertainties and rising fuel costs, sounds like a super gamble but quite satisfying if it worked out for you. You might want to consider buying a campfround already in existence or, better yet, take a job managing a campground for a year or 2 before jumping in. As for us, we love Montana but prefer state and national park type campgrounds. Nothing against the nudity for others but it would severely curtail your potential customers and would eliminate us for sure. Also, the cost would be important for us as we wouldn't be interested in paying a high fee for all those extras.
clothing opitional would probably turn the majority of regular campers and traveling familys away instead of bringing them in ,but i have seen campgrounds just for them advertised how well they do i dont know,sounds like something that would need some research,the rest of your ideas sound ok , how about horse back rideing or trail rides with a old time western feel to the campground.
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We have campgrounds such as you describe here in Oregon (and there are some in Northern Cal)mostly centered around hot springs. People don't WALK AROUND naked but it's clothing optional for the pools. Works out fine and it seems to attract a serene type of camper. There are "nudist" campgrounds, but that's a different thing.
If I were you I'd investigate and explore these places for ideas and insight. It would be a lovely way to spend the summer.
outdoorsman2007 wrote: I was liking what I heard until you said clothing optional. That will leave us out, but it sounds like a great idea for those who do like that.
I second that. (for those who like it).
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Thats why i though i would post here, only been a few min. and already got some good input. I dont want to limit the camp ground for something that most wont consider good. After all the camp ground needs to generate traffic to support its self. I'm thinking optional is not a option.
Yea, tom_kat Horse back is one of the other ideas i'm thinking of, but its a larger investment, both for the horses, and equipment and food/vet bills as well as more for insurance and liability, but i think it would be worth it in the long run. I was also thinking of working with a rancher that has a running river and set up gold panning trips, for kids and adults.
I like the old west look idea I was thinking later on putting some cabins anyway.
The gas prices and money is tricky today, but if things go as planned, once its up and runnind it will be paid for, we are planing on putting away enough money over the next few years, and doing most the work our self, (or family cousin Electrician, another cousin carpenter etc.) So it would not have to make a lot to cover its cost.
But i think the gas issue is only temporary, i think either the prices will drop back down, or the big 3 will start pumping out some of those High MPG cars they have been sittin on the plans for.
it will have a impact in the short run, but looking twords the future, i dont see a huge change in the way we live and play. Just a diffrent way of doing it.
Thanks for all the great input.
* This post was
edited 05/14/08 12:56pm by an administrator/moderator *
Half of the RVer's have dogs and are always looking for a campground that has space to let dogs run off the leash. I am always looking for campgrounds that have open areas next door to let the dogs run. Also, some campgrounds are adding fenced in areas of 1/2-1 acre where dogs can run. This would be an attraction that you could advertise and I for one would be willing to drive the extra miles.
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Check out what you will need in liability insurance coverage it could be huge. People will sue you for tripping on a pebble that was not in the right place.
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Sounds like a nice idea but the clothing optional would be a turn off for me. I don't have a prudish bone in my body but if Montana has no law agains naked 65+ year olds, they should have.
I'm sure Montana has the same gravitational force the rest of the world has.
