We stayed at a KOA south of Louisville on the way to our destination.
They had the brass to charge 51.00 for a site that would not be a
bargain at 10.00.
The first site they tried to lead us into was so tight it would have
scraped the paint on the trees.
The site we finally got into was nowhere near level and almost as
narrow. It was gravel or really lime dust and so short that we were
concerned that we should disconnect the toad. The requisite picnic table
would probably put splinters in your behind if you could manage to
clean the surfaces and it did not fall apart. They haven't seen
sandpaper or paint or any maintenance in in many years. We could not
extend our awning but did have room to extend the rooms.
We would have passed it up except it was late and we were tired.
Over the last few years we have found most of the KOAs to be in a
similar situation. Small sites, sometimes too small and not wide enough,
crowed by trees and mud holes or lime dust surfaces. One near Thunder
Bay was acceptable in 2002. We went into and right back out a number, of
KOAs over some time. The rates have always been high, for what they
offered, which was generally run down parks dimensioned and laid out for
small campers of the fifties.
When it gets to the point that they charge as much as a luxurious RV
resort it is time to write them off.
KOA is a marketing outfit not a RV campground chain.
> We stayed at a KOA south of Louisville on the way to our destination.
> They had the brass to charge 51.00 for a site that would not be a
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> resort it is time to write them off.
> KOA is a marketing outfit not a RV campground chain.
KOA is not a chain. It's a franchise. The franchise owners are required
to pay a licensing fee to KOA every year in order to use the name.
Besides this rather large fee, they are also required to submit a
certain amount of each camping night fee to the franchise. In return for
all these fees, they get advertising and the right to trade on KOA's
"reputation" as a family campground.
The cost of running a campground has become very expensive in the last
8-10 years. Insurance has risen very, very sharply as have utility
costs. It is difficult for many of these franchise owners to make any
improvements when they are over-burdened with licensing fees. Many
municipalities are making it harder and harder for older campgrounds to
upgrade. Some towns see campgrounds as unwelcome in their communities so
they make it difficult and expensive to get the necessary permits to
make improvements.
The franchise, KOA, could care less about the campgrounds. It's business
is making money from the licensing fees.
Long ago we learned to avoid KOA. I don't doubt that there are a few
that are okay and reasonably priced, but the majority of them are as you
described.
Didn't you know that KOA stands for "keep on adding"? <g>

Signature
Janet Wilder
Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
Good Friends. Good Life
Harry Harris - 20 Aug 2008 13:08 GMT
>> We stayed at a KOA south of Louisville on the way to our destination.
>> They had the brass to charge 51.00 for a site that would not be a bargain
[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]
>
> Didn't you know that KOA stands for "keep on adding"? <g>
You are correct, Madame. The cost of running an RV campground is going
through the roof. Insurance is a major part of it. It has been and is
increasing by leaps and bounds as the country becomes more litigious. The RV
crowd is becoming increasing obese and out of shape. Bodily injury suits are
on the increase as sprained ankles, slips and falls, heart attacks, heat
stroke etc increase because of unfit and aged folks blaming somebody else
for their injuries.
Particularly, the cost of insuring anyplace where there is a lot of propane
being used causes insurance rates to skyrocket. Check out this recent $300
million lawsuit due to a massive propane blast.
<http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080813/propane_folo_080813
/20080813?hub=TopStories>
We all know insurance companies don't pay. They raise their rates and spread
the cost among their customers. Rving as recreation is fast becoming
cost-prohibitive. There are four major trends going against it.
1) Insurance rates in associated areas and in general going through the roof
2) Fuel costs going through the roof
3) Surcharges and taxes for being 'ungreen' considered and imposed in many
states
4) More local laws to ban RVs from parking in any but expensive 'designated'
areas
Maybe it's time for some of you to consider a more viable means of
recreation?
Harry Harris
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
Jerry - 20 Aug 2008 18:37 GMT
>>> We stayed at a KOA south of Louisville on the way to our destination.
>>> They had the brass to charge 51.00 for a site that would not be a
[quoted text clipped - 75 lines]
>
> Harry Harris
I think it's time for you to consider a more viable means of recreation.
r@back.road - 20 Aug 2008 20:55 GMT
>> We stayed at a KOA south of Louisville on the way to our destination.
>> They had the brass to charge 51.00 for a site that would not be a
[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]
>
> Didn't you know that KOA stands for "keep on adding"? <g>
All these operator/owners or whatever has to do is quit wading through
the briar patch. The hurting will stop.
All of their excuses are just whining and excuses. To develop an
appropriate winning business plan and build a quality profitable
operation might be beyond their capabilities. That is why consultants
make the big bucks. You supply the vision and hire people to take care
of the details. The lazy a.s owners are comfortable screwing their
customers and complaining. When customers complain too often you know
you need to change. When you start getting compliments, profits, and
their attitudes along with their pocketbooks will look better.
Ron Recer - 21 Aug 2008 16:50 GMT
>>> We stayed at a KOA south of Louisville on the way to our destination.
>>> They had the brass to charge 51.00 for a site that would not be a
[quoted text clipped - 55 lines]
> change. When you start getting compliments, profits, and their attitudes
> along with their pocketbooks will look better.
It depends on the owner. We have stayed at some KOA's that were dumps and
had rates that were totally unreasonable for the services provided. On the
other hand, we have stayed at well maintained KOA's with great facilities
and reasonable prices. Last April we spent two weeks at the Montgomery, TX
KOA (Lake Conroe north of Houston). They have paved streets, pads and
patios, indoor pool, fishing lakes, tennis courts, playground, free WiFi,
convention facilities and much more. Our rally rate was $23 a night. The
last night of the rally they announced that anyone who wanted to stay the
next night could do so for $15.
Ron