Indoor Camping as a Business Model?

[greekspeedoman]

Haven't found this on the forum yet (although it may be here already).

It may work in big cities. I think it would be like camping in a museum or something. Night at the museum or something?

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/865361-indoor-caravan-park-offers-camping-experience-with-a-twist

[caseydog]

At first I thought, what a stupid idea. But, you know, a place like that with enough campers would be great for group events.

You could also do educational events for people wanting to try camping, but having no clue how to do it. First-time failures are the biggest reason people never go camping again.

Very interesting.

CD

[Darren]

There is something like that in Tulsa. I ran across this a while back.

http://www.tulsapeople.com/Tulsa-People ... -downtown/

[dh]

Reminds me of the only time I rode a Greyhound when I was in middle school, there was a kid from New York City taking pictures of cows in the pastures as we zipped down the interstate... Might be a good idea for city slickers.

The state parks down here are starting to set up camp sights with campers permanently set up, you just pull up, camp in it for the weekend, and leave it there. They are booked every weekend.

[StandUpGuy]

What I thought it was going to be was an urban camping area, before I opened the link. So are there inner city campsites? That would be cool to be able to hit the city and at the end of the day head over to your camper.

[len19070]

In the early days of TearJerkers we had a Winter BS session in upstate NJ.



There was a large common area inside the Hotel.

We asked about bringing our trailers in at another time and and spending the night in them.

We were told that, at that time of the year (Early Feb.) if we got 10 trailers (there was room for more) and for the price of a room (each) we could have an Indoor Gathering in this common area.

We never followed through on it but it would have been a great "Cabin Fever Break". Pool, Hot Tub, game room, a nice restaurant.



Happy Trails

Len

[eamarquardt]

Years ago we went to Sea World in San Diego with the Cub Scouts and spent the night in one of the indoor aquarium rooms. Perhaps my experience was tainted by the onset of my "disease" but it was the "night in hell". They served the most pathetic pizza I've ever eaten along with the cheapest sodas they could buy for our "dinner". Then we set up camp in crowded conditions inside the room. Barely enough room to roll over. Then, at about 0100 they started a movie on a big tv for those that wanted to watch it and those of us that wanted it quiet so we could get some sleep were SOL. THEN they said that if anyone needed to use the restroom to do it NOW as they'd be locking us in the room for the evening. I had to use my considerable "tact and charm" to let them know in no uncertain terms that NO ONE was locking me/us in a room (as in have you ever heard of fires) and that I/others WOULD require access to a bathroom during the night. I won but I don't think they liked me.

I called the "manager" the following week and shared my thoughts on the experience and that it was even worse than the worst night I spent in freezing rain while on maneuvers in the USMC (my friends still cite one of those nights as the worst nights of their lives, ha).

I think I'd let someone else go first and then get their thoughts.

Just a thought.

Cheers,

Gus