Teardrop in KOA's latest news letter

[S. Heisley]

Hey, all! There's a picture of a teardrop, up front, in KOA's latest news letter:

http://blog.koa.com/new-koas-2016/?utm_ ... Newsletter

It looks like we're getting more and more popular, once again, and that KOA is showing that they are happy to have us!

[daveesl77]

I'm sorry, and I will probably ruffle some feathers here, but when I see a KOA I just cringe. (edit: I mean all of this in our own concepts, doesn't mean for everyone). For us, it isn't "camping", it is a parking lot, an outrageously expensive parking lot at that. Look at those pics - side by side by side. The cover photo was done somewhere that wasn't yet full. Look at the airstream photo, there isn't anyone outside. Give me BLM, National Forest or Corps of Engineers any day.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.


dave

[DrCrash]

I'm sorry, and I will probably ruffle some feathers here, but when I see a KOA I just cringe. It isn't "camping" it is a parking lot, an outrageously expensive parking lot at that. Look at those pics - side by side by side. The cover photo was done somewhere that wasn't yet full. Look at the airstream photo, there isn't anyone outside. Give me BLM, National Forest or Corps of Engineers any day.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.


dave

Have you ever stayed at a KOA ?

[jss06]

I stayed at several KOAs on my trip to Yellowstone. The facilities were nice, quiet and not expensive considering the facilities I had access to.

[wagondude]

I stayed at several KOAs on my trip to Yellowstone. The facilities were nice, quiet and not expensive considering the facilities I had access to.

And there is the rub. Forest Service/BLM don't have laundry facilities for those on extended vacations. They are about the same cost as a cheap (crappy Super 8 ) motel, though. I also prefer the more remote type of camping. If it was just me, that would be the majority of what I would do. But I would still drop in to a KOA or privately operated commercial facility for a day or two to do laundry.

[Talia62]

I'm sorry, and I will probably ruffle some feathers here, but when I see a KOA I just cringe. It isn't "camping" it is a parking lot, an outrageously expensive parking lot at that. Look at those pics - side by side by side. The cover photo was done somewhere that wasn't yet full. Look at the airstream photo, there isn't anyone outside. Give me BLM, National Forest or Corps of Engineers any day.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.


dave

One might make the argument that staying in a trailer of any sort isn't "camping". Speaking as an ultralight backpacker, I might scoff and say that the only true camping is what I do, carrying a few things on my back and hiking miles away from any other human being. I could be patronizing and say that if you're not doing it my way, you're not camping. But I don't, because I realize that camping is something that each person defines for themselves. If someone wants to stay in a KOA, that's their business. Some people enjoy them, some people find them convenient, and some people don't live within reasonable reach of BLM land.

In the hiking community we have a saying: "Hike your own hike". I think it's a good motto to carry over here.

[lrrowe]

But I like it when our members post their views, especially when it might go against the trend. It presents us with many different views. I do not like to park next to the big boys, but if another does, I would like to hear his/her thoughts on it. I would prefer to be on my own, off the grid, but if someone else likes another style (like a KOA) and wants to express his/her thougts I say go for it. Of course in a friendly tone, not like some of the discouraging posts I am beginning to see lately.

Does this makes sense?

[daveesl77]

Being one that "stirs the pot" (hey I'm an old hippy and submariner),

...if I stay at many Corps of Engineer campgrounds, each site has water and electric. Laundry and showers in many locations. They don't have pools because they are usually on a body of water. At Ridge Road in Georgia, each campsite is about 1 acre in size on a giant lake. The price just went up to $20 per night. I have the access pass, so my cost is $10 per night.

About 20 miles east of Yellowstone is Wapiti NFS campground. My site was on the river, electric and water avail. No showers and vault toilets. Electric site is $20 per night regular price, $10 with pass. KOA is $60, but you do get cable.

BLM site off I-70, $5, no electric or water, but it is on the river. Valley of Fires BLM in New Mexico, $12, water/electric, amazing shower and laundry facilities. and the list goes on and on and on.

Oh, and yes, I have been forced to stay at two KOA sites. One in PA, one is SC due to aged family members. Could hardly wait to leave.

Now, with that all said, you'll notice the one location I purposefully left out are the National Park campgrounds. For the most part, these are super packed, expensive and offer essentially nothing. But sometimes you have no choice, such as Chaco Canyon.

As to tents, we still do them and enjoy them, but at my age and level of disability, it just isn't practical anymore. The teardrop concept is the closest you can come, IMHO.

But for all, it is whatever makes you happy and most important, the FAMILY happy, whatever that is, right?

dave

[S. Heisley]

I'm sorry, and I will probably ruffle some feathers here, but when I see a KOA I just cringe. (edit: I mean all of this in our own concepts, doesn't mean for everyone). For us, it isn't "camping", it is a parking lot, an outrageously expensive parking lot at that. Look at those pics - side by side by side. The cover photo was done somewhere that wasn't yet full. Look at the airstream photo, there isn't anyone outside. Give me BLM, National Forest or Corps of Engineers any day.

... Being one that "stirs the pot" (hey I'm an old hippy and submariner),

...if I stay at many Corps of Engineer campgrounds, each site has water and electric. Laundry and showers in many locations. They don't have pools because they are usually on a body of water. At Ridge Road in Georgia, each campsite is about 1 acre in size on a giant lake. The price just went up to $20 per night. I have the access pass, so my cost is $10 per night.

About 20 miles east of Yellowstone is Wapiti NFS campground. My site was on the river, electric and water avail. No showers and vault toilets. Electric site is $20 per night regular price, $10 with pass. KOA is $60, but you do get cable.

BLM site off I-70, $5, no electric or water, but it is on the river. Valley of Fires BLM in New Mexico, $12, water/electric, amazing shower and laundry facilities. and the list goes on and on and on.

Oh, and yes, I have been forced to stay at two KOA sites. One in PA, one is SC due to aged family members. Could hardly wait to leave.

Now, with that all said, you'll notice the one location I purposefully left out are the National Park campgrounds. For the most part, these are super packed, expensive and offer essentially nothing. But sometimes you have no choice, such as Chaco Canyon.

As to tents, we still do them and enjoy them, but at my age and level of disability, it just isn't practical anymore. The teardrop concept is the closest you can come, IMHO.

But for all, it is whatever makes you happy and most important, the FAMILY happy, whatever that is, right?

dave

Well Dave, it appears that you not only ruffled a few feathers; but also, pulled on a few and got them to fly through the air. Then, you picked up the chicken and tried to pet it to smooth down its feathers.

Frankly, this is not what I intended but I found myself quite entertained by it all.

My point was that teardrops are enjoying a revival of favor in the eyes of both campers and campgrounds.

However, in many ways, I agree with you. KOAs are not the end-all, be-all and many are simply a stopping place along the route to something more peaceful. Still, they have their place. During my three week trip in the Midwest, they were a lighthouse in the desert, so to speak. All but one that I stayed at were clean and safe. The one exception was ....safe. When you're on the road for three weeks, it's nice to know that there is a place where one can get a shower, do laundry, get a good night's sleep and just maybe have a nice dinner without having to cook and wash dishes or even unhook and drive around to find a restaurant. Also, if one has children, many KOAs offer entertainment....peddle cars, playgrounds, movies, etc. that can be a boon to any parent who is tired from a long drive. Yes, even though it wasn't my original purpose to discuss KOAs, I conclude that they have their place in society and there are many people who are served quite well by them.

Thanks for making this a great read instead of a dead thread.

[lrrowe]

I have another use for a KOA. When we take trips 2 hours north to our old hometown and want to spend the night, instead of paying that dreaded $130 a night motel bill, we are going to try and pull the CT there and stay at the new KOA there. Now this new KOA was an old family campground run by friends of my wife. They have since sold it to others who went the KOA route. But to us, it is a place to spend the night or two and sort of has old memories attached to it (and we never stayed there before although we went to Lynn's friend's wedding there).

[DrCrash]

:D Being one that "stirs the pot" (hey I'm an old hippy and submariner),

dave

San Diego in the 80's SSN 672

[minstrel]

You all sure are passionate about your camping styles. Actually, as I have been reading this forum for about a year now, it seems many of you love the more out-of -the way campsites where you get a bit more privacy -- maybe at the expense of a few amenities. Since it is just myself and the dog, I prefer the amenities. Got to say I want electric, a shower and a real toilet. I kind of love parking by all those big boys because ..... they don't use the bathrooms that much, leaving them clean and available for me! I want trees, pretty places to walk, nice people to talk to, and some fun things to do within reasonable driving distances. I do think KOA's are a bit pricey, but I think most of them have wifi, stores, pool, etc. I don't really care about those things. My feeling is that they are good campgrounds for families with kids...but I would not rule them out if it seemed the best option. I've stayed in some nice State Parks and Regional Parks as well as private campgrounds so far. Looking forward to exploring more options!!! It all seems good!

[daveesl77]

Ah DrCrash - another "sewerpipe sailor". I was a boomer jockey.

NavET, SSBN 633 here

dave

[steve cowan]

Ah DrCrash - another "sewerpipe sailor". I was a boomer jockey.

NavET, SSBN 633 here

dave

SSBN 643 here.

[mkitchen]

I have stayed in very few KOA campgrounds (I believe three) but I have been glad to have them. When on the road and heading somewhere, it is nice to be able to stop at a KOA for an easy night. We have always been treated very nice and as usual the TD always garners a lot of interest and attention from others.
As far as the newsletter goes, I think it is great to see a teardrop on the front. The more attention the better as far as I am concerned.