Texas Campgrounds, RV Parks and Discount Camping

CROWLEY, Texas, Oct. 13, 2009 – Advance reservations are up at Texas campgrounds and RV parks that cater to “Winter Texans,” according to an information survey of park operators across the Lone Star State.
“While some parks are seeing advance reservations consistent with last year’s figures, most are telling us they are ahead of where they were last year at this time in terms of advance reservations,” said Brian Schaeffer, executive director and CEO of the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO).
Here’s a sampling of comments from private park operators in Texas regarding their reservation levels and business projections for the upcoming winter season:

• Guadalupe River RV Park Campground and Nature Trails LLC in Spring Branch: This 45-site Hill Country park is seeing advanced reservation figures that are consistent with last year’s statistics, said Guy Anderson, the park’s general partner. “We hope that new winter visitors come and visit for a while. The winter business is interesting. Once a family or group finds their ‘winter home,’ meaning where they want to spend that time, it is all but impossible to (move them).”
• Hatch RV Park in Corpus Christi: This park expects a strong winter season. “We’re full every winter,” said park office manager Becky Tipton, adding that she already has “13 to 14” winter rig reservations.
• Hidden Valley RV Park in Von Ormy: “We’re looking for a strong year,” said Mark Blaschke, co-owner of the 31-site Hill Country park. “We did real well last winter and I’m thinking we should do a little better this winter.” Blaschke’s optimism is fueled by the fact that he already has several monthly renters who are working in the area in addition to winter visitors who come every season.
• La Hacienda RV Resort in Austin: Advance winter reservations at this 240-site park are on par with last year’s figures, said managing partner Ken Butschek, adding that winter visitors will see new additions to the park, including a 2-acre lake and new landscaping.
• Parkview Riverside RV Park in Concan: This 95-site Hill Country park has seen a 25 percent increase in advance winter bookings compared to last year at this time, said park owner Doug Shearer, who also serves as president of the Texas Association of Campground Owners. And because many RVers show up without reservations, Shearer believes his winter occupancies may ultimately be up 25 to 30 percent compared to last winter’s figures.

• Rayford Crossing RV Resort at The Woodlands: “Reservations for the remainder of the year are strong with a full park of ‘Winter Texans’ expected for the months of November through April,” said park owner Gwen Craig, adding, “We have witnessed a very healthy increase with our Winter Texan bookings and have also seen a surge in local residents selling their home and trying out the full-time RVing lifestyle.”
• Sunset Point RV Resort in Marble Falls: This 50-site park is expecting a strong winter season. “One hundred percent of the Winter Texans we had in 2008 are returning and we continue to take reservations for additional sites,” said park manager Ed Robinson.
• Surfside R.V. & Resort in Port Aransas: “My winter months will be very busy,” said Charles Rhea, who owns the 45-site park. “January to April 15th are booked for monthly sites. Only a few nightly and weekly sites are still available,” he said. And while he isn’t convinced that the worst of the recession is behind us, Rhea is still moving ahead with improvements to his park, including an $8,000 bathroom renovation project, which he hopes to complete before his winter visitors arrive. “I’m eager for them to see the upgrades,” he said, adding, “They will appreciate me putting money back into the park, back into them.”
• Winter Haven Resort in Brownsville: This park, which includes 525-seasonal park model sites and 29 RV sites for nightly rentals, is completely booked up for the winter season, said Juan Estrada. He added that cold weather up north has already prompted some Winter Texans to return to the park.

Based in Crowley, the Texas Association of Campground Owners represents more than 400 private campgrounds and RV resorts. For help locating industry sources, statistics and other information about camping trends in Texas, please contact Brian Schaeffer at (817) 307-0129 or visit TexasCampgrounds.com. Contact information for the parks referenced in this release is provided below:

• Guadalupe River RV Park & Nature Trails LLC in Spring Branch, Guy Anderson, (830) 885-7200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Hatch RV Park in Corpus Christi, Mac McGlauglin or Becky Tipton, (361) 883-9781 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Hidden Valley RV Park in Von Ormy, Teri and Mark Blaschke, (210) 623-6737 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• La Hacienda RV Resort in Austin, Ken Butschek, (512) 266-8001 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Parkview Riverside RV Park in Concan, Doug Shearer, (830) 591-3899 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Rayford Crossing RV Resort at The Woodlands, Gwen Craig, (281) 298-8008 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Sunset Point RV Resort in Marble Falls, Ed Robinson, (830) 798-8199 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Surfside R.V. & Resort in Port Aransas, Charles Rhea, (361) 749-2208 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Winter Haven Resort in Brownsville, Juan Estrada or Rose McGowan, (956) 831-7755 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it