NAS Key West - Sigsbee/Trumbo Status

I was just informed that NASKW is turning away campers. Looks like they have been EXTREMLY busy this season and don't have anymore room. I had heard that RV's were starting to park along some roads, waiting to get into dry camping.

Anyone else currently there to confirm this?

In the past few weeks there were 238 names on the dry/wait list. The overflow at Trumbo was full so they had a overflow overflow area on the road where the old office use to be. Recently, under the Comanders direction we hear, they cleared out the overflow at Trumbo; not to used again. So, as we hear, they are allowing Rigs that show up one nights stay on the road or by the Office. If there are no available spots the next day, they must leave. On the plus side, people are starting to trickle out so there is some chance of getting a space. MWR posted a warning on Facebook and suggested that you call before coming down. We just spent 27 days in dry camping before going into full hook-up.

That is a first isn't it Roger? I had heard that they prided themselves on not turning anyone away. When folks come out of hookups, are they able to go back to dry or are they making them leave? That would suck to drive all the way there and then have to turn around.

At least MWR made a lot of money but I hear it doesn't stay at Key West.

They are allowing anyone in the rotation to stay in the rotation. When you come out of full you are given a spot in dry. I think they are still sorting out the issues and probably don't have a SOP. But that's what is happening now.

I checked with a camp host this afternoon (Monday), who said space is still very limited. Don't make the drive down without calling ahead first. Nothing else to report at this time. Barry Z

We have been in Key West this season from Oct-Feb 2015 so far. We were fortunate to get here early and not be turned around like folks have been this season.

It has been extremely busy this season especially since fuel prices have become less expensive and winter has been so cold up north. We are wintering on Trumbo Point this year in the dry camping area. We have been told that the Base Command has shut down the section here that is close to the MWR trailers after opening it thus turning around folks who have traveled all the way down to Key West.

It could also be that the MWR office can not handle the overload but I do not think that is the problem since the Head of NASKW MWR came and did a one-on-one with all campers to answer questions early in the season. The question was raised at that session that the campers would like to have the base commander come down and visit and talk to us so that we could thank him and show him how appreciative we are but that never happened.

Everyone has read the reviews before coming down here that no one has ever been turned away which was true until this season. It is also what drives some campers to travel 2000 miles plus to get here. From now on if you come down to Key West you can and might be turned around even if Real-Property here is not full capacity due to lack of leadership on whomever's part that is.

The bath facilities are and have been clean since we arrived. No its not a 5 star resort but it is very nice. When Trumbo was full capacity, meaning all 3 major camping areas were full or close to full you could still get a shower, do laundry, dump your sewage waste, etc on Trumbo Point. The facilities could have even handled
40+ more rigs even then if they had parked them across the bridge in one of those large unused fenced areas. Life here is good even if we are close/full capacity folks here on Trumbo Point are willing to be team players and treat each other with respect and as a family.

I know their is a lot of area across the bridge here at Trumbo that is fenced off that would be a great place to put more overflow if needed even if generator noise is an issue it would not be in this area. It is also out of the way of the public if the sight of military folks that are camping some how infuriates anyone whom
looks in from the public streets.

If water for fires is an issue a tap could be placed there. I would venture to guess the fire department would love to do or oversea something like that to give more MWR funds to active duty personnel. They could even run a temporary hose if that would suffice or temporarily plant a portable pump in that area to pump water from across the street which they most likely already carry.

We have also heard that this is a political battle MWR funding not making it to the men and women whom are stationed in Key West which would make sense why should the Base Command really help us if his men and women aren't receiving a large portion of the money MWR is raising in Key West and his older base housing is in such poor shape
some of the money could even help him make improvements to it. These are all rumors that are flying around this season.

These are just that!! I think it might help if the Base Command had a Policy on Camping posted in the public areas and why folks are being turned away if it is the command doing so and why. If it is the MWRs doing so they should also educate us on why folks are being turned away and what they do to prevent that in the future.

All I know is that as military folks at the end of the day we should strive for a solution not a road block to one-another. We all love coming here and everyone has a job to do but I would hope that the MWR contributions made by retired folks should mainly be directed to active duty personnel whom are stationed in Key West not
Jacksonville, FL. Those MWR funds should also not be forgotten or limited due to lack of trying or leadership on all parties involved. Turning folks around and sending them back up north cuts funds to the active duty military personnel.

We all do hope and pray the Base Commander and MWR figures out a way to make it happen for all those involved. We do very much appreciate the Base Command letting us camp here this is in no-way a slam to that office or the Base Command. I think the problem is more complicated than just that. Their is a small debate going by camp hosts that folks have not been turned around but it isn't what we as campers have seen with our own eyes. I have never seen it
as full as it was this year and all long term key west camping personnel are saying the same.

We just arrived at Kings Bay Campground (Feb 25) working our way back north and they have a sign posted at the camp MWR Kings Bay office telling folks you could be turned around in Key west so just call before going down. When we left Key west room was available do to folks going back north.

These are just my thoughts!!!!!!!!

Concerned Camper!!!!!!!!