"Homesteading"

"Homesteading" is a term many RVers use to describe those FamCamps that allow their sites to be used for extended periods of time by the same user. Military FamCamps are not exempt from this usage and some are rightfully providing a service to the user as well as the used. Take for instance NAF, El Centro, CA. It is an isolated base out in the southern CA desert who's claim to fame is their wintering tenant the famous Blue Angles. Some time ago we made our reservations in advance as required so we could spend the months of Jan & Feb there. We got there before the Blue Angles and the park was already completely full. There were more people camping there than the entire population of the base. What an asset for the small base. The smallish commissary & exchange were open six days a week. All were welcome to eat three times a day at the enlisted dinning facility for very reasonable rates I might add. And when the Bule's did arrive we were delighted by their acrobatics each day - you get used to the noise after a few days. We were told that the place is empty in the summer time with the exception of a few passers-by. This FamCamp caters to the long term winter resident and provides them with services not seen at much larger bases - such as service bays for your rig rather it be a motor coach or some sort of trailer or class B or C. They have all sorts of recreational rentals and a few small tour vans for short trips to Mexico or other places near-by. Oops I was going to keep this short so you would not lose interest and just got rambling on so I'll quit now. Make reservations and stop by for a month or two, I think you will like the place and have a first hand look at why this FamCamp prospers from the long term "Homesteader"/Snow Bird".

FastEagle

p.s. Even though we made our reservations in advance we still ended up in a 30 apm FHU site located in a parking lot backed up to a ball field.

Interesting you brought El Centro RV Park up. The Featured Military Campground for April is El Centro! I'll have the in-depth review posted soon.

But a much further extreme of "Homesteading" is at Barstow Marine Corps RV Park, CA. This "RV" Park has 25 "RV" sites. Of which, only 2 are for short-term. The remaining 90%+ of the "RV" sites are used by residents. Some have been there over 3 years! Including a retired Colonel. I questioned them about it being an extension of base housing and not a "Recreational" Park. Basically, the long-term "guests" are a cash cow for them.

Eagle,
Thanks for making it long. It was very readable and interesting. But I question the definition of "Homesteader". You mention that the campground is nearly empty in the summer--that sounds more like "Snowbirds" than "Homesteaders". I would call Larry's resident colonel and his compadres "Homesteaders" and those are the ones who bother me. When they have time to build plywood sheds and decks they are no longer recreational, they are residents. But I also note that Larry's poll on length of stay is coming in at 1-2 months as the upper limits, but then few of those voting are homesteaders.

Glenn

Hi Glenn,

Short Stay just outsite Moncks Corner, SC has a number of - long stay - "Homesteaders" and they are staying in W&E sites where they have to pay to get a sewer truck to service there black water needs.

FastEagle

my personal take on "homesteaders" is that they are generally infringing on the ability of all military and retirees to use the facility equally. Nothing is more annoying to me to arrive at a CG and find half or more of the sites taken for six months or longer, and the rest full because of that policy. These FamCamps are by definition recreation facilities for all of us ... and should always remain available to travelers or campers, not to individuals choosing to snowbird in FamCamps (read as family campgrounds). When the CG has no waiting list, by all means, stay as long as one cares to, but it should never be a policy to allow one site to be a long-term facility for any one family.

I actually like the way Yuma Proving Grounds handles the "homesteader" situation. Their policy is up to six or seven month stays are permissible, BUT, they have a number of sites set aside for "weekly" stays. If they are full, you go into dry-camp until one opens up. If you're in a weekly site and there is a waiting list in dry camp, you rotate back out to dry camp to wait your turn in a weekly site again.

I think they could have a few more weekly sites, but their system seems to work ok. But if you want one of the 'long-term' sites, you'd better plan on being there early in the season.

Now, the situation up at Barstow? That is just wrong.