‘it’s pretty heartbreaking’ as panhandle towns … · 2018. 11. 30. · review sites, and...

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Campground News, your FREE weekly online magazine ISSUE 503 | November 30th, 2018 ‘IT’S PRETTY HEARTBREAKING’ AS PANHANDLE TOWNS STRUGGLE TO REBUILD COVER STORY P16 Michigan owner warns of ‘rushed’ room tax bill STORY P8 Online marketing and how to effectively promote your business STORY P4

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Page 1: ‘IT’S PRETTY HEARTBREAKING’ AS PANHANDLE TOWNS … · 2018. 11. 30. · review sites, and local directories. Some of the more important sites where you should be attentive to

1industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

Campground News, your FREE weekly online magazine ISSUE 503 | November 30th, 2018

‘IT’S PRETTY HEARTBREAKING’

AS PANHANDLE TOWNS STRUGGLE

TO REBUILD COVER STORY P16

Michigan owner warns of ‘rushed’

room tax bill STORY P8

Online marketing and how to effectively promote your business STORY P4

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2 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

INDUSTRY newswith Editor Jamie Macready

Escape Homes debuting new ‘ESCAPE Boho’

ESCAPE Homes has debuted ESCAPE Boho, a 183-square-foot tiny home onwheels featuring “sustainably-grown” pine wood walls and“other zen-inspired designsthat make a big statement ina small package this holidayseason,” according to a pressrelease.

ESCAPE Boho will be unveiled at the company’s new namesake Canoe Bay ESCAPE Village in northwest Wisconsin in December and is one of many ESCAPE designs being delivered to partners of the “Free ESCAPE Tiny House Program” throughout the country.

ESCAPE Boho is also available for sale and is handcrafted in the ESCAPE Homes production facility and delivered to customers within 90 days.

It can sleep up to four and features a queen bed and bookshelf wrapped in “sustainably” grown pine wood, adjacent to a kitchen with maple cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, a living/dining/work area with LED lighting, butcher block table, fold flat couch and light filtering honeycomb shades.

The bathroom features a 36-inch shower, Toto toilet,extensive storage and anexterior shower option and

Boho is designed with an on-demand RV water heater and LP furnace.

“The tiny home is wrapped in windows that draw the outdoors in and highlighted by an exterior of vertical rough sawn wood siding and a metal roof,” according to the release.

“Cedar siding and unique Shou Sugi Ban siding are upgrade options.”

“Vintage” stone countertops, washer/dryer, smart TV with blue-ray player, a stainless steel gas stove and 60” tub/shower are a few available upgrades and a Beach Boho Package features white interior walls and trim and custom painted exterior.

In addition, the Off-Grid Boho is available and includes a solar power package, Laveo dry flush toilet, solar refrigerator/freezer, gray water tank and generator options

ESCAPE Boho is transported via its own trailer, and is crafted with high-efficiency insulation and climate control options that allow it

to withstand extreme heat or cold. Power usage is designed to be minimal, according to the release, and ESCAPE Boho water, power and utility hook-up takes just

minutes, enabling it to travel with its owner.

The MSRP on the ESCAPE Boho starts from $39,900.

For more info visit: https://www.escapetraveler.net/

Source: Press Release

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3industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

INDUSTRY NEWS

‘Good Sam’ rebrands its' 2019 annual RV travel guide

THE 2019 Good Sam Guide hits the shelves with a new name, a broader focus on outdoor recreation and up-to-date information on 12,101 RV parks and campgrounds across North America, according to a press release.

Formerly titled the Good Sam RV Travel & Savings Guide, the new guide goes on sale in early December, treating readers to vital information for hitting the trail, highway, waterway or hunting range.

Longtime readers of the annual guide can still depend on the thorough park listings, which include information on the 2,400-plus Good Sam Parks, which offer 10% discounts to the more than 2 million Good Sam members across North America.

Highlights of the Good Sam Guide Series include:

- A calendar of savings withour all new Outdoor Buster Coupons, worth over $500 in savings at 130 Camping World Supercenters, Overton’s and Gander Outdoors stores.

- Feature articles thatpinpoint the best places for

outdoor adventures, along with “Roads to Adventure” travel itineraries, favorite snowbird destinations and family-friendly vacations. Also included are articles on NASCAR and information on hunting, fishing and boating by state and province.

- A list of the 178 RVparks that have earned

flawless 10/10/10 ratings based on the publication’s trusted evaluation system, which grades on facilities; cleanliness of restrooms and showers; and environment and visual appearance. Each category is rated on a scale of one to 10, and a star is added for exceptionally clean restrooms.

- Detailed state and provincial maps that indicate the locations of RV parks, with Good Sam Parks marked in red.

Good Sam Club members can buy the guide for $9.95 - 65% off the $29.95 for non-Good Sam members - on theshelves of Gander Outdoorsand Camping World stores andonline at CampingWorld.com

Source: Press Release

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4 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

by Peter Pelland

Online marketing and how to effectively promote your business

THIS article summarizes some of the important points from the seminar that I recently presented at the 2018 Camping in Ontario Convention, where one of the key questions was whether you should pursue every latest trend or concentrate on perfecting time-tested online marketing techniques. For several reasons, my suggestion is to put first things first and to maximize your organic search presence and incoming link opportunities.

ORGANIC SEARCH & REFERRING SITE TRAFFIC

Think of paid or “sponsored search” as the pesticide of online advertising, then

do everything possible to go organic instead. If your business appears at or near the top of the search results without resorting to payment,

that is like getting VIP passes to a sporting event or concert rather than paying a ticket scalper. Bear in mind that, as important as search engine traffic might be, the cumulative traffic from a wide range of referring sites is equally important. Referring sites typically account for a third of the actual incoming traffic to a website; moreover, the links on highly ranked sites also directly influence your own site’s search engine ranking.

To maximize your presence on important referring sites, confirm that your business is listed, that your listing is complete and accurate, and that there is a link to your website. It is easy to keep track of your listings on important websites such as those of your state association and your local

chamber of commerce, but some very important websites are often overlooked, including campground directories, review sites, and local directories. Some of the more important sites where you should be attentive to your listings include Good Sam Camping, Go Camping America, TripAdvisor, and Yelp. In the case of review sites, you also need to respond to reviews – whether positive or negative – as promptly and professionally as possible, when there is

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the potential for thousands of people to read both the review and your response (or lack thereof.) Local directories are important, not because of the traffic that they generate, but because they influence Google search results. They are populated with content gleaned from data aggregators, the same companies that furnish data for GPS devices and software, so incorrect data may be playing a more important role than you realize.

KEEP GOOGLE HAPPYYour presence on many of

the products in the Google bundle has a snowball effect in influencing your business ranking on the all-important Google search engine. Perhaps at the top of the hill is Google My Business, which ties in directly with Google Maps. Google My Business listings appear as the Google Places listings, with markers shown on an accompanying Google Map, to the right of

Google search results. Be sure to claim your business, and then verify your business. You can also add photos, a link to your website, respond to reviews, and allow customers to message you directly. It is always important to allow potential customers to communicate with you within their own chosen comfort zone, never requiring that they adapt to your preferred means of contact.

There are other ways to enhance your search engine ranking on Google, and Bing as well. Many of these are so-called ranking signals that will fall under the responsibilities of your webmaster, including:

• Ensure that your site is mobile-friendly.

• Run SSL on your site, appearing with the padlock icon and as “Secure” in browsers.

• Submit your site through Google (and Bing) Webmaster Tools.

• Provide a robots feed and

issue fetch commands if needed.

• Include META tags and ALT tags throughout your site.

• Update content on a regular basis.

PAID ADVERTISINGThere are times when it

makes sense to resort to paid search engine advertising. This might include the time period when a new business with a new website is trying to gain a foothold in the organic search rankings, as well as when you might have a time-critical event or offer to promote. It might also make sense to advertise on referring sites. In either instance, if you advertise online, use Google Analytics or another traffic analysis tool to measure traffic and calculate your return on investment, never trusting traffic reports provided by the ad vendor.

There are many other “newer” ways to promote your business online. These

include social media such as Facebook; native ads and content marketing on websites, apps and influencer networks that directly relate to your business; exit traffic advertising (those pop-ups that beg visitors to reconsider before leaving a site); and micro moments that capitalize upon split-second situational opportunities that rely upon GPS to send texts, emails, tweets, and push notifications. The problem with these techniques is that they are increasingly recognized as disruptive intrusions that often exploit personal data. If you are not comfortable with this type of data exploitation or intrusive message, why would you subject your prospective customers to what is essentially a double standard?

There is blowback to this type of advertising message, including some degree of abandonment of social networks, the increasing use of ad blockers, and new privacy protection standards

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INDUSTRY NEWS

such as the European Union’s recently enacted General Data Protection Regulation. Most online advertising is designed to appear as the most personalized message possible, influenced by factors like social media posts and comments. If the idea is to present a friendly persona, why not do your best to be as personable as possible on your website and any other

online presence rather than employing an advertising technique that is design to fake it? Know and understand your target market, then write in the first person, tap into human emotions, include testimonials, and make it as easy and intuitive as possible for your online guests to follow your call to action by making an online reservation.

My best advice is to be

aware of new approaches in online marketing, but to steadfastly concentrate on the age-old principles that work.

Copyright © 2018, Peter Pelland. May not be reproduced without permission.

Peter Pelland is the CEO of Pelland Advertising, a company that he founded in 1980 and that has been

serving the family camping industry for over 35 years. His company specializes in building fully responsive websites, along with producing a full range of four-color process print advertising, for clients from coast to coast. Learn more about Pelland Advertising at https://pelland.com/ or see their ad in this issue.

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7industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

• A greAt return on investment • A sAFe FlAt jumping AreA • eAsy to instAll & roll up to store over winter

• mAny sizes to choose From • mAny color choices

www.thejumppad.org Call sales manager randy jenkins on 704 902 1786 e: [email protected]

for the whole Fun

Family

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8 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

Michigan owner warns of ‘rushed’ room tax bill

THIS WAS SET UP NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO WITHOUT ANY REAL GOVERNMENT SUPERVISION

MACKINAW CITY, MICH. - Vince Rogala, Co-owner of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, is warning Michigan’s residents/tourists about a bill that he says threatens family-owned hospitality businesses in favor of franchise and large hotel owners.

“Sponsored by our Senator, Wayne Schmidt, Senate bill 703-707 is being rushed through a lame duck session to strengthen the so-called “Community Convention or Tourism Marking Act”, MCL 141.871, et seq. This law gives franchise/large hotel owners who control local visitor bureaus the legal right to use your room tax money to effectively muscle out small local businesses they see as competition,” explained Rogala.

“Most residents/visitors and Michigan’s politicians think their room tax assessment

is supposed to promote the ‘entire community.’ However, the hotel lobby made sure that this revenue is only legally required to promote the hotel industry, and to put more “heads in (hotel owner’s) beds.” “They are not required to promote restaurants, gift shops, water parks, golf courses, historic parks, or campgrounds like ours - unless it's beneficial to their hotel business,” says Rogala.

“The new bill doesn’t fix the existing act’s faults - it only strengthens the hotel lobby's’ grip on millions of our tax dollars. Hardly anyone understands they are being personally taxed to benefit hotels. To the best of my knowledge, This handout is not done for any other industry, certainly not for campgrounds - why should hotels have their hands in our pockets?” asked Rogala.

“Right now, this law is allowing the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau to impose a membership fee increase on Mill Creek Campground from $500 a year, to over $10,000. A fee unheard of for any other campground in the entire State of Michigan.

All three local Mackinaw City campgrounds were financially forced out of membership. All three local Mackinaw City campgrounds were financially

forced out of membership in their local Visitors Bureau after receiving notice of the outrageous fee hikes - this feels like economics warfare against my family-run campground,” charges Rogala.

“This will continue happening in communities statewide where a few hotel owners have a monopoly over their local Visitors Bureau and, the new law makes things worse,” warns Rogala.

“This was set up nearly 40 years ago without any real government supervision. When I personally suggested to Senator Schmidt, (who worked in the hotel industry prior to serving in the Senate), that when our government imposes a tax, it should have some type of supervision in place - he seemed disinterested” says Rogala”.

Full Article: https://bit.ly/2FNTkDf

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Georgia booking system makes for some unhappy campers

SAVANNAH, GA. - Savannahian Mike Kossman and his wife paddled the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge recently, camping on platforms in the swamp, surrounded by a wilderness of

tupelo, cypress and alligators. It’s a $15 per person per night priceless adventure they wanted to repeat. But when they tried to book a return trip for Christmastime, Kossman found that the new national

online booking system doesn’t work for the Okefenokee.

At recreation.gov, his request for a booking was met with the response “This campground is currently not available to be reserved online.”

Refuge Supervisory Ranger Susan Heisey said she’s aware of the problem and working with the new recreation.gov contractors to fix it. In the meantime, her staff is taking limited reservations by phone from 7 to 10 a.m. Monday to Friday (excluding federal holidays) at 912-496-3331.

“There are a lot of layers to our reservations,” she

said. “Only certain sites are compatible with other sites.”

The refuge supports seven camping platforms and three islands for camping. Only one reservation is allowed per platform each day and there are a variety of combinations of routes and number of nights available depending on the visitor’s travel plans. That makes the Okefenokee’s reservations more complicated than most sites. It’s also one of the few U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service sites on recreation.gov, as many refuges don’t have overnight facilities.

Full Article: https://bit.ly/2TXA61e

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10 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

California wildfire insured losses could reach $13 billion

WILDFIRE IS NOW A MAJOR CATASTROPHE RISK THAT MUST BE RIGOROUSLY MANAGED WITH THE BEST DATA AND MODEL

CALI. - Insured losses for the Camp and Woolsey wildfires in California will be between $9 billion and $13 billion, catastrophe modeler Risk Management Solutions Inc. said Monday.

The majority of the losses, $7.5 billion to $10 billion, will be caused by the Camp fire, while some $1.5 billion to $3 billion is estimated for the Woolsey fire, RMS said in a statement. The estimates include property and auto damage including burn and smoke damage, business interruption, living expenses and contents loss.

Ignition, fire spread, ember accumulations, and smoke dispersion of the fires were simulated using RMS’ forthcoming North America wildfire high definition model, the statement said, adding the model’s findings were supported by damage reports from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as of Nov. 18, observations from displaced residents and information from firefighting personnel.

The Camp and Woolsey Fires have burned a combined total of 245,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,000 homes and businesses, and killed

80 people, RMS said, adding the Camp Fire, named for the road of its point of origin, is the most destructive fire in California history, with more than 11,000 structures burned.

This fire season represents the second consecutive year with more than $10 billion in insured wildfire loss, RMS said.

“Wildfire is now a major catastrophe risk that must be rigorously managed with the best data and model science,” Mohsen Rahnama, chief risk modeling officer for RMS, said in the statement. “In the wake of consecutive record-breaking wildfire seasons, we are

hopeful that more focus will be placed on fire mitigation, safe construction practices, and community resilience.”

Source: https://bit.ly/2DRfwKk

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WHATEVER THE REASONS, 2018 IS ALREADY THE BEST YEAR FOR CAMPGROUNDS I’VE SEEN SINCE 2006

INDUSTRY NEWS

It’s amazing – campgrounds beat the weather in 2018by Art Lieberman

I DON’T know about you, but the camping season in 2018 had the worst weather I’ve seen around the US since I’ve been in our industry. Old Mother Nature conjured up some really miserable events in our country almost as if she was trying to hurt RV Campgrounds specifically. There were huge rainstorms, massive floods scattered tornados, forest fires and, late in the season, 3 massive hurricanes. In certain parts of the country it was very hot and in others colder than normal. It was a mess.

It also seemed that she waited until the weekend to deliver these conditions. The Fourth of July weekend,

such as it was, since the 4th was actually a Wednesday, wasn’t very nice anywhere in the US. When July was over, our records showed that campgrounds did better in June than in July.

I should qualify these remarks. We process credit cards for nearly 650 campgrounds throughout the US. We have customers in almost every State and they range from the northernmost to the southernmost. 65% of our campgrounds are seasonal and shut down until late April or early May. We get individual daily totals on every customer and conglomerate numbers every day, week and month of the year. These records are,

of course confidential, but as a whole they allow us to evaluate how the industry is doing and allow us to make yearly comparisons and even prognostications.

And there, in those yearly

comparisons, is the most outstanding statistic of them all! Yes the weather was

poor throughout the country but even discounting the additional campgrounds we signed since last year, the industry as a whole did 6% better in 2018 than in 2017. Every month showed an increase in campground bookings almost averaging $1million more per month than the preceding year. July only went up $200,000.

So why did this happen despite the below average cooperation from Mother Nature?

One possibility was the boost in sales of RVs for the 2017-2018 season. Another good statistic there is that millennials are buying RVs in record numbers. This is great

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13industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

news for two distinct reasons. These people really aren’t intimidated by weather as their older counterparts may be. No rain or winds or storm threats are going to keep them out of their RVs. The other reason may have something to do with mobility. Millennials have an entirely different outlook on life as a whole. They open checking accounts and never order checks. All they are interested in are the debit cards to buy things in person, on their computers and on their cell phones.

Speaking about cell phone, only 22% of millennials actual have land lines. Their life’s blood, that cell phone, is always with them. It may be that they are thinking about having a home in the

same way. They may feel that living out of a RV is a great existence. You’ve probably heard of their notion of buying tiny homes 400 square feet or less.

Whatever the reasons, 2018 is already the best year for campgrounds I’ve seen since 2006 when MCPS for Campgrounds entered our marvelous industry.

Art Lieberman is President of MCPS for Campgrounds and has been in the industry for over 18 years and has been conducting free webinars online and seminars on credit cards in many State and Regional Association Conventions. He can be contacted at 877-858-9010 or at [email protected].

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14 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

Pine Acres Family Camping Resort donates $10,000 to the Jimmy Fund

OAKHAM, MA- Every season Pine Acres Family Camping Resort chooses a charity to raise funds for throughout its camping season.

In the past this family-owned campground has chosen to support local causes as well as charities chosen by their campers or employees. This year the choice was

especially close to their hearts, when they selected Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund as their charitable cause for the

2018 season.Tessa (above, left), a third

generation family member, and long-time employee, was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in April, at the young age of 34. With the support of her family and camping community, she recently completed 6 months of chemotherapy and just underwent surgery at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. She still has a long road ahead of her, but has every reason to fight, including for her amazingly supportive husband Ben (also a long-time employee), her spirited 4 year old son, and her sweet

9 1/2 month old baby girl. The compassionate care she receives at Dana Farber is a testament to the power of the Jimmy Fund.

Tessa's bravery, strength and grace has inspired the generosity of those around her. In response, the campers of Pine Acres opened their hearts and wallets this season and gave without hesitation! Donations totaled just over $5,000! Camper contributions were then generously matched by Pine Acres, bringing the total donation to $10,000!

Source: Press Release

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INDUSTRY NEWS

MARVAC event to feature RVX, SSI overview

MICH. - The Michigan Association of RVs and Campgrounds (MARVAC) is hosting a special event for its members on Dec. 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the organization’s offices in Okemos, Mich.

According to a press release, the event will include seminars on “RVX: The RV Experience” by the RV Industry Association (RVIA) as well as the latest industry trends by Statistical Surveys Inc. of Grand Rapids, Mich.

RVX is set for March 12-14, 2019, in Salt Lake City, Utah. RVIA officials have been busy garnering support for the new event, which is designed to “help sell more RVs and spark consumer interest in the RV lifestyle shared by millions of Americans by unveiling the latest products, celebrating innovation, and providing inspiration and education to dealers,” MARVAC officials stated in an email to MARVAC members today (Nov. 27).

The RV Industry Association is currently building the industry’s premiere platform to help you gain market share and increase dealer sales nationwide. Together we can make it a huge success and an event that truly highlights all the strengths of our ever-growing industry.”

In addition, Scott Stropkai of Statistical Surveys Inc. will be sharing retail sales trends on both the national and state of Michigan levels, as well as more information on the company’s new consumer demographics data specific to RV buyers.

There is no cost to attend the event and lunch will be provided. The deadline to register is Friday (Nov. 30). For information contact MARVAC Director Darren Ing at 517-999-6880 or e-mail [email protected].

Source: Press Release

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INDUSTRY NEWS

‘It’s pretty heartbreaking’ as Panhandle towns struggle to rebuild

MEXICO BEACH, FLA. — Tom Adams, who runs Mexico Beach Charters in the Florida Panhandle, moved his main fishing boat, the Nauti-Dogg, about 4 miles inland to save it from the wrath of Hurricane Michael.

The Category 4 storm, packing winds of 155 mph, found it anyway.

It’s been nearly two months since Michael, one of the most powerful storms to hit the United States, devastated Mexico Beach and caused significant damage in a few neighboring communities.

The Nauti-Dogg still rests at the place Adams once considered safe harbor in an inlet off the Intracoastal Waterway, where he has to trudge along a muddy path and over downed trees to get there. His boat, though, is

partly submerged under about 8 feet of water.

Adams, 65, also lost a home he rents out and three cars.

It could be at least two years before his fishing business, which once brought in about $60,000 annually, fully recovers.

“It’s pretty heartbreaking,” said Adams, who said he is still fielding calls from people who want to go fishing. He has a second, smaller boat that he could use to take people on shorter distances from different locations, but it will cost him more in fuel

and time.“And even if

they come, there’s nowhere for people to stay,” he said. “There are no hotels, no condos and no houses to rent.”

He plans to fall back on his inspector’s and contractor’s licenses to make ends meet.

The Panhandle is a favorite year-round destination

for people from Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, Tennessee, Texas and Canada, who crave its picturesque white sandy beaches and laid-back, nostalgic feel. A good number of Georgians have also moved to the area after retirement or have second homes there.

Today, though, it still looks like nature dropped a bomb.

Along the Highway 98 corridor in Mexico Beach, the destruction is appalling. Pine trees are snapped in half or leaning precariously toward the ground. There are

no hotels, no restaurants and practically no structures that escaped total devastation or serious damage.

There are rough patches in the roadway, the result of quick repairs after the storm surge washed away the asphalt.

The businesses there were all mom and pop operations, none with the deep pockets of a large corporation.

Mexico Beach Mayor Al Cathey said the town is “in full disaster mode.” His family’s hardware store, which is now operating out of a warehouse, was destroyed. “Michael took it. It’s gone,” he said. “We got our feet back under us just enough to say we’re open. The economy has come to a halt.”

He estimates that of the town’s 3,000 or so homes, most are “simply not here (anymore) or crippled to the degree they will have to be torn down.” The storm surge pushed many of the homes on the beach across Highway 98 into other homes, collapsing them into a pile of rubble.

Tourism is the business in this area, now “that’s gone. Zero.”

Many of the houses are second homes for Georgians and others. Others have retired there. People have to drive to Port St. Joe or Panama City for essentials like groceries.

“Recovery is going to come in stages,” said Cathey.

Full Article: https://on-ajc.com/2AAsaK7

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17industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

PUBLISHED BY Industry E News 419 Saint Francis Avenue, Smyrna TN 37167

Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved

Republishing content from this E News is prohibited.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in Campground & RV Park E News are not necessarily the opinion of the editor, publisher or staff. We do not accept responsibility for any damages resulting from inaccuracies in editorial or advertising. The Publisher, Industry ENews LLC is therefore indemnified against all actions, suits, claims for damages resulting from content in this publication. Content cannot be reproduced without the prior consent of the publisher.

CONTACT US Publisher/Editor: Dennis Macreadyemail: [email protected] 317-408-6849

Associate Editor & Advertising: Jamie Macreadyemail: [email protected] 317-408-6849

Listings in the Campground Supplier Directory are only $200 for a 48 week placement. Please contact us to get your business listed at [email protected] or call 317 408 6849.

Listings are featured via alphabetically listed categories with hot links to email and websites. This is undoubtedly the most economical method of promoting your business on a weekly basis.

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18 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

Published By: Industry ENews LLC419 Saint Francis AveSmyrna, TN 37167Copyright 2008 All Rights Reserved Republishing content from this E News is prohibited. Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in Campground & RV Park E News are not necessarily the opinion of the editor, publisher or staff. We do not accept responsibility for any damages resulting from inaccuracies in editorial or advertising. The Publisher, Industry ENews LLC is therefore indemnified against all actions, suits, claims for damages resulting from content in this publication. Content cannot be reproduced without the prior consent of the publisher.

CONTACT US: Publisher/Editor: Dennis Macready [email protected] 317-408-6849 Associate Editor & Advertising: Jamie Macready [email protected] 317-408-6849

Listings in the Campground Supplier Directory are only $200 for 48 week placement. Please contact us to get your business listed at [email protected] or call 317 408 6849 Listings are featured via alphabetically listed categories with hot links to email and websites. This is undoubtedly the most economical method of promoting your business on a weekly basis.

campgroundsupplier directory

Experienced bookkeeping firm focused solely on the Outdoor Hospitality Industry. Our accounting and operations knowledge allow us to offer turnkey accounting solutions to RV park owners, freeing you to spend your time focusing on your business, not on data entry.

Contact: Lindsey Foos Phone: (303) 816-8528 Email: [email protected] www.firesideaccounting.com

CPA firm that specializes in working with Campground and RV Park owners throughout the USA. Our industry knowledge is focused on taking the headaches out of bookkeeping and accounting and helping you grow your campground's value.

Contact: Donna Bordeaux or Chad Bordeaux Phone: 704-752-9845 Email: [email protected] www.campgroundaccounting.com

ACCOUNTING

INDUSTRY NEWS

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19industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

Texas Advertising is the publisher of several state campground guides as well as an approved ad agent for national publications like the Good Sam Directory. Not to mention, Texas Advertising owns AGS Guest Guides which publishes hundreds of campground guides every year and works with tens of thousands of campground-related businesses.

910 S. Crowley Rd, Ste. 9-504, Crowley, TX 76036. 877-518-1989www.TexasAdvertising.net Email: [email protected]

Southeast Publications provides site maps for your campground at NO COST to you. We can design your rack cards, mirror hangers, business cards, banners and more. FREE listing on MobileRVing.com and mobile app.

Call today 888.832.3292 www.SoutheastPublications.com 7676-B Peters Rd, Plantation, FL 33324 [email protected]

ADVERTISING SERVICES

Specializing in acquisitions and sales of RV properties Nationwide. If you have considered selling, let’s discuss how we may be able to assist you in ways others cannot. Not ready to sell? We offer full-service management options for far less than you might imagine

Contact: Randy Hendrickson, 805-253-1562 Email: [email protected] www.1Horizon.com

AQUISITIONS

Did you know our weekly Campground & RV Park E-News is sent to over 11,000 in-boxes of owners and managers? The vendor listings appear every week for 48 weeks of the year and provide a valuable service to the industry. Owners don't have to go searching for a product or service as the information is provided in their in-box each week under easy to find categories.

For more information, contact Jamie [email protected]

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20 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

Pinnacle Park Homes has served the campground industry for over 15 years. With our focus solely on park models and camping cabins, Pinnacle Park Homes has become a leader in the industry. We deliver to 48 states and our homes arrive complete – they are not a kit. We offer a rental line exclusively to campground owners that are designed to bring a return on investment in a short period of time.

Call us today or visit the web. 866-574-515926488 GA Hwy 3 Ochlocknee, GA 31773 Email: [email protected] www.pinnacleparkhomes.com

Great American Direct leads the industry in providing hospitality solutions at factory direct pricing. Our line features mattresses, mattress protection, bed frames, futons. Our NEW line provides outdoor furniture and umbrellas for your patio sites and pool areas. For a full list of products, visit our website.

Ph: (757) 229-05674000 Newman Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188 Email: [email protected] www.greatamericandirect.com

CABINS/PARKS MODELS

Building Pro: 713-880-2801www.buildingpro.com [email protected]

Bath House and Commercial Modular Buildings to meet any Building Code.Building Pro the Out House Masters has been custom building modular buildings since 1979. We design and build to meet your exact needs. We provide Showers, Toilets , Meeting rooms, Laundries, Classrooms, Locker rooms, Offices, Daycare's, Churches, Clinics.

BATH HOUSE UNITS

www.rvparksforsale.com Phone: 830-896-5050 Fax: 866-300-0146 [email protected] 612 Sidney Baker St. Kerrville, Texas 78028

SPECIALIZING IN RV PARKS AND CAMPGROUNDS. We offer professional Park Brokerage Services to those seeking to sell or purchase RV Parks, Resorts, Mobile Home Parks, Marinas, and Campgrounds in Texas and Oklahoma. We offer a lot more than typical Realtors or unlicensed Business Brokers, plus we have over 30 years experience just in this specialized Property.

AQUISITIONS

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21industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

Full Circle Finance has been financing the campground industry for nearly 20 years. We finance park models, bath houses, yurts, laundry equipment, honey wagons, hardware,/software, pool equipment, jumping pads, playground equipment, picnic tables, fire rings and just about anything else you can think of for the hospitality industry. If it's equipment used for your business, chances are we will finance it!

Call Kevin Van Wagner today at 1-888-223-2600 or visit us online www.fullcirclellc.us [email protected] APPLY NOW

EQUIPMENT FINANCE

MCPS for Campgrounds is the industry’s largest credit/debit card processor with very low rates to save you money. We have a virtual terminal, PCI Compliance Protection with up to $100,000 indemnification and many other services. We are on the Suppliers Council of ARVC and over a dozen state and regional associations. We work with most of the reservation services. MCPS processes through Woodforest Bank, with over 800 branches in Wal-Mart stores.

418 Hazel St., New Berlin, PA 17855 USA Ph: 877-858-9010 Fax: [email protected] www.mcpsforcampgrounds.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES

With more than 100 years of combined outdoor hospitality experience, the Gorin + Cohen Consulting Group provides expert experience in all aspects of RV Park and Campground design, development, investment, operations and marketing. The Gorin + Cohen team exclusively works with investors, developers, campground owners and park buyers, providing experience based consulting services at affordable fees.

www.gorincohenconsulting.comDavid: [email protected]: [email protected]

CONSULTANTS

Visit our website to request a one hour complimentary consultation

Ph: 800 897 8836

Owner: Maggie Linnell Lake Orion, Michigan Toll free number: 855.644.2400www.YourElectricalSolutions.net [email protected]

Use our knowledge for the best electrical fixes and upgrades. YES is a nationwide distributor of electric pedestals, surface boxes, electric meters, conversion kits, water meters, lighting, power distribution equipment and accessories from Millbank, Midwest, Eaton, General Electric and more.

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT/SUPPLIES

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22 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

MERCHANDISE AND SUPPLIES

Ph: 877 766 7784 [email protected] www.smorstix.com

SMORSTIX - The perfect Marshmallow Roasting Stix. The original since 1999. Packaged bulk or with pre-loaded clip-strips or floor display. Made of 100% untreated white birch without any additives, dirt or grime. SMORSTIX are a generous 30" length to keep everybody at a safe distance from the fire. Trees & forests are left undisturbed which is a good lesson when teaching the kids to leave our forests the way we found them.

MOBILE APPS

CREATE AN EXPERIENCE APP FOR YOUR CAMPGROUND, IN MINUTES! Features include a real-time alert system, activities calendar with reminders, mobile initiated delivery services, turn-by-turn directions to nearby things to see and do and MORE. No setup fees, 30 day Free trial. Subscriptions start at $30/month. Join the network.

Phone: 888-231-CAMP (2267)Email: [email protected] www.campersapp.com

Southeast Publications provides site maps for your campground at NO COST to you. We can design your rack cards, mirror hangers, business cards, banners and more. FREE listing on MobileRVing.com and mobile app.

Call today 888.832.3292 www.SoutheastPublications.com 7676-B Peters Rd, Plantation, FL 33324 [email protected]

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT

The Jump Pad has taken the market by storm and is the ideal kid magnet for campgrounds and RV resorts. Available in a variety of sizes, the Jump Pad is a series of inflatable "pillows" along a flat play jump area. No installation is required. Insurance companies have endorsed it. Can be folded and stored over winter!

Phone Randy on 704 902 [email protected] www.thejumppad.com

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23industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

Southeast Publications provides site maps for your campground at NO COST to you. We can design your rack cards, mirror hangers, business cards, banners and more. FREE listing on MobileRVing.com and mobile app.

Call today 888.832.3292 www.SoutheastPublications.com 7676-B Peters Rd, Plantation, FL 33324 [email protected]

PRINTING SERVICES

AGS is the industry leader in printing and promotional products. From site maps to brochures to fun, unique items like dry-erase maps for check-ins, floor mats, wine glasses and more! AGS prints high-quality and customized products to promote your business.

910 S. Crowley Rd, Ste. 9-504, Crowley, TX 76036. 817-426-9395. www.AGSPub.com Email: [email protected]

RECREATION EQUIPMENT

Emerald FX is a design build fiberglass company with a full line of American Made products. Our splash pads and water features can be found in many campgrounds throughout the country. We strive in providing our customers with the utmost quality!

Emerald FX LLC 502 Industrial Parkway, Norwalk, Ohio 44857PH: ( 419 ) 663-3279 Email: [email protected] Website: www.emeraldfx.com

The Jump Pad has taken the market by storm and is the ideal kid magnet for campgrounds and RV resorts. Available in a variety of sizes, the Jump Pad is a series of inflatable "pillows" along a flat play jump area. No installation is required. Insurance companies have endorsed it. Can be folded and stored over winter!

Phone Randy on 704 902 [email protected] www.thejumppad.com

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24 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

Specializing in acquisitions and sales of RV properties Nationwide. If you have considered selling, let’s discuss how we may be able to assist you in ways others cannot. Not ready to sell? We offer full-service management options for far less than you might imagine

Contact: Randy Hendrickson, 805-253-1562 Email: [email protected] www.1Horizon.com

RESORT MANAGEMENT

With over 30 years of innovation and 5,500 properties, RMS provides customizable, easy-to-use cloud-based reservation and property management software for RV parks and campgrounds. RMS provides all the necessities needed to drive bookings, increase revenue and operational efficiency as well as communicate with your guests to maximize business potential.

11120 Roselle St, Suite BSan Diego, CA 92121Email: [email protected]

Southeast Publications provides site maps for your campground at NO COST to you. We can design your rack cards, mirror hangers, business cards, banners and more. FREE listing on MobileRVing.com and mobile app.

Call today 888.832.3292 www.SoutheastPublications.com 7676-B Peters Rd, Plantation, FL 33324 [email protected]

RESERVATION SOFTWARE

Ready to upgrade your reservation system? If you're looking for simplicity with flexibility, Open Campground is an affordable and easy to use solution for your reservation system needs. Supports use in house and reservations by the guest. Check out the FREE demo today!

www.OpenCampground.com Email: [email protected]

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25industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

RV RESORT SEARCH HOME

Enhanced Camping, a product of AGS Guest Guides, is a first-class RV Resort and Campground search engine that not only lists your campground but offers the ability to include a banner photo and your guest guide! It also features thousands of camping-related services that support RVers all across the country.

910 S. Crowley Rd, Ste. 9-504, Crowley, TX 76036. 817-426-9395. www.EnhancedCamping.com Email: [email protected]

SANITATION

Phelps Honey Wagon, Inc. works to provide the best mobile sewage handling system in the country. Making every effort to set you up with a system that will best fit your needs. Proven industrial equipment that makes sewage handling 'so sweet' since 1970.

158 Whiskey Spring Rd, Dillsburg, PA 17019 800-463-3707 [email protected] www.phelpshoneywagon.com

SITE FURNISHING

Great American Direct introduces a new line of outdoor furniture for your patio sites and pool areas. Adirondack chairs, rocking chairs, loungers, dining tables, and dining chairs made of high density composite plastic in your color of choice are perfect for your outdoor spaces. High quality, commercial grade umbrellas with or without logo in the color of your choice are also available. For a full list of products, visit our website.

Ph: (757) 229-05674000 Newman Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188 Email: [email protected] www.greatamericandirect.com

Jamestown Advanced Products manufactures a full line of RV power outlets, grills, campfire rings, picnic tables, benches, dog park products, trash receptacles and more! Our products can be personalized with the use of our in-house laser.

For more information, call 1-800-452-0639. www.JamestownAdvanced.com Email: [email protected]

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26 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 30th, 2018 industrye-news.com

WIFI INTERNET SERVICES

TengoInternet delivers WiFi that Works for property owners. We are the largest outdoor WiFi provider with 14+ years of experience and over 1,500 successful installations. TengoInternet's turnkey wireless solutions increase occupancy, meet budget, increase guest experience and enable operations. Guaranteed

512-469-7660 [email protected] www.tengointernet.com

WEBSITE DESIGN/HOSTING

Southeast Publications provides site maps for your campground at NO COST to you. We can design your rack cards, mirror hangers, business cards, banners and more. FREE listing on MobileRVing.com and mobile app.

Call today 888.832.3292 www.SoutheastPublications.com 7676-B Peters Rd, Plantation, FL 33324 [email protected]

TXAD Internet has been a web design and online marketing agency that focuses on the campground industry since 1994. We build superior sites that incorporate online marketing for all types of industries but particularly RV Parks & Campgrounds and specialize in web design, managed hosting, blogging services, Google Adwords campaigns and more.

910 S. Crowley Rd, Ste. 9-504, Crowley, TX 76036.817-426-9395. www.TXADInternet.com Email: [email protected]

SITE MAPS

AGS Guest Guides is the industry leader in customer satisfaction when it comes to your site map and guest guide needs. Our top-notch, background-checked marketing representatives work with you to determine the product you need for your guests while creating a custom program to enrich your customers experience.

910 S. Crowley Rd, Ste. 9-504, Crowley, TX 76036.817-426-9395. www.AGSPub.com Email: [email protected]

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27industrye-news.com November 30th, 2018 | CAMPGROUND NEWS

INDUSTRY NEWS

28 CAMPGROUND NEWS | November 3, 2017 industrye-news.com

INDUSTRY NEWS

INDUSTRY news

DISPLAY AD RATESFULL PAGE: $45011”H x 8.5”W

HALF PAGE: $250Vertical • 9.2”H x 3.7”WHortizontal • 4.5”H x 7.7”W

QUARTER PAGE: $170Vertical • 4.5”H x 3.7”W

Hortizontal • 2.3”H x 7.7”W

EMAIL BANNER: $1800 48 weeks

VENDOR LISTINGS: $220 48 weeks

VIDEO EMBED: $30 per video

ARTWORK RATESAdvertising rates are based on artwork being supplied to our specifi cation in either high res jpg or pdf format.

TERM DISCOUNTS12 WEEKS: 7.5% 24 WEEKS: 10%48 WEEKS: 15%

Campground E News has become the premier news source for owners and managers of Campgrounds and RV Resorts throughout the United States and Canada.

Published weekly, it reports on events almost as they happen giving readers the most up to date information available to the industry.

Advertising rates compared to distribution make the e news a very competitive choice for those wanting to reach out to this market.

WHO TO CONTACTPress releases: e: [email protected] | Ad bookings: Jamie Macready 317 408 6849 e: [email protected] | Free subscription: www.industrye-news.com

Campground E News is published by Industry E News LLC, 419 Saint Francis Ave, Smyrna TN 37167. Emailed every Wednesday 48 weeks of the year to industry decision makers in the USA and Canada. Ad rates shown are based on a weekly booking. However, we have a MINIMUM 4 week booking policy for display ads as we believe repetitive advertising works far better than a one off ad placement.

DEADLINESDisplay ads: Book by 10am Monday prior to publicationSupply artwork: Monday 12 noon prior to publication. jpg or pdf to our specifi cations with no crop marks or bleed.

TERMSNew clients invoiced on booking. Existing clients 14 days.

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Subscribe today, it is FREE, and get the latest Campground E News hot off the ‘press’.

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