RV parks get mixed business during pandemic

Local RV parks, which also offer tent and camper trailer camping, have reported a mixture of cancellations and additional reservations in the wake of Monday’s announcement that state parks have closed lodges and are limiting camping to self-contained RV units due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We want to continue to provide this valuable resource to the public, but we need everyone to take very seriously the responsibility they have to help flatten the curve and reduce the spread of the virus,” State Department of Parks Secretary Stacy Hurst said Monday during the governor’s daily news conference.

“The number one thing people need to do is practice social distancing. Even though you’re outside, you need to avoid congregating in groups.”

Lynn Barrett, Hot Springs National Park KOA Campground

co-owner and manager, said the pandemic has “taken a bite” out of their usual spring break crowd, and while they still have business, it’s “nowhere near” what they usually see this time of year.

“We’re here … all our operations are still going; we are here if anyone needs to get away (and) social distance out in the fresh air,” Barrett said.

KOA’s office hours have been reduced to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and she said they are discussing reducing them further.

“At this time we have kept all of our parts of the park open,” Barrett noted. “We still do breakfast on the weekend, but as takeout, not dine-in. We are taking the precautions necessary to make sure everyone stays safe.”

Laundry, bathroom and lodging facilities have remained open.

“Everything is being sanitized on a daily basis multiple times a day,” Barrett said. “Accommodations are cleaned after someone leaves and before someone comes in. We’re taking additional steps to keep them as clean as possible. If campers have a problem, we’ve done things by phone, delivered things. (We’re) doing as much social distancing as possible.”

Cloud Nine RV Park Manager Pamela Fisher said the park has experienced both cancellations and additional reservations due to COVID-19.

“We’ve had a lot of cancellations … they don’t want to do their vacations or they’re in a hurry to get home so they’re not going to stay and visit the parks,” Fisher said. “I’ve also gained a lot of people passing through that weren’t planning to stay here, but they’re on their way home and they needed a place to stay while they’re traveling.”

Cloud Nine’s office has remained open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and no parts of the park are closed.

“I have (signs) posted at the buildings asking (that) everyone does the 6-foot social distancing, and so far everyone has been really great. I haven’t had any issues,” she said. “… My guests have been really respectful of one another. A lot of my guests are long-term, so they’re very cordial and cautious of one another.”

Fisher said she has also been cleaning and sanitizing the park’s laundry, bathroom, clubhouse and office facilities three times a day.

“I’m trying to do as much over the phone business as I can so I can make my incoming guests feel as comfortable as possible,” she said. “I put their packets at the door for pickup and I just tell my guests to be courteous of one another.”

Lela Westall, Catherine Landing’s front desk lead, said their park has also experienced cancellations and additional reservations, noting, “Half of my calls are cancellations and the other half is people who booked somewhere that’s closed and need a place to stay; so we’re still pretty busy.”

Catherine’s Landing office hours have been adjusted to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday and Saturday. Westall said the park’s playground is closed, but rentals are still available and they still have “plenty of amenities for the guests left.”

“We have our lodge completely locked up and we’re asking people to call us or contact us other ways, and of course we’re going through and cleaning the way the (Centers for Disease Control) has asked us to,” she said. “We have a very clean resort anyways, we’re just going extra with that; focusing on all the doorknobs and door handles.”

Although the lodge, which serves as the park’s office, is locked and guests are being checked in remotely, Westall said guests can knock and request to come in to purchase something from the park’s store or talk to management if needed.