TACO Honors Texas’ Award-Winning RV Parks
May 2011.
The award recognizes excellence in operations, customer service reviews, park promotions, directory ratings, management skills, employee training and community service.
Small Park of the year: Johnson Creek RV Resort, Ingram Texas. The Cauthens fell in love with the Texas Hill Country and built Johnson Creek RV Resort & Park (49-site park) in a pecan orchard off Highway 27, roughly 11 miles west of Kerrville, in 2005. Woodalls North American Campground Directory also awarded them two 5W ratings for their top quality RV and recreational facilities, beginning in 2006. Winter Texans fill the park for several months during the winter season. Owner Lisa Cauthen says in the “wintertime, we have activities seven days a week” and also says that they “enjoy high levels of repeat business by providing value to their guests with reasonable rates and fantastic amenities.” You can visit them at www.johnsoncreekrvresort.com.
Medium Size Park of the year: The Vineyards Campground & Cabins, Grapevine. The Vineyards in the heart of Texas, is surrounded by wineries. It has 68 RV sites and also accommodates tents, or gives you a choice of furnished cabins. The pavilion and children’s playground, an 8,000 acre lake with a fishing pier and waterfun, gives you a memorable place to escape to with a rural feel. Yet, the Vineyards is close to a thriving historic downtown in Grapevine, and the Grapevine Mini Mall. Also, it is not a far drive to downtown Ft. Worth and Arlington, say nothing of the Dallas Cowboys. In September, people flock to Grapevine for an annual celebration– the International Wine Festival which includes a midway for the kids and petting zoo, as well as an arts and crafts festival .
Large Park of the Year: Guadalupe River RV Resort, Kerrville, also earned two 5W ratings from Woodall’s besides the Texas Assn. of Campground Owners (TACO) award. Obviously, people pay attention to ratings. They also have been paying attention to the park’s rental accommodations which include site built and park model cabins. In the works is a plan to add 40 more park models to be placed on a 15-acre property next to the RV resort with its own access gate, clubhouse, pool, Jacuzzi and laundry.
One of the owners of the park, Don Temple said the park’s riverfront amphitheatre and concert stage are popular with its guests and Kerrville residents because the park brings in live entertainment. Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day weekend are extremely popular there. Guadalupe River Resort is also know for its charitable endeavors, having adopted the K Star Emergency Shelter. During the winter, they collect toys, food, clothes and money for the shelter. They also provided a Christmas dinner at the park for the kids and staff. To visit their website, go to www.gudaluperiverrvresort.com.
To learn more about TACO, go to www.texascampgrounds.com.
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TACO elects new President; Addresses Key Water Issue
March 2011. Robert Kennedy of Lubbock RV Park in Lubbock has been elected to a two-year term as president of the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO), which represents nearly 400 privately owned campgrounds, RV parks and resorts in Texas and New Mexico.
According to Kennedy, his priorities as association president will be to support TACO’s marketing efforts to increase camping within the state of Texas while also advocating various legislative reforms to lessen government regulations in the private park sector.
One key issue involves water regulations and the pricing of water in privately owned parks. TACO secured legislation in 2005 that requires municipalities to charge parks for their actual water consumption using commercial rates. But some water districts in unincorporated areas of Texas have been charging parks flat fees (per campsite) using much higher residential rate structures.
Kennedy said the residential rates can cost as much as four times as much as commercial rates and are unfair to park operators, since they typically deal with transient campers and not permanent residents.
TACO has sponsored two bills, which could correct the problem. House and Senate hearing on those bills (HB1210 and SB569) were held March 15 and the Senate version was already voted out of committee. The Legislature is expected to vote on the bills before summer and, if approved, they would go to Governor Perry for signature, taking effect in September.
Spring Break Fills Texas, Gulf Coast RV Parks
“We have talked to many parks. And if they have any sort of significant location or significant group of amenities, they are sold out,” said Brian Schaeffer, executive director and CEO of the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO).
Many parks said their business levels were especially high because spring break crowds are going to many of the same parks that are used by Winter Texans.
“When you couple spring break with our remaining Winter Texans, this will be one of our busiest weeks of the year,” said Bryan Kastleman, manager of Hill Country RV Resort & Cottage Rentals in New Braunfels.
Parks with recreational amenities are also in particularly high demand.
“We have talked to many parks. And if they have any sort of significant location or significant group of amenities, they are sold out,” said Brian Schaeffer, executive director and CEO of the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO).
Many parks said their business levels were especially high because spring break crowds are going to many of the same parks that are used by Winter Texans.
“When you couple spring break with our remaining Winter Texans, this will be one of our busiest weeks of the year,” said Bryan Kastleman, manager of Hill Country RV Resort & Cottage Rentals in New Braunfels. . . .Parks with recreational amenities are also in particularly high demand.
Parks are also keeping busy along the Gulf Coast. “Spring break is a wonderful time in Texas,” said Charles Rhea of Surfside RV in Port Aransas. “Schools are out and parents are footing the bill!”
Some parks are also benefiting from upcoming festivals and other special events.
TACO publishes and distributes the Texas RV Travel & Camping Guide to Texas each year. For more information about the 2011 directory, contact Brian Schaeffer at (817) 307-0129 or visit www.texascampgrounds.com.
2011 Texas RV Travel & Camping Guide Available
RV and camping enthusiasts can order the 150-page directory online by visiting www.texascampgrounds.com. The 2011 Texas RV Travel & Camping Guide will also be posted on the website later this month in Maga-zooms page-turning format.