Rv park closings

[Minno]

Minnesota State Parks are open, although they will not open the bathrooms with running water and flush toilets at this time. Since it's 20 degrees this morning, I'm not camping here yet anyway. We're hoping they stay open, since we have reservations in May...

Kay

[mojo]

MOST KOAs ARE OPEN
Most of our campgrounds are open and honoring reservations and new guests. We have had a few closures due to local government ordinances and will keep an updated list of those closures here. Some KOA campgrounds may remain open, but offer only partial services. Please refer to each campground’s KOA landing page on KOA.com for updated information on that specific campground.

[Gene]

Seems like many national parks and monuments are open, but visitor centers are closed. Fees waived for entrance. Not really sure about campgrounds though and calls to them probably are necessary. They want people to get out in fresh air and walk around, but stay apart. That is easier in western states with more land and fewer people.

Colorado just extended the closure of restaurants except for take out to the end of April.

[lsbrodsky]

The COE just canceled my reservation at Harwell Lake in SC for May.

Larry

[Rocinante]

Quick moderator note: Several off-topic posts to this thread have been removed. Please do not re-post. Thank you.

[lsawye01]

Maverick Ranch RV Park, at Lajitas Resort T, near Big Bend NP, unit is now closed April, 03. Park states they will reevaluate on that date. Keeping my fingers crossed as we were heading there on April 14th for a week.

[waninae39]

some friends return from Florida. they states that the FL RV parks are no longer accepting any short term campers/rv. long term may stay.

[Burnside Bob]

A general closure of Oregon State Park campgrounds and dispersed camping on Oregon State lands has been announced by the Governor and Oregon State Park system. Websites cited below.

According to the Oregonian/Oregon Live website today, 21 March 2020, a statewide "shelter in place" order is being considered by the governor and to be announced Monday, 23 March 2020.

Campground Reservations in Oregon State Parks for now until April 2, 2020 will be honored, but no new reservations will be accepted and walk-ups will be turned away.

All campgrounds will be completely closed 3 April 2020 thru 8 May 2020--folks with reservations for this period will be refunded.

While day use of State Park units is still permitted, that may change with the "shelter in place" order. Stay tuned.

Statewide system announcement: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.c...&articleId=272

Specific Park Closures: https://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=v.dsp_Notices

Burnside

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by waninae39

some friends return from Florida. they states that the FL RV parks are no longer accepting any short term campers/rv. long term may stay.

^^ We talked to some of our friends who stay in FL all winter, in the private campground where we stayed up until last season. They are still there, but new short term campers are not allowed in.

We drove from FL to NC on Thursday and Friday (US-27, Florida Turnpike, I-75, US301, I-95, I-74). I've never seen so many RV's heading north this early in spring. A really high percentage of them were Canadians.

During our travel, everyone I encountered respected "social distancing". I was glad to see everyone being cooperative, courteous, and respectful!

[Tom_T]

This website seems to have a pretty good listing of the closed parks, but I can't say how complete nor up to date it is. The CA & SoCal ones that I see on there are correct.

https://thedyrt.com/magazine/local/c...list-covid-19/

Note that it is note an official site, but a community effort.

This is our local Orange County CA paper's 3/18/20 article on the CA closures FYI -

https://www.ocregister.com/2020/03/1...avirus-spread/

Tom
///////

[SteveSueMac]

Apologies if this has already been posted but saw this just now and it seems pretty helpful and frequently updated:

https://www.rvtravel.com/coronavirus939/

[Rocinante]

The Columbia Press, of Warrenton, OR, in Clatsop County, has posted a relevant story on Facebook. There is quite some discussion there about whether the local officials have the power to do this, but that's not what I want to discuss here. Based on the story below, I simply wanted to note that the situation has reached a point where local officials are beginning to make hard decisions that will likely close campgrounds and RV parks under their jurisdiction. This story has yet to make it to the official home page of the Columbia Press, which made me worry a bit about the provenance of this article, but then I found the minutes of the City of Warrenton's emergency meeting. Look at the PDF entitled " Resolution No. 2565 (567 KB)" Also, here's a link to the FB page of the Columbia Press.

So, as best I can make out, this is the real thing.

Story Follows:

The Columbia Press
12 hrs ·

Warrenton Gives Tourists 24 Hours To Get Out Of Town
By Cindy Yingst
The Columbia Press

Tourists have 24 hours to get out of town or face arrest.
Warrenton city commissioners took the stance after thousands of people from elsewhere arrived in town Friday and Saturday, clogging highways 30, 26 and 101.

Warrenton called an emergency meeting at 5 p.m. Saturday, first issuing a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 outbreak and then taking further action to prevent those from other areas coming here on vacations and spring break or for simple recreation and endangering residents.
“This is a serious event and it’s also a major event,” Mayor Henry Balensifer said earlier in the day during a livestream broadcast. “Our top priority is doing what we need to do for the best interest of our citizens.”

Resolution 2565, “To ensure the public health and safety of the citizens of Warrenton and to avoid unnecessary risks to hospital surge in Clatsop County,” makes the following orders:

• All camping is closed at Warrenton and Hammond marinas.
• All camping is closed at KOA, Fort Stevens State Park, Kampers West and Hammond Marina RV Park. An exception is made for permanent residents, camp hosts, employees and anyone living as a long-term resident of the facilities who were residents with contracts before March 11 – when the virus was declared a pandemic.
• All stays in short-term rentals, home-stay lodging and B&Bs are prohibited.
• All hotels within city limits are closed except for current users registered for longer than 30 days and as authorized by the county, state or federal health authorities. So long-term contractors already staying in the city’s hotels may remain.
• All camping on private property, except by order of the police chief or state, is prohibited.

The resolution takes effect immediately and those affected have 24 hours to vacate.

The vote was unanimous with Balensifer, Tom Dyer, Rick Newton and Mark Baldwin at City Hall – separated by 6 feet – and Pam Ackley via telephone.

The resolution will be enforced by Warrenton Police and four officers were at City Hall for the Saturday meeting, including Chief Matt Workman.
“We’re prepared for that,” Workman told commissioners. “I’ve spoken with Sheriff Phillips and he will provide us with any additional resources as needed.”

The offense – remaining in town after the 24 hours – is a class C misdemeanor “and that is an arrestable offense,” he said.
“I would hope that the majority of the folks that are affected by this order … will cooperatively work with the city so as not to tax the limited resources we have,” City Manager Linda Engbretson said.

Officers will contact managers of the campgrounds and hotels and they’re expected to take action to clear out their facilities.

Balensifer said he’d spoken with county officials, County Commissioner Mark Kujala and state Senator Betsy Johnson and all are aware of the city’s action and support it.

“We’re not making this decision in a vacuum.”

[moosetags]

We went by Grayton Beach State Park in Walton County, Florida last Thursday. At that point the campground was closing as of Friday, but we were told that the Park was to remain open. We went by the park again yesterday, and now the park is totally closed. I am guessing that all State Parks in Florida are now closed.

Brian

[John&Vicki]

Nobody knows, but as it appears we are in perhaps the second or third inning of this pandemic, my assumption is that all parks will be closed eventually. I had a full camping calendar booked for the upcoming season but I have reluctantly cancelled almost everything. Very disappointing, and I fervently hope I’m over-reacting, but it just seemed prudent.

Stay safe everyone.

[Burnside Bob]

An update to my previous post.

The night of 22 March 2020 will be the last night for camping at Oregon State Parks. This is a change since my last post reporting closure of camping effective 3 April 2020.

Here's the official link:

https://oregonstateparks.org/index.c...&articleId=272

A cut and paste from the official closure notice:

Day-use state parks will close at the dusk on March 23 and will not reopen until further notice. At this time, campers may spend
the night March 22 and must vacate by 1 p.m. on March 23.

Sad but true.

Burnside

[Bigventure]

Ohio has shut down all nonessential businesses. Effective Monday at midnight.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by Bigventure

Ohio has shut down all nonessential businesses. Effective Monday at midnight.

Assuming this includes the mothership? [emoji22]

[Camano20]

Just an update from Washington State Parks

Washington campgrounds to close
through April 30

Day use areas and trails remain open

OLYMPIA – March 22, 2020 – Today, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks), Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the closure of all state campgrounds across Washington to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Campgrounds will remain closed through April 30.

The closure includes roofed accommodations like cabins and yurts.

No new campers will be allowed into Parks, WDFW or DNR lands beginning Monday, March 23. Current campers will be phased out following instructions from land officials.

Day use areas and trails remain open. Due to the volume of people visiting Washington’s ocean beaches, we are asking the public to avoid those areas. People should continue to practice social distancing when recreating outdoors.

State Parks
Campers who have state parks reservations through April 30 will be notified and offered a full refund. Visitors can find the latest information about State Park operations at parks.state.wa.us/COVID19.

Department of Fish and Wildlife
Although camping is not allowed, WDFW wildlife areas and water access areas remain open for public use at this time. However, due to theft and increased usage of their restrooms, visitors should plan to bring their own hand sanitizer and toilet paper. For the latest information about WDFW operations, visit wdfw.wa.gov/about/covid-19-updates.

Department of Natural Resources
DNR’s camping will be closed to dedicated camping areas and dispersed camping or camping outside of designated camp sites. For the most up-to-date information for DNR lands, visit www.dnr.wa.gov/recreation.

[Khale]

Smokey Mountains Nation Park just closed their campgrounds.

[Bigventure]

Ohio including Airstream are ordered to shelter in place. Until April the 6. Only 2 weeks, but I think they will reevaluate at that time and could be extended.