Terror at the RV Park

[Cudedog]

Good day, everyone.

I have been on this forum for several years, and have read the posts with great enjoyment and anticipation during that time. Being a member of this group of strong women RV’ers has given me the desire and the courage to attempt my own adventure.

As many of you know, I purchased a new GMC Savanna van and converted it – all by myself – to a camper van (link to my van building project is below). The van was finished about three years ago now, but I have taken only a few trips in it because my elderly dogs became ill with age, and were unable to travel. There was no other option to me, being who I am, than to live with and care for these beloved old friends until their final heartbreaking days.

This I did.

My Sweet Girl, who had been battling Pancreatitis for several months, passed at the end of June at the too-young age of 15 1/2. Shortly before she became ill, I had acquired a retired show dog of my chosen breed (Staffordshire Bull Terrier). My Big Joe is a wonderful dog, and is proving to be a fantastic traveling companion.

I love volcanoes, and I also give talks and demonstrations on volcanoes to young girl and boy scouts and school children. I have just returned from a long-anticipated trip to the Oregon volcanoes, which has made me wonder if perhaps I have missed something in reading all of the posts here over the years.

Without going in to too much detail, I had an experience a few days ago that is causing me to perhaps re-think my travel adventuring plans.

The short version:

Before leaving, I had acquired a Passport America membership that so many of you had recommended. I located a Passport America campground in La Pine, Oregon: (yes, I am going to name it) Cascade Meadows RV Resort:

http://www.passportamerica.com/campgrounds/or/cascademeadowsrvresort3537

For the record, this “resort” was in poor repair, run-down, and in need of a lot of TLC. However, I didn’t much care, because I just needed a place to sleep overnight.

I had called ahead to make reservations (they asked how long was my rig, I said it was a camper van) and arrived about 4:30 p.m., registered at the office, I was given a site map and a blue slip and went to my assigned site and began to set up.

As I was busy doing this (not a lot to do, really – I run a power cord out my window so that I can plug in my heater – it is cold this time of year in this part of Oregon) and that is pretty much it. I turned slightly when suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere in the dark was a large, rough-shaven man standing inside my personal space, obviously very very pissed off. We were practically chest-to-chest (he was no more than a few inches from me – I had not heard him approach partly because I was not thinking about any trouble, and partly because I am hearing impaired).

I could immediately tell that he was extremely angry, and he said to me in a sneering tone: “I’m over there” (he jerked his head towards the $60,000 King Cab pickup truck, hooked up to a $100,000+ deluxe, mega-slides everywhere, travel trailer that was parked next to me). “I’m pretty sure this place don’t rent to no vans” (his voice dripping with extreme distaste at the word “van”, as though he had just stepped in a brown pile of you-know-what).

I was actually dumbstruck by this. My van is not a “beater”, but is a nice, unblemished, 2011 van that I purchased new. My immediate impulse was to say “F—k off, a$$hole” as I was instantly more angry than I have almost ever been and - also instantly, and just as suddenly - pretty much terrified out of my wits.

Both at the same time.

Not a good thing to be when one is alone, in a strange place, with not another soul around, talking to a enraged man larger than I was (and I not a small woman), just as the sun was going down. I was wishing he would take a few steps back. I couldn’t step back, because my back was already pressed tight up against the side of my van.

I don’t think I actually made any reply, just kind of stood there with my mouth gaping open (also not a good thing to do) wondering what the hell was going to happen next.

I soon found out.

He continued: “I thought I better come over here and see what kind of fu-king riff-raff trouble making trash I’m a gonna havta deal with”.

Sweet Christ, I thought, I am going to be assaulted.

To hopefully avoid this, I immediately went into my fall-back “dumb broad” imitation. I actually smiled and let out a small laugh (no small feat under the circumstances – but then I majored in theatre when I was in college – a learned acting skill can come in handy at the oddest of times) and replied “Ha! I’m too old for all that.”

This seemed to stop him in his tracks. He probably wasn’t expecting any kind of reply, but then continued on “. . .we are all ‘Conservatives’ around here, if you know what I mean, and goddamn ‘Liberals’ just had best get out and stay out.”

Again, I was dumbstruck. Great. A discussion of the merits (or lack thereof) of the current political situation. Yes, just the thing for a dark night, alone with an angry man, in a rainy campground. After an instant (actually, less than an instant) consideration I thought it best to keep my own political outlook to myself. I could tell he was pretty fired up.

So I said, noncommittally, “Well, that’s nice” or some other kind of non-statement. I don’t really remember, because my knees were starting to shake. For some reason, he then gave me a hard look, turned around and left.

I took a deep breath, hoping that was the end of it.

It wasn’t.

A few minutes later I could see another angry man rapidly striding towards my van as I was inside looking out the windshield. Before he could knock on my door (and get my dog riled up) I stepped out, smiled (ah, the benefits of acting training!) and said “Hello” with a smile in a pleasant, welcoming voice.

His first words to me: “So. . . what did you do, just pull in here and park, and hope to stay overnight without paying, or did you actually stop and register at the office first, which I seriously doubt?” He then identified himself as the titular “night manager”. Can we say “hostile” here?

Apparently, Mr. Testosterone had “reported” me.

I replied that of course I had registered.

“Then where is your blue slip? It should be hanging from your mirror!” he snarled.

Well, I remembered getting a blue slip with my space number on it, but I didn’t remember ever being told it needed to be displayed in my van. Maybe it had been mentioned, I don’t remember. Memory tends to fail me when I am scared out of my wits.

I replied that I would put it up directly, to which he snarled again: “Well, you’d better!” He then angrily strode away.

What is it with large angry men and smaller defenseless women, anyway?

I began madly searching for the blue slip. Not a lot of places for it to disappear to in a cargo van, but I COULD NOT find it. So I locked my van, and walked to the office. Of course, the office was now closed, but there was a phone number posted for the campground at the restaurant across from the office. I telephoned, explained to the woman who answered the phone that I had registered not an hour before, that I couldn’t find my blue slip, had not even been told the purpose of the blue slip, and that there was an extremely angry man at my camp site threatening to throw me out.

The woman on the telephone said that she would check on it and call me back. She never did call me back, whether or not she “checked on it” I will never know.

When I got back to my van, I did finally locate the missing blue slip and, with shaking hands, taking several deep (really deep!) breaths, placed it on my dashboard before closing the curtains.

I then picked up my flashlight, got my dog out, and spent the next two solid hours rapidly run-walking around the deserted half of the campground until the adrenaline petered out. I stayed the night, because inside with the doors locked, a telephone, pepper spray, and a big dog I felt reasonably safe.

Besides, by the time I had calmed down enough to be able to have a single rational thought it was nearly 11:00 p.m., too late to go anywhere else. And, in any case, rational thoughts were currently in very short supply.

So. Here is my question to those of you who have (or even those who have not) camped a whole lot more than I have:

Is something like this a common occurrence for single women rv’ers?

Has something like this ever happened to you? If yes, what did you do about it?

If a person can't afford an expensive rig, should they give up the dream?

How would you have handled this?

What steps do you think I should take to avoid something like this happening in future?

Man, I am not quite ready to give up on my single woman rv’er travelling dream.

But I have to admit that the thought has now definitely crossed my mind.

Any and all responses greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Anne

[avalen]

So sorry that happened Anne. I've never been put in that position
however, I can reasonably say I can be quite sarcastic if need be
and would have probably made some smart remark about him
being drunk and reporting him. What he did was rude . Its easy
now in the comfort of my recliner to visualize how I would react
but since its never happened,,,,I do feel for you. Perhaps some
of the other girls will chime in with their experience.

[monik7]

Anne, what a terrifying experience. I've been single woman RVing now for 4 1/2 years and have not encountered such a situation. I did have an experience in Quartzsite 2 years ago but it was a woman who felt she and her husband were entitled to about an acre and a half out there on BLM land as their site. When I walked my dogs crossing their so-called property, she came storming out at me and ended up face to face asking me what I was doing on her property. I had been told by Sheila and also Pattyk that this woman was threatening people. I responded to her in a friendly manner but it only got worse with her. I decided she had chosen the wrong person to confront and ended up contacting the lead Ranger for the BLM district. Within 30 minutes a Ranger was there to get my statement. The rules say campers must be 15 feet separated from others - not an acre! What made it all so ridiculous is that the woman and her husband volunteered at BLM working 3 days a week checking campers into the CG. It all ended up with a meeting being called for all the workers and that woman apparently was read the riot act. She was standing outside her rig as I walked my dogs the next morning across the area she claimed and also as I drove out on my way home. I gave her a big wave as I drove away. They ended up not coming to Q last January.

I mention all this because I chose to take a stand rather than let this woman bully me. I try to stay in PA parks as much as possible and have never had a bad situation and only 2 out of 35-40 PA CGs have been in bad repair. I can understand your fear and that you could not confront those two men, but I would have explained clearly to each that I had a reservation, had checked in, was not told about where to put the blue slip. etc. and I would have objected to be accosted by them and being accused of being riff raff. The next day I would have complained to the office and I would have called PA directly to speak to someone in authority to complain in detail exactly how I had been treated and the poor condition of the park. I would have insisted on getting the name and contact info. of the person I talked to and would have told them I expected to hear back regarding what actions PA was taking with regard to how I was treated. PA needs to know how its members are being accosted/threatened at one of their parks.

Don't give up. A 2011 van is not a piece of junk and you have every right to camp where the rest of us do. I know it was a hard thing to experience, but don't let two jerks ruin your dream. Use it as a learning situation. My guess is that you probably won't run into people like that again and I hope you will continue to enjoy your travels in your van.
Sandi

[Bethers]

Full time since mid 2005 without a fancy rig ... although my current is way "nicer" than my previous. I've never encountered anything like that. I hope I never do. Because my mouth would get me in trouble before I have a chance to be scared.

I have, on a couple occasions, just not felt comfortable with a place. And I listen to those feelings.

[BirdbyBird]

I would definitely report the incident to the manager of the park and let them know that the internet is a powerful tool for sharing......The report to PA sounds good, also. And no I have never experienced anything even close to what you reported. Don't let it take your "wings" away. Keep Flying!

I just met a wonderful woman at the gtg in Indiana who had full-timed in a Road Trek for 10 years then came off the road for 8 years to help with Grandchildren until the youngest started school. To get back on the road she has now purchased a similar cargo van and did all the insides with a shoe string budget. She did put solar on top and a nice inverter and batteries. She and her elderly cat are quite comfortable and are heading back out to travel full-time within a budget she can afford at this point in her life!

[JudyJB]

Like Sandi, I also have been solo full-timing for 4 1/2 years and have never had anything like that happen to me. I tend to stay in state parks and COE campgrounds because there are no permanent residents in government facilities. I did once leave a commercial campground early because I did not like the looks of a couple of the permanent residents. They were drinking at their site and stared at me as I parked and set up. It also was a very run-down place. I did stay one night, but had a reservation for the next night and just left in the morning.

I also would not have confronted these two men, for one reason because I did not want my rig damaged.

However, besides calling PA and notifying the office the next morning, I would also write up a review for rvparkreviews.com and be very frank about what happened. A ton of people rely on those reviews and need to know what happened.

[Liz]

No it is not a common occurrence...in fact it has never happened to me. But I can tell you, it IS THAT RV PARK! When I was in La Pine I called ahead and inquired about a site. I was asked, are you a member? I said I was a member of PA. Well, PA rates are not honored until October, I was told. (The book doesn't say that) When I inquired about a site at regular rates (I needed to dump and fill fresh water tank) I was told they don't give full-hookup sites to non-members. I said that was ok as long as they have a dump station. No, they don't have a dump station. At that point it was obvious I wasn't wanted there, so I went to the state park instead. Whew, so sorry you went through all that!

[Cudedog]

Thanks to all who have responded. I hope that more of you also respond.

Much food for thought here, which I am mulling over and may comment on further later on.

I'd like to add two things:

1. This night was only about my eighth total solo camping experience. Ever.

2. This night was also the first (and only) time I have ever stayed at a Passport America campground.

I'm listening. Thank you.

Anne

[JudyJB]

Other than a very poorly managed park, I think the problem is that you encountered two old guys who thought they owned the place and that it was their job to patrol for "outsiders." (I don't think this had anything to do with your rig being inexpensive.) I can only assume that you were not the first person that received their rude and aggressive behavior. This tells me management likely ignores such behaviors, possibly because they want to keep their regular residents. I try to avoid campgrounds with a lot of permanent residents because often they junk up their lots and the place ends up looking tacky and old, plus sometimes those places attract some "iffy" people. However, I have heard people complain of some "RV resorts" where residents dislike "transient" campers because they feel they really do not belong there.

On the other hand, I have stayed at some very nice RV parks where there were a mix of permanent and transient campers and the park management made sure everything was kept neat and people obeyed rules. You could tell when you drove in that the place was neat and well-kept, and I had no problem staying there.

I really think you ought to come down hard on Passport America and maybe even find out who owns the campground, not just who manages it.

Your experience bothers me because I always tell people how safe campgrounds are.

[BarbaraRose]

The only bad experience I have had camping was this summer when a drunk man tried to get into my tent in the middle of the night. It was terrifying for me and I was lucky that the guy in the next campsite came running over after hearing me screaming at the man, and chased him off. I was too upset to sleep the rest of the night and ended up packing up and leaving in the morning.

Being that I love camping, I decided I was not about to let one rare incident by a drunk man, ruin my camping dreams. I will camp again and I will take more precautions.

If I were in your situation, I would have just left right then and there. Even with a dog and mace, these guys could have gotten very dangerous. You did good by "acting" nice and not getting upset or angry.

Don't let this one situation stop you from living your dream. Bad things can happen anywhere at anytime. Just trust your gut/intuition and start up the van and leave, if you feel the least bit uncomfortable. You can always find a parking lot to stay in over night.

[mtngal]

Wow, so sorry you had such a scary experience. I totally understand why you might be having second thoughts. While I don't full time I have camped extensively in an older (03) Roadtrek for eight years and have never had a bad experience. That said, I don't do confrontation and would have been out of there. And for me, stopping well before dark allows freedom to move on if necessary.

[Cougarfan]

What a scary situation. I'm not sure what I would've done in your shoes. I do applaud you for not packing up and leaving that night. It would've given validation to his actions. You basically said "up yours" I'm staying.

Karen and I stayed at that rv park about 7-8 years ago. We did not encounter any issues. It was a membership park at that time as well but when Karen called for reservations, they said they take non-members. Neither one of us had PA at the time. Like I said, this was quite a few years ago and the people working in the office were older but pleasant so maybe they are not there anymore. I remember the on-site restaurant was fabulous and reasonably priced. I don't remember even talking to any of the other campers while we were there.

I camped at a Passport America park in Silverton, Oregon. In fact, we had a GTG there. There was an entire section for permanents that is separate from the transient sites. They were welcoming and nice. So, you can't judge PA on one park. That being said, I don't think the people rating these parks for these discount companies (PA and Good Sam) ever actually visit the parks they are supposed to be rating. Its also possible that the parks put on a shiny face when those rating people show up so they can get that endorsement.

I think this has less to do with Passport America than it does with the park itself. Its really up to the park how they treat their campers. It could happen anywhere.

Don't let this one incident interfere with your dream and please come back to Oregon. We have some lovely State Parks (and other private campgrounds) that you would enjoy and you would not be judged on your RV. Just remember that you are paying for your spot just like everyone else. It is your site and you have every right to be there regardless what you're camping in.

Laura

[snowball]

wow what an awful experience...so sorry it happened to you...don't know what their problem was but
think for the most part it came out of a bottle...in Quartzsite you will see big rigs next to small rigs all the time...
what to do different? hmm stop earlier...that way the office is open and you could have gone and raised some you
know what...or could have asked to be moved for your safety... he was pretty much rude and socially unacceptable!!!
don't give up this probably will never happen again
sheila

[mitch5252]

..
What a frightening experience! I can't even imagine.
Bullies are everywhere, aren't they?
And you can never tell when a bully is more than just a bully and crosses into dangerous.

I have never had anything close to that happening to me while camping, for any reason.
I'm not sure what I would have done, but don't let it ruin your camping dreams.
From what everyone has replied, this was an extremely unusual and rare occurrence.

My little traveling companion arrived the other day...



A couple of months ago, I pulled into a PA park somewhere out west (should have noted and remembered the name/address). It was late in the afternoon and I was tired. The place was in horrific shape. One large MH pulled in in front of me and parked in the first spot. Other than that, the others were REALLY old and ramshackle, with trash piled behind some of them taller than me. I kid you not. Very scary kind of people staring at me, leaning on their cars, smoking (they were smoking, not their cars, although I'm sure if running, smoke would have been pouring out the tailpipe). I did a loop (not big) and hightailed it out of there. I think PA is not always what it's cracked up to be...

Glad you're okay, Anne, and as we said in the 70s, Keep On Keepin' On!
..

[Colliemom]

My question is, how did he get in your van to begin with? I assume you lack your doors? My other suggestion would be to have a plug installed on the side of your van, where you can plug in from outside and leave windows closed unless they are screened. My parents did this and had an interior plug in their van to plug in heater or whatever. I have been camping for about 4 or 5 years alone and have never felt threatened. I stay at state parks a lot or KOA's on the road and also private campgrounds that have good ratings which are hard to tell. It's hard to know. I let my PA drop as there are too many restrictions anymore, especially during peak season. Don't let this incident stop you. Remember, it can happen at home too.