Boondockers Get the Boot in Laughlin, Nevada

Chuck · Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 94

For more than 30 years, RVers have been boondocking on casino parking lots and overflow lots in Laughlin. At first, all the casinos allowed the dry campers, but in recent times three casinos have carried on the tradition. Now, Clark County has ordered the casinos to evict the RVers or deal with county code violations. Frankly, in the town's early years, it was the money of RVers that helped sustain and build this gambling town along the Colorado River. Please read my story on the present situation and feel free to contact the officials mentioned. I have a feeling they will be getting a lot of email. The story is at http://rvtravel.com/publish/news/rvlaughlin.shtml

Chuck Woodbury
RVtravel.com
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elh3946 · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1650 Location: Sioux Falls, SD

Is this happening ONLY in Laughlin? Since Las Vegas is also in Clark County, and this seems to be a county crackdown rather than a city crackdown, are RVs being kicked out of the Las Vegas casinos too?

And what's behind this crackdown, do you know? Is it being done at the behest of a few RV park owners? And if so, do you know which ones?

pattyk · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 8

Question? How do they know if you are boondocking or just visiting a casino for an extended period of time? Are you not allowed to park in the casino's parking lot to use their facilities?

elh3946 · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1650 Location: Sioux Falls, SD

goldenglen · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 4

I contacted the Chamber and they were quick to tell me the Health Department was to blame. I contacted the Health Department and they haven't answered my e-mail yet. It doesn't take me very long to gamble my little bit of money away, so I use the casinos, restaurants and movies, then move on to many other close open spaces to camp. Almost never an RV camp for the greedy reasons most of the trouble for RVs are having camping for Free. Rick Swope
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rodent · Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 1

What part of "BOYCOTT" will Clark County understand?

rwh · Guest

I remember talking to a friend about Clark County politics. From his insights, though not including this issue, the odds are pretty good this is NOT a health issue.

Seann · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 10

Hello Clark County... See my tail lights.... Last you will see of me.
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jc · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 7 Location: western NY

It all comes down to the money. When the casinos in Laughlin see how much they are losing, you can bet they will do something or get something done. The Snowbirds are a big part of their revenue.

Somebody has angered/opposed a Clark County bigwig and this is how they retaliate. It will be interesting to see if they enforce it in Vegas .

Greed rears its ugly head again. Sad

Seann · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 10

rmgolfcourse · Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:59 am Post subject:

You know one of the nice aspects of RVing is FREEDOM. It is frustrating when small governments restrict us, making rules and enforcing them. I think the RV community is a pretty tight, well informed group of mostly responsible good people. When this type of stuff happens, I hope most if not all will boycott this area until they wake up or get used to smaller revenues.

As for the few who camp and abuse the kindness of free parking and overnighting, they should be evicted and the actions of these few should not affect all others. We don't close banks because there are a few bank robbers, we prosecute them. We don't eliminate checking accounts because a few bounce checks, we prosecute them. So I get tired of people passing laws and using the few bad apples as the excuse for passing the laws. Prosecute or evict the abusers and WELCOME the rest of responsible RVers who spend millions of dollars in their travels in local communities. The communities who pass laws against RVers, are telling RVers to stay out of their community and we are not welcome there. We don't need a big billboard to keep out. There are many places which welcome RVers with open arms.
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elh3946 · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 1650 Location: Sioux Falls, SD

05knight · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 25 Location: So. Cal.

I go to Laughlin a couple of times a year, and the only CG there is owned by the Riverside Casino. They are almost pretty booked up in the winter months, not so much in the summer. All the rest of the CG are across the river in AZ, and almost impossible to get into in the winter because of the snowbirds, so I can't understand where this is coming from. I was there in January for an annual girls weekend out with relatives, and there were RVs in the Riverside parking lot. But since the weather was pretty nasty, we didn't do as much gallivanting as we usually do, so didn't notice if there were RVs at the rest of the casinos.
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obrown · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1

We have been in Laughlin twice in the past few weeks, and dry camped a couple of nights at the AVI and one night at Riverside casino. Most of the "squatters" driven out of Riverside moved to AVI, and frankly it is a mess. We will not return to AVI again. I can understand the Health Dept. decision to move these people out, and I am surprised that many could move at all as they did not look drivable. Now AVI has a big problem: if they continue to host the Riverside refugees, they will lose other RV business.

Last week we stayed at Riverside overnight as did many others. No problem.

Parking lots are not RV parks, trailer parks, or permanent neighborhoods. When people living in RVs abuse the hospitality of casinos, Wal-Mart, etc, we all get a bad name. Would you want guests to come stay with you and never leave?

jc · Joined: 20 Dec 2005 Posts: 7 Location: western NY

It still looks like Laughlin does not want the RV business. They will want you to come and spend money for "6 hours" but then get out. What small minded people are running the show down there? A boycott will not only affect Laughlin but also the Arizona side as there is no place to shop in Lauglin. Imagine the loss of $$$.

Wouldn't Bullhead be wise to take those big empty parking lots across the river from the casinos and make them dry camping for the RVs? These lots have sat empty for years. The casinos run shuttle boats across the river so transport would be no problem for those who wished to go. Get the local businesses to offer some coupons to show what they have to offer. They would have to locate a dump station somewhere but there is the airport across the road that has water and sewer. They should be able to come up with something.

I know that the RV parks in Bullhead would oppose this but there are not enough spaces available at affordable prices for everyone. Think about the general economy and not just there own private park income.