Issue 1230
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Today’s thought
“We should not judge people by their peak of excellence; but by the distance they have traveled from the point where they started.” ―Henry Ward Beecher
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Sausage Pizza Day!
On this day in history: 1910 – Piloted by Arch Hoxsey, Theodore Roosevelt becomes the first U.S. president to fly in an airplane.
Featured news
NBC News report: More Americans are living in RVs
This short report and video from NBC News brings to light something that most of us who travel by RV already know: Many more people are living in RVs these days, not necessarily because they want to spend some time with nature. No, they are living in RVs because it’s the only way they can afford to put a roof over their head. Read more and watch the short news segment.
Could your motorhome have a hidden VIN problem?
Earlier this year, a $1.35 million Newmar King Aire ran into trouble at the U.S. border over VIN stickers and labeling. The incident highlights a growing concern for motorhome owners of VIN compliance. Many motorhomes carry two VINs—one on the chassis, one on the coach. Differences in build dates or label placement can create apparent mismatches. More.
Norcold fridge at center of Camping World RV fire lawsuit
A Nevada federal court has breathed new life into a Norcold fridge fire lawsuit, allowing a key negligence claim against Camping World to move forward. A 2018 blaze destroyed a family’s motorhome and damaged a nearby home, reigniting long-standing safety concerns about Norcold refrigerators and how RV service centers have handled recall repairs. Read more.
Buy a 255-site RV park in an auction with no minimum price bid
You could be the owner of one of Louisiana’s largest campgrounds for less than the price of a movie ticket. In reality, that’s unlikely. On November 20, Silver Creek Campground — a 72-acre property with 255 RV sites, four cabins, bathhouses, a swimming pool, a 6,000+ square-foot pavilion, volleyball, basketball, a stocked pond, and nearly a mile of direct creek frontage — will be sold in an absolute auction, regardless of price. Learn more.
RVers will be surprised by McDonald’s new Monopoly game prizes
McDonald’s has brought back its classic MONOPOLY game for the first time in nearly a decade, and two of the top prizes are tailor-made for travelers — a brand-new motorhome and a travel trailer. You need a new RV. Maybe you can get lucky. Learn more.
RV review
Does this new, huge fifth wheel make sense to you? Not to us
By Chuck Woodbury
I wonder why this 42-foot fifth wheel trailer was ever built. It’s the poster child for the absurdity of much of the RV industry these days, where RV Industry Association (RVIA) manufacturer-members seem to be more concerned about one-upping the competition for the sake of bragging rights in Elkhart pubs than serving the needs of RVers. In my opinion, this RV is a 42-foot waste of time, money and energy. Read more.
WHY WE ASK FOR DONATIONS INSTEAD OF SELLING SUBSCRIPTIONS.
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
Reader vents: ‘I am sad’ about the state of camping these days
This week, many RVers comment on the declining etiquette among campers. Nanci Dixon begins the column with: “I, too, have noticed a difference in the etiquette of campers. Yesterday, a girl kept riding her bike through the corner of our RV site, over and over. Obviously, her parents did not teach her not to do that….” Continue reading.
Where to camp on public lands!
The Bureau of Land Management Camping directory describes 1,273 camping areas managed by the BLM in 14 Western states. Details for each camping area include the number of campsites, amenities, facilities, fees, reservation information, GPS coordinates, and more. You’ll want this book if you camp or are interested in camping on government land. Learn more or order.
News briefs
EDITOR’S NOTE: Almost no news is being released from America’s National Parks during the government shutdown.
Greenville, NC, has dropped a lawsuit against Camping World. The city council voted 5-0 Monday to dismiss the case and cancel the company’s $37,500 fines regarding a months-long legal dispute over flag displays at Camping World’s Evans Street location. The rest of the story.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced this week that it has locked in an unprecedented $2.5 billion settlement with Amazon.com over allegations that the retail giant enrolled millions of consumers into Amazon Prime subscriptions without consent and intentionally made it difficult to cancel. Read the official settlement order. (pdf)
Love’s has opened a new travel stop in Brighton, Colorado, with two dedicated RV parking spaces and a dump station.
Talk about a rare accident: A fully loaded dump truck carrying asphalt lost control on a hill in Central Point, Oregon, slamming into an occupied RV before overturning. The RVers were okay, but the trailer was toast. Learn more and see a pic.
Pennsylvania is offering 61 glamping sites across eight state parks, the park system’s first-ever glamping accommodations.
RVers escaped their motorhome as fire engulfed it at a Cracker Barrel restaurant last Thursday. Nobody was hurt, but the RV has logged its last mile. More and a photo.
Estes Park, Colo., has undergone a multi-year accessibility project that will ease downtown congestion and improve access to Rocky Mountain National Park. More.
Some lanes of Interstate 57 in Illinois’ Franklin County were closed for a while Tuesday while crews cleaned up about 46,000 pounds of applesauce spilled onto the road by a semitruck that overturned. Nobody was hurt.
Northeast Ohio is approaching peak fall colors near Lake Erie, while fall color in the rest of the state is slowly progressing.
The Arkansas State Crime Lab has determined that a death near Sam’s Throne Campground on Arkansas Highway 123 in Newton County was the result of a mauling by an animal, likely a bear. The campground is currently closed.
Midpoint I-95 RV Park has opened at Exit 180A in Sellers, SC, roughly halfway between Washington, D.C., and Orlando, Fla. The park features 81 large pull-through sites, a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse, fishing pond, trails, dog park and playground.
Rochester, Wyoming, is proposing an ordinance that would prohibit camping on any public street, right-of-way, parking lot, sidewalk and other public property within the town’s limits (with a few exceptions).
RVers can now take advantage of a Starlink free month through the company’s first-ever referral program. By sharing a referral link with friends or family, both the referrer and the new subscriber can earn a full month of service for free.
Sunset Bay RV Park in the southern Adirondacks in New York may be getting a lot bigger. The Adirondack Park Agency has approved a major expansion of the park along Great Sacandaga Lake in Mayfield. For 55 years, it has provided 283 campsites, but the owner now wants to add an additional 357.
Kentucky will soon use automatic speeding enforcement devices in active highway work zones. Work zones on U.S. Highway 25 in Fayette County and Interstate 75 near Corbin, Ky., will be first up, with I-64 near Shelbyville to soon follow. Fines will be up to $500.
Escapees RV Club will hold its Xscapers Annual Bash 2026 from January 10–18 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. “Get Your Kicks at Bash ’26” celebrates the 100th anniversary of Route 66. Learn more or buy tickets.
National Parks Traveler is reporting that “With the government shutdown now in its second week, visitors to national parks are starting to get more comfortable breaking the rules. They seem to be taking advantage of reduced staff.”
The national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has dropped to $3.11. According to the Energy Information Administration, demand for gasoline has fallen to a four-month low. Consumers will likely see even lower prices in coming weeks. The most and least expensive states for gas now: California ($4.66) and Oklahoma ($2.60).
Several of the most popular areas in Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened for the start of the fall tourism season despite the federal government shutdown. That’s because most of the 275 full-time employees in the park are being supported by a nearly $2 million commitment from governments and nonprofits in the region.
Yesterday, the U.S. Budget Office said “substantial firings” of federal workers has begun.
Amazon’s Elkhart, Indiana, fulfillment center has officially opened. The 800,000-square-foot facility will employ approximately 1,000 full-time workers, many, presumably, coming from the local RV industry.
Cabana Bay RV Resort has opened in Placida (by Boca Grande), Florida, with 170 full-hookup sites with 100-amp service at some. Our brief scan of winter prices showed they ranged from roughly $150 to $213 per night.
A 57-year-old Augusta, Kansas, man is dead and a man is in jail facing a second degree murder charge following a shooting at Kansas’ El Dorado Lake early Monday morning at Goose Cove Campground. The victim and alleged shooter did not know each other.
Coal mining could change what RV travelers see near Utah’s national parks. RV travelers planning trips to Utah’s red rock country may soon see new coal mining operations. The federal government has opened 48,000 acres of previously restricted public land for coal leasing near Utah national parks under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. More.
The River Sands RV resort in Ehrenberg, Arizona, has joined up with KOA and is now known as Ehrenberg/River Sands KOA Holiday.
GatherGrounds Resorts, a professional campground management company and ownership group, has acquired Ridge Ranch Campground, a popular destination located in Newton Falls, Ohio.
Several lots of dog treat Nature’s Own Pet Chews Bully Bites are being recalled for potential danger to dogs, even humans. Learn more.
Rite Aid, once one of America’s biggest pharmacy chains, closed its remaining 89 stores last week after filing for bankruptcy in May for the second time in less than two years.
BLM AND NATIONAL PARKS STATUS DURING SHUTDOWN. Here is how the agencies are responding according to their contingency plans: BLM • National Park Service. (both pdf)
RV and RV-related recalls
Forest River is recalling some 2025-2026 Entourage RVs (recall number 210-1982). A bolt may contact the truss support and fail, allowing the rebound clip to detach from the leaf spring. Info at 1-574-825-8602.
REV Recreation Group (REV) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Holiday Rambler Invicta, and Fleetwood Fortis recreational vehicles equipped with the theater seat option. The theater option mounting screws may have penetrated or damaged the LP hoses causing risk of fire, injury or death. More.
FREE IS GOOD! Arizona Official State Travel Guide
Help wanted finding stolen fifth wheel trailer in Texas
The Jasper County (Texas) Sheriff’s Department needs your help locating the culprits involved in the theft in Rose City of a 2020 Heartland Milestone fifth wheel. Know anything?
Reader poll
Do you still enjoy RVing as much as when you first started?
Polls from the past week:
- Did you fall in love at first sight with your spouse/partner?
- Do you have security cameras that monitor your home or RV?
- Do you worry about breaking down with your RV in the middle of nowhere?
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
This is pretty stupid. But it’s also pretty cute. You can’t deny that this is cute. It would certainly make you smile while you were sitting… um, well, you know…
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Trivia
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is a 13.2-million-acre expanse of mountains, glaciers and untamed wilderness in south central Alaska. That makes it the largest National Park in the United States. Despite its size, twice that of Massachusetts, many Americans don’t know it exists.
[Sorry this doesn’t match up with the Trivia question in the email alert. The Trivia got swapped out in the newsletter but not in the email.]
Laugh of the week
An RVing couple, born the same month and year, were celebrating their 60th birthdays. A fairy appeared and said she would grant them both a wish. The wife said she would like to visit Europe. Instantly, airline tickets appeared. Then it was the husband’s turn. He said with a sly look, “I’d like to have a woman 30 years younger than me.” The fairy waved her wand … and presto! He was 90!
Protect your RV decals with RejeX!
Tired of worrying about waxing over vinyl decals? RejeX is a liquid coating that seals, protects, and extends the life of your RV’s decals—without masking or fuss. It’s easy to apply and keeps your graphics looking vibrant. Learn more or order.
The perfect scam
North Korean “Laptop Farm” Scams Target Americans
This week’s episode recounts the story of Christina Chapman, who is drawn into the world of laptop farming. She is struggling to make ends meet, living in a trailer, and a job offer to be the U.S. representative for an international company is a godsend. Laptop farms gained popularity in 2020 with the rise in remote work that allowed workers to funnel money directly into North Korea’s weapons programs to access sensitive data.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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Current fire and smoke map from AirNow
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RVtravel.com All Star Team
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“GatherGrounds Resorts, a professional campground management company … has acquired Ridge Ranch Campground, a popular destination located in Newton Falls, Ohio.”
We just stayed at Ridge Ranch for an overnight in late August. It’s a nice park but 98% seasonals. There were only 7 or 8 transient pull through sites packed together and perhaps the same number of back-ins.
My guess is the seasonals are in for a big 2026 rate increase and those few transient sites will be developed into seasonals. More takeover corp. blues to come.
Hi, Put the word “resort” in the name of a campground and the price for a nightly stay has just went thru the roof. To charge $100 or $200 plus a night to stay at a campground in my opinion is just PURE GREED! You can call an rv campground an rv resort anyway you see fit but, a campground is just that, a place to park your camper. If I want to spend $100, $200, $300 and more for a place to lay down and sleep.. I would stay at a nice Hotel.
As I think about todays question I am realizing it was my mother who loved it more then me. She always wanted to go camping. I kept it up until she died and after that summer after her death my family realized we didn’t really enjoy it as much as we use to and also realized we did it more for appearances and cost. I now have an RV on a seasonal site in Maine and that is the closest to camping I will ever do until I can no longer do the drive to maine and have the RV put on another seasonal site closer to home. I guess with age you really do settle down. Plus I am finding air bnb are so much cheaper and easier to deal with. Happy trails.
I never liked Jimmy Carter.