Issue 1235
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Today’s thought
“Without thinking too much about it in specific terms, I was showing the America I knew and observed to others who might not have noticed.” —Norman Rockwell
Need an excuse to celebrate? Today is National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day! Come on, get to work! We know you have expired condiments in there…
On this day in history: 1806 – Pike Expedition: Lieutenant Zebulon Pike spots a mountain peak while near the Colorado foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It is later named Pikes Peak in his honor.
RV refrigerator maker Norcold files for bankruptcy
Norcold LLC, a longtime name in RV refrigeration, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware, revealing more than $300 million in debt. The news raises immediate questions for RV owners who rely on the company’s LP gas absorption units. Parts availability and service for existing fridges could be affected. Learn more.
Lazydays to delist its stock; prepares to shut down
Lazydays, one of the country’s most recognizable RV dealership groups, has announced that it will delist its stock from the Nasdaq exchange and move toward closing down its operations following the sale of nearly all of its assets. For many RVers, especially those who have bought or serviced a rig at one of the company’s locations over the company’s 49 years, this development marks the end of a long-familiar name in the RV world. Continue reading.
Featured news
The American Heartland theme park collapse has stunned Oklahoma and investors nationwide. Once envisioned as a $2.5 billion destination designed by former Walt Disney Imagineers, the park promised a 125-acre themed experience with a 750-site RV campground. Developers originally slated the project to open in 2026. It now appears “dead on arrival” amid construction delays, unfulfilled promises, and a high-profile $60 million fraud lawsuit. Here’s the story.
Purchased a Grand Design or planning to? You may be eligible for a rebate. Grand Design has rolled out a short-window rebate on new, previously unregistered 2024 and 2025 fifth wheel models. This gives RV shoppers a rare chance to collect a factory check after purchasing their RV. Here’s what you should know, and how much money you might get back.
A serious crash involving a truck towing a travel trailer has highlighted the risks RVers face on busy urban interchanges. Tuesday morning, Nov. 4, in northeast Albuquerque, NM, the combination went off an Interstate 40 overpass and landed on Tramway Boulevard below. It’s a route many RV travelers take when crossing the east side of the city. The incident has become a cautionary tale for anyone towing a trailer through high-speed traffic.
A new poll shows that 7 in 10 Americans oppose national park funding cuts. The findings signal broad concern over how proposed budget reductions could affect campgrounds, visitor centers, and RV travel across the country. The National Park Service faces a proposed $1 billion budget cut for 2026. Many worry that fewer staff and reduced maintenance could mean shorter hours, closed facilities, and a less predictable experience for road-trippers and campers. Continue reading.
The dream of a fully electric RV took a hit when Chevrolet pulled its BrightDrop electric van from the market. Enter the Evotrex hybrid travel trailer, a California-based startup’s solution that blends electric convenience with the reliability of a gasoline engine. Designed for off-grid adventures, this travel trailer can power your appliances, charge your devices, and extend your range. Check it out.
The best lube for your RV locks
At least every six months, inspect each storage compartment’s components on your RV. This includes the hinges, locks, and seals. The preferred lubricant for RV storage compartment locks is a Teflon or graphite dry lube like Houdini Lock Lube, which cleans the lock and keeps the mechanism working smoothly. It repels dust and dirt, and prevents the gooey mess that other lubricants cause.
RV review
Mercedes AWD 2026 Jayco Terrain 19YG—an off-road powerhouse
By Cheri Sicard
If the plan is to take the scenic route and keep going when the pavement stops, the Jayco Terrain 19YG has the chops for it. Here, Laura aka That RV Girl walks through a van that blends real off-road ability with everyday comfort. This off-road powerhouse brings Mercedes all-wheel drive, smart power, and a massive rear garage, all in a nimble footprint. Check it out.
Campground crowding, comments & concerns
A secret to finding sites in Florida, plus good advice: “Stay away from the grumps!”
In this week’s wide range of comments regarding the state of RVing and campgrounds, Nanci Dixon relates more of RVtravel.com’s readers’ complaints about increased campground fees but no increase in the camping experience, the increase in insurance and registration fees for RVs, and the need to reserve campsites far in advance. But there are several tips and suggestions for dealing with those issues. Read them here.
New to RVing?
RVtravel.com is bringing back its NewRVer.com website and newsletter. If you are about to buy your first RV or are new to RVing, you should check in there for helpful information and sign up for its newsletter.
News briefs
Here’s some valuable advice from the Better Business Bureau about a scam that’s making the rounds that you need to know about to protect yourself. It’s known as a “brushing” scam. In a “brushing” scam, you receive a package you didn’t order, often without a return address. This is often a setup by unscrupulous companies who found your address online. Then…
Campground Views has rolled out a cleaner, easier-to-use browser experience to simplify trip planning. Campers can now create accounts, save favorite spots, and build itineraries right on the platform. The update pairs seamlessly with the company’s 360-degree virtual tours, letting travelers preview campgrounds and RV sites just like a Google Street View drive-through. Learn more.
Grand Canyon National Park closed the North Rim for the season to all visitor access yesterday, November 14. Sections of the North Rim are tentatively expected to reopen to visitors for the 2026 season on May 15.
On Thursday, the Mississippi Supreme Court upheld a lower court’s decision that approved a special exception for the development of an RV resort on the site of the old Pine Island Golf Course. The decision comes after a long battle between concerned Gulf Park Estates residents and the developer, Ocean Springs Islands RV Resort, LLC.
Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road is now closed for the season between Avalanche Creek and Jackson Glacier Overlook. Travel on other sections of the road, including for hiker-biker access, may change at any time due to winter weather conditions.
With demand for skilled RV service technicians high, the RV industry is increasing its efforts to attract military veterans into the fold.
The only vehicle entrance to Yellowstone National Park now is through the North Entrance in Gardiner, Montana. From there, you can drive 50 miles to Silver Gate and Cooke City, passing sites like Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley along the way. Services are limited.
JUST FOR FUN: It’s been raining so much in Washington state that the roads are experiencing some new barricades… Well, just one big, fat, really cute barricade. Drivers in Washington got an unexpected surprise during a recent rainstorm—a large sea lion blocking traffic on Blue Slough Road. Cosmopolis Police said the “large friend” was wandering in the roadway Thursday afternoon. Rescuers eventually guided the animal back into a nearby river.
Speaking of Washington… We now know which days you’ll be able to visit Washington state parks for free next year, as the state released its free park dates. There are 12 days when you won’t be required to purchase a day-use Discover Pass for $10.
Wildlife authorities in Massachusetts report that a foot-long alligator that had been spotted in the Charles River earlier in the week was captured on Wednesday. It was likely an abandoned pet.
Horizon Outdoor Hospitality has expanded its fifth managed property in Tennessee, Bear Cove Village, a 118-site RV park close to Dollywood in Pigeon Forge.
Love’s Travel Stops is now open again in Stroud, Oklahoma, after a complete raze and rebuild of its location along the westbound lanes of I-44 on the Turner Turnpike. It includes nine RV spaces, four of which offer hookups, plus a dump station and dog park.
THOR Community Foundation will pack and distribute 250 Thanksgiving meals and turkeys to the needy in the Elkhart, Indiana, area.
A 65-year-old man died after he slipped and fell more than 100 feet in the Grand Canyon on November 7 from an overlook at Guano Point inside the privately-owned Grand Canyon West.
The southeastern Washington town of Rosalia, population 578, will reopen its RV park after being closed nearly two years. The hope is to attract new visitors.
Why RVers need a truckers’ road atlas
These atlases feature large-scale maps for every state, clearly marked truck and RV-friendly routes, and critical details like low clearances, restricted roads, and weigh station locations. A mileage directory includes 40,000 truck-route-specific, city-to-city distances for planning fuel stops and overnight stays. America’s best-selling trucking atlas delivers the most complete highway and routing information for large vehicles. Learn more here.
RV and RV-related recalls
Reader poll
Do you keep your RV stocked year-round or empty it after every trip?
TAKE A GUESS: What percentage of RVtravel.com readers will go south in their RV for at least two months this winter? 10%, 20%, 40% or 60%? Find out here.
Upcoming RV shows & seminars. Click here.
Trivia
In the U.S., skin cancer most often appears on the left side of the body. Why? Think about driving down the road in your car or RV. Yup, your left arm is exposed to all that sunlight!
? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ?
Need the perfect gift? No, really, we think this is a perfect gift. Your partner will love it, your kids will love it, your grandkids, your niece or nephew, your neighbor, your gym-buddy… Imagine the look on their face when they see, well, your face! Hilarious!
FREE IS GOOD! 15 free downloadable recipe booklets from Gooseberry Patch. All different categories with about 27 recipes per booklet. Yum!
Laugh of the week
Campground Views
Relax, Recharge, and Enjoy the Shade at Woodchip Campground
Looking for a quiet, easygoing place to kick back? Woodchip Campground has you covered. Tucked among the trees just outside Grand Rapids, MI, this welcoming spot offers spacious sites, plenty of shade, and that small-town charm that makes camping feel like home. And here’s the best part—you can check it out before you even roll in. This virtual tour lets you wander through the park, peek at the campsites, and see exactly where you’ll set up.
Make sure you’re a member of Campground Views to see thousands more virtual tours like this across the country.
The perfect scam
Brooke Astor, Famous Socialite, Robbed
A prominent philanthropist and the center of New York society, Brooke Astor lived a tumultuous yet glamorous life. Left a fortune by her third husband, Brooke planned to live out her later years at her country estate. But when Brooke’s son refuses to let her do so, then sells his mother’s favorite painting (worth more than $30 million), grandson Philip decides to step in. Philip’s efforts to return his grandmother to the country home she loved would uncover one of the most prominent cases of financial elder abuse in U.S. history, with millions lost and a family torn apart.
Today in history
Today’s weather forecast across the nation
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