Membership Campgrounds: 2 Western Horizon Parks Sold

Western Horizon Resorts (WHR), an owner and operator of private membership, RV resorts, and RV travel related services, purchased eight resorts from 2000 to 2005. From 24 RV resorts, WHR is now operating 11 resorts. Indian Waters RV Resort in Indio, California, is one of two camping resorts recently sold by Western Horizon. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved In an earlier post (Membership Camping: 8 Western Horizon Parks for Sale), I indicated that WHR had listed eight of its recreational vehicle parks for sale, with a combined 1,839 RV sites for a total of $28.13 million. In a recent statement on their Website, WHR announced that two of these RV parks—Indian Waters in Indio, California and Ocean Shores Resort in Washington State—have been sold. A privately held company, WHR was founded by Jim Loken and family in 1984 and was designed to provide RVers with “an exceptional outdoor vacation experience”. Following the sale of these two parks the corporation operates 11 resorts, 7 affiliated resorts, Vista Group RV Insurance, and two affiliated camping networks: Adventure Outdoor Resorts (AOR) and Sunbelt Resorts. Indian Waters was sold to RV Management Services – Indio, LLC (RVMS), a RV resort operator with more than 15 years experience in the operation of more than 25 RV properties. The new developer’s improvement plans include a second pool, sewer to the sites on the north side of the resort, a pickle ball court, and a putting green. The park will close in April and... Read more

Mark’s RV Garage Episode #3 Released

RV Education 101 releases episode # 3 of the Internet based RV how-to series titled “Mark’s RV Garage.” The new episode is available for viewing at www.rvconsumer.com and on You Tube On this episode of Mark’s RV Garage: * The demolition stage begins on the vintage travel trailer restoration project.  * See how easy it is to install a new Maxx Air II vent cover on your RV. * Learn how to extend the life of your RV batteries.   * See what tool I never leaves home without. * Get an inside look at what’s happening in the world of RV’s for 2011 and much more.     If you missed the episodes 1 and 2 of Mark’s RV Garage it is archived at www.rvconsumer.com for easy retreival and viewing (just look to the right and click on my picture). Episode # 4 will be available for viewing on 21 March 2011. Happy RV Learning, Mark Polk www.rvconsumer.com  Read More →

Rare bird sighting: Black-vented Oriole

Have you seen the Black-vented Oriole? The Black-vented Oriole has made its home a short distance from our RV site at Bentsen Palm Village. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Little did we know when we made our reservation for Bentsen Palm Village RV Resort that we’d be entertained by a rare bird feeding in the coral bean trees. Upon arriving at Bentsen Palm on Monday (January 24), we were informed that a very rare bird—the Black-vented Oriole—had recently made its home in the RV Park less than 100 feet from our site. Bentsen Palm Village is located adjacent to Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park/World Birding Center in South Texas. The black-vented oriole was first sighted at the state park on December 13 (2010) and has been observed daily at the RV Park since December 31 where it flies back and forth between coral bean trees, a small to medium-sized, deciduous tree with a spreading crown and brilliant red flowers. The coral bean is also known as ‘Fireman’s Hat’ because of its beautiful panicles of bright red tubular flowers that resemble the hats of firemen. The distinguishing feature of the Black-vented Oriole is the vent, which is all black. It’s a large oriole with black hood, upper back, wings, and tail, including vent. Under parts and lower back are bright yellow-orange. Black bill is long and slender. The song of the Black-vented Oriole is a bold, squeaky, gurgling warble. Call is a weak, nasal “nyeh” or “nur”, insect-like and often... Read more

The Silver Strand

 By the Never-Bored RVers Tucked into the southwestern corner of Continental U.S. is a resort area that is obviously a haven for RVers, based on the number of filled spaces at this time of year. This narrow neck of land, called “The Silver Strand,” is part of Coronado Island, flowing into the Town of Imperial Beach as it approaches Baja California in northwestern Mexico.  All Photos by Barry W. Zander ~ © All Rights Reserved It’s a “feel-good” kind of place.  The vistas are outstanding, with beautiful beaches lining the Pacific Ocean on one side and deep blue Coronado Bay on the other.  Across the bay is the impressive skyline of San Diego, with its gleaming modern towers.  The panorama in the foreground includes numerous pleasure craft, massive Navy ships home-ported here, and the arched Coronado Bay Bridge. Nighttime Coronado is another treat.  The city across the bay is stunning, and to the south are the hills of Tijuana, Mexico, sparkling under clear skies.  Incidentally, this area is reputed to have the best climate of any place in America. To reach the strand, RVers drive across the high toll-free bridge onto Coronado Island and follow CA 75 south.  The most historic site – the famous 120-year-old 679-room Hotel Del Coronado,   – is just before the strand.  When you pass the marina on the bay you’ll find yourself on a straight road between sand dunes.  That’s the Silver Strand. The Link to Coronado Island ... and the World The town is a tourist... Read more

Membership Campgrounds: 8 Western Horizon Parks for Sale

Western Horizon Resorts (WHR), an owner and operator of private membership, RV resorts, and RV travel related services, has listed eight of its recreational vehicle parks for sale, with a combined 1,839 RV sites for a total of $28.13 million. Indian Waters RV Resort, a Western Horizon membership campground in Indio, California. © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved A privately held company, WHR was founded by Jim Loken and family in 1984 and was designed to provide RVers with “an exceptional outdoor vacation experience”. Currently the corporation operates 14 resorts, 5 affiliated resorts, Vista Group RV Insurance, and two affiliated camping networks: Adventure Outdoor Resorts (AOR) and Sunbelt Resorts. Read more  Read More →

Christmas gift ideas for the RVer in your life

It’s that time of year again. The Christmas countdown has begun! RV to Sedona, Arizona, this Christmas season © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved While the holidays bring with it lots of love, time spent with family and friends, good food, and more, it can also bring stress. Trying to find that perfect gift for someone can get frustrating. But if you’re still looking for stocking stuffers and gifts for the RVer in your life, you are in luck! With the big day quickly approaching, many of us are. Here are a few last minute gift ideas. To keep this manageable, it’s been parted out into four posts—each with five items.  These are in no particular order, with no favoritism or affiliation to the actual products or vendors.  So, without further ado: Books on RVing Peggi Macdonald, a Canadian RV lifestyle consultant, along with her husband John, has lived full-time on the road for 25+ years—“and is still enjoying this incredible lifestyle”. To state that they have ‘been there, done that’ in most situations is an understatement. Her print- and e-books offer mega tips and hints to simplify RV travels. Peggi’s RV Living in the 21st Century, the Essential Reference Guide For All RVers, features tips on ‘How to RV?’ and is loaded with information from buying your first RV to going away for short or extended getaways as well as information for fulltimers. Peggi also has 3 e-books available for purchase: RV Packing Tips, RV Life Lessons Plus Easy Living Hints, and RV... Read more

Woodall’s Facebook Fans Get a Unique Opportunity to Get a Sneak Peek at 2011 Top Rated RV Parks

“Like” Woodall’s on Facebook to get early-access to the 5w/5w rated campgrounds and RV parks for 2011! You’ll be the first to see this distinguished list of parks! Every year, Woodall’s Publications sends out a small army of full time RVers who travel across North America visiting RV parks and campgrounds in every state and province, working to make the Woodall’s Campground Directory has up-to-date as possible. And every year, Woodall’s compiles a list of the highest-rated campgrounds these professional RVers have seen in their travels, and passes that list over to other RVers and Campers so they can enjoy these parks as well. Usually this list doesn’t come out until the first of the year, however, just for their facebook fans, Woodall’s has given an exclusive sneak peek at these top-rated parks and campgrounds! Check out every 5W/5W park in the North America by going to Woodall’s Facebook Page. If you are not a Woodall’s fan, click on the “like” button to see all the premier content. The Woodall’s rating system is based on two features of a given park: 1W through 5W rating for the facilities and maintenance of the park, and 1W through 5W for the park’s recreation and maintenance. What the “Ws” indicate is the level of development and facilities at the park. In the case of a 5W/5W park rating, that rating tells campers that the park is highly developed in terms of its facilities (i.e. sites, interior roads,... Read more

Salton Sea, CA

Following along the San Andreas Fault, California State Highway 111 winds around the eastern shore of Salton Sea which occupies the Salton Basin, a remnant of prehistoric Lake Cahuilla. The Salton Sea is a haven for bird watchers © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved Lying 228 feet below sea level, Salton Sea is an inland saline lake in the Sonoran Desert of extreme southeastern California. It is bordered on the south by the rich agricultural areas of the Imperial Valley and on the west, by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Both the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and the Sony Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge are located on its shores. The Salton Sea is currently 35 miles by 15 miles and can be as long as 40 miles by almost 20 miles in particularly wet years. It has an average depth of nearly 30 feet and, at its deepest, is 51 feet. It contains 7.3 million acre feet of water and evaporates 1.3 million acre feet each year. There is a five-mile-long trench on the south end of the Sea that is 51 feet deep. Interestingly, the bed of the Salton Sea is only five feet higher than the lowest spot in Death Valley. It is estimated that over 1 million visitors spend time at the Salton Sea each year. From the highway you will spot the sea past fields of citrus; it looks much more like a huge mirage. The Salton Sea is the big mystery here. How and why it came into being is a fascinating story. The Salton Sea is a place that’s been accurately dubbed the weirdest body of water in America.... Read more

Black Friday Sale! 99 Cent Shipping All Weekend Long on Everything

Here’s the scoop on a great Black Friday sale that RVers will be happy to shop! Visit www.woodalls.com any time this upcoming weekend to take advantage of 99 cent shipping on anything! That means you can get the 2011 Woodall’s North American Directory for only $14.95, plus $0.99 shipping and handling!   (The Directory retails in stores for $25.95. ) Plus, this great offer is good on every single book, directory or guide in the Woodalls.com bookstore, and we wanted you to be the first to know! Remember, this special shipping price is only good from November 26- November 29, so don’t forget to place your order.  Happy RVing!  Read More →

Discover Borrego Springs, CA

The tiny resort community of Borrego Springs is not a place you just happen on, en route to someplace else. It’s off by itself, surrounded into perpetuity by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Borrego Springs is an ultra-mini Palm Desert, with views of the nearby Santa Rosa Mountains just as beautiful, the weather just as pleasing, but without the crowds. Consider packing your golf clubs on your RV trip to Borrego Springs © Rex Vogel, all rights reserved This “oasis in the desert” does not have a traffic light. The town center is a large traffic center, Christmas Circle, which asks nothing more of drivers than to yield. Christmas Circle leads to a mall, theater, shops, small hotels, and cafes. There is as much or as little to do in Borrego Springs as one wishes. Surrounded by the 600,000-acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, this tiny eastern San Diego County town is nestled in a beautiful valley surrounded by beautiful craggy mountains. Dramatic sunsets that dissolve into a huge vista of stars on a seemingly endless black velvet sky, punctuated by a chorus of coyotes…this is Borrego Springs. During spring, this area can become a carpet of blossoms. Besides the display of wildflowers and flowering cacti and ocotillo, the nearby Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is one of the few places you can spot the elusive Peninsular Big Horn Sheep. Borrego Springs is a citrus growing region. North of town, the desert has been replaced with citrus trees. Hundreds of acres of grapefruit,... Read more

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