Man bites dog story: Canadian town wants RVers to stay at Walmart

Mission, British Columbia – a quiet city of 36,000 – is supported principally by forestry and a teeny bit of agriculture. Still, it's big enough to have its own hockey team, the Mission City Outlaws.

Until a few days ago, RVers could take on the team name – Outlaws – if they dared to stay overnight on the parking lot at Walmart. But in an exceedingly rare move, Mission's local lawmakers decided to rescind a ban they placed on overnighting at Wally, one that's been in place since the big store opened its doors four years ago.

Since the trend for years has been for municipalities to put out the "RVers Not Welcome" signs at Wally World, one has to wonder, what led to such a 'revolutionary' bit of thinking? If you're thinking that somehow MONEY is involved, you're right. Survey: What's the most-often asked question at the Mission visitor center? Answer: Where can I park my RV overnight here in town? And the answer to that question? "We don't have any place."

Given that choice, RVers simply take their rigs, and their tourist dollars, down the road to Maple Ridge, 20 minutes away.

Interestingly, the only commercial property in town where RV overnight parking was directly banned by ordinance was at Walmart. RVers could park in other privately owned lots in town without fear of tickets or visits from police – but many local business owners apparently weren't open to the idea. Now, assuming that local Walmart store officials are in agreement, you can park your rig, shop, and snooze in peace in Mission.

Wouldn't it be something if other local governments got the drift?

For more De Maris observations, check out the weekly YourRVPodcast.com.

Shooting at Walmart raises concerns of overnighting bans

An episode involving police and "Walmart campers," has left one man dead, a police officer shot, another man hospitalized, and a number of family members in jail. The Cottonwood, Arizona confrontation has also rung up fears that retail giant and RVer-favorite, Walmart, might consider shutting down overnight parking at their stores.

While details of the March 24 incident are still hazy, it appears that a Christian-music performing family group had been camped out at the Cottonwood store for some days. Late on that Saturday night, one of the family members was using one of the store's bathrooms, while two others stood guard at the door. When a Walmart employee attempted to enter, a scuffle broke out, which ended up outside in the parking lot.

Police responded to calls for assistance, and a Walmart security officer attempted to help. It's reported that the first officer on the scene was assaulted and one of the suspects, a family member, allegedly took the officer's gun. Backup officers arrived, the confrontation got more involved. In the end, one of the police officers was shot in the leg, and a family member shot in the head and killed. Another family member is hospitalized.

On learning that the family had been living in the parking lot, the media immediately pounced on the idea of "camping," at Walmart. Man-on-the-street interviews ensued with some locals claiming they'd been frightened or otherwise put-out by people staying in the lot. Cottonwood Walmart officials have met with local police to "discuss solutions to extended camping" in their lot.

Greg Gerber, editor of RV Daily Report, looks at the situation as an issue just waiting to happen. Writes Gerber, "What turned out to be a wonderful perk offered by Walmart to RV owners everywhere, will come to an end because some idiots opt to use Walmart as a campground, rather than as a safe place to park an RV for a few hours to catch some sleep."

One would hope that cool heads will prevail. The fact that this family was camped out in the parking lot for several days shouldn't figure into whether to allow RVers to overnight or not. A review of news accounts over the last several months reveals shooting incidents at RV parks and campgrounds around the country. Do we shut down the parks? Some figure Walmart will find the "risks" of allowing overnighters will outweigh the benefits that they see. While we've never seen a formal study, just hobnobbing around the campfire reveals that plenty of RVer money gets passed into Walmart tills when an overnight stay takes place.

Nevertheless, Gerber's comments are well-taken. Those who "set up shop" in a Walmart lot give the rest of us in the RV community a black eye. For heavens sakes, do we really need to set out the lawn chairs, extend the awning, even grill a steak on the barbee? It's only asking to have the locals – and local RV park owners – raise an unnecessary stink.

Check out Your RV Podcast, the De Maris' weekly, half-hour program on the RV lifestyle. Get it from iTunes, or visit yourrvpodcast.com. 

Arizona casinos yank RV overnight welcome mat

Not long ago this notice came out: "Gila River Casinos will no longer allow overnight parking for recreational vehicles, Truck/Trailer RV combinations, or Semi-Trucks." For many who travel through Arizona, this is a blow. Gila River Casinos operate three different facilities.

Wesley Fryer on flickr.com

What was the cause? While the outfit didn't specify what the direct cause was, plenty of RVers have their suspicions. Wrote one on an RV forum, "When we arrived this week, people were camped out, some for months. Chairs and rugs were out, and one family allowed their children to play. Children are not allowed on the property here at Lone Butt [sic]. We ate in the casino everyday to give them business, and we gambled in the amounts that a RV park would charge. Most didn't. Two different men had been there since November."

Casino parking lots are a staple of many RV "pavement campers." Getting the bum's rush can definitely make life difficult. It wouldn't be surprising if the Gila River decision came in part -- maybe in large part -- due to dubious behavior on the part of the few that reflects badly on the many.

For our part, we've spent more than one night on a casino lot. While we don't gamble, we're plenty happy to spend a few bucks in a facility restaurant, make sure we pick up any trash we find left in the parking lot, and vamoose within a day or two -- not turning the place into a semi-permanent residence. Hopefully what's happened at Gila River properties won't become a common occurrence.

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Pilot Flying J expands RV amenities

(Courtesy of Pyxl Digital Communications)

 Pilot Flying J expands RV amenities at its travel centers in time for summer vacation season.

"While families and road-trippers are traveling across the country this summer, Pilot has more than 650 locations so convenience is never an issue," according to Anne LeZotte, Communications Manager at Pilot Flying J.

"They recently invested heavily in amenities to make it the best stop for RV drivers," said LeZotte. "This includes a $50 million restroom remodel, healthy meal and snack options, and free overnight parking" for RV drivers. "You don't have to make reservations ... to park there overnight. "Just show up."

RV Amenities
According to the website: "At Pilot Flying J, we are proud to offer the largest network of the most RV friendly travel centers in the US and Canada.  All Flying J locations and several Pilot locations have dedicated RV lanes specially designed to fit your traveling needs. We know it’s important for you to get in, fuel and stock up, and get going on your way. That’s why we stand by our commitment of providing fast and friendly customer service and products design with the RVer in mind."

Bathroom (Courtesy of Pyxl Digital Communications)

- RV dumps:  With more than 150, Pilot Flying J has the largest number of Waste Dump sites available out of any Travel Center in the country.  For sewage dumping, it is $10 for anyone, $7.50 with the RV swipe and save card, and $5 with the RV plus card.

- Dedicated RV fill up lanes:  Pilot Flying J leads the country in the number of dedicated fuel lanes specifically designed for RVers. And if your rig is too big or you just feel like pulling somewhere else, you are welcome to use our Truck Diesel lanes or our Auto lanes.

- Free overnight parking:  Had enough driving for one day? Pull in to one of our RV reserved parking spots or any other open parking space. Grab some dinner, stock up on supplies, and spend the night to get ready for that long drive ahead of you tomorrow.

- Bulk propane:  Have one of our trained technicians get you up and running with as much propane as you need. Don’t need it in bulk but need one for the grill? Propane tanks also available.

- Other Amenities include:  Public Laundry - $2.25/wash and $2.25/dry. Showers. Wireless Internet.

To read more articles on the RV lifestyle by Julianne G. Crane go to RVWheelLife.com

Montana county kills off street camping

Butte County, Montana may be in Big Sky Country, but there's no pie in that sky for free RV parking advocates. With the snows of winter melting and minds of residents (or visitors) turning to using the RV, the county is gearing up for forced compliance of its RV parking ordinances.

Specifically, don't plan on parking your RV anywhere in the county on a public byway or public property, at least if your plans mean leaving it parked for more than two days. A county ordinance, created ostensibly to protect children, prohibits parking your RV or boat trailer for more than 48 hours, lived in or not. The reasoning says a child might run out to the street from behind your rig, and could be hit by a passing motorist who fails to see the child because of your behemoth there beside the road.

quinn.anya on flickr.com with permission

Some RVers have circumvented such laws in other localities by simply jumping in the rig and moving it a couple of feet forward of back. Not so in Butte County -- you'll need to move it at least 300 feet to avoid getting a ticket for $25. And while we're on it, "curb stoning" (parking your rig in a choice spot with a "for sale" sign on it) is also out.

Helping to put a few more teeth in the ordinance, the city is investing in software to help enforcement officers track vehicles where folks try to get around the parking ordinance, or those who fail to pay their tickets. For the latter, they may find their RV with new boots, that is, a special clamp put on the rig, preventing them from moving the rig until they take care of their past-due tickets.

BlueWater Resort & Casino -- Parker, Ariz.

Pavement camping, BlueWater Casino, Parker, Ariz. (Julianne G. Crane)

BlueWater Resort and Casino in Parker, Ariz., sits on the Colorado River about 36 miles north of Quartzsite, along Hwy 95, and about 11 miles south of Buckskin Mountain State Park.

We were passing through Parker and needed to re-supply before boondocking for a few days on BLM land across the Colorado River near Earp, Calif. We arrived late in the afternoon and shopped at the nearby Safeway grocery store and Wal-Mart. Instead of heading directly over to the BLM land near Big River, we decided to take in a film at the 4-screen movie theater--the BlueWater Cinemas.

A casino guest services representative told us we could spend one night in the parking lot for free. (There is a full service RV park on the casino grounds. For reservations, information: call (928) 669-2433)

As with any casino parking lot--the downsides are: LOTS of light and highway noise.  However we were tired and very grateful for the opportunity to take in a movie and sleep a little before heading out.

"The casino is owned by the Colorado River Indian Tribes include four distinct Tribes - the Mohave, Chemehuevi, Hopi and Navajo. The reservation stretches along the Colorado River on both the Arizona and California side. It includes almost 300,000 acres of land, with the river serving as the focal point and lifeblood of the area. The primary community in the CRIT Reservation is Parker, Arizona, which is located on a combination of Tribal land, leased land that is owned by CRIT and land owned by non-Native Americans."

Overnight spot at BlueWater Casino. (Julianne G. Crane)

BlueWater Resort and Casino
11300 Resort Drive
Parker, Ariz.
Phone:(928) 669-7000
GPS Latitude: 34.17 GPS Longitude: -114.27 URL: bluewaterfun.com/

For more articles by Julianne G. Crane about RV lifestyle go to RVWheelLife.com.
Photos by Julianne G. Crane.

Do you know how Cabela's got started?

TheZachMorrisExperience on wikimedia commons

Many RVers have taken advantage of the "RV welcome mat" extended by Cabela's sporting goods stores. Many of the retailer's parking lots have dump stations, some of them even for free use. And taking a hike through Cabela's is like visiting a giant "man cave." If you're into the outdoors, you need to go into Cabela's – it's like being outside, while inside.

News from company headquarters announces the death of Richard Cabela, co-founder of the giant retailer, at the age of 77. How Dick Cabela got the company started is a story in itself. "Dick, along with his wife, Mary, and brother, Jim, founded Cabela’s somewhat inadvertently in 1961 when he purchased $45 worth of hand-tied fishing flies while in Chicago on a furniture and housewares buying trip with his father for the family’s Chappell, Nebraska furniture store," said Tommy Millner, Cabela’s CEO.

Apparently Dick found furniture easier to sell than fishing gear, because when those fishing flies didn't 'fly off the shelf,' Cabela tried a different approach. He put an ad in a Casper, Wyoming newspaper selling his gear by mail – and drew exactly one sale. Not ready to throw in the sinker, a new advertisement in Sports Afield magazine read, "FREE introductory offer!!! 5 popular Grade A hand-tied flies. Send 25c for postage and handling." That advert worked like a magnet, orders poured in. Cabela quickly saw the light and ordered more gear. He and his wife put out a "catalog" consisting of three mimeographed pages, which he added to every order he sent out.

So much for tables, chairs, and sofas. Dick's original $45 worth of fishing tackle was eventually transformed into a $3.6 billion company with a huge, colorful, glossy paper catalog and an Internet presence known around the world.

Free dump station. R&T De Maris

"Outdoorsmen and women have lost a true friend, a man who improved their lot by putting them first, by working to provide what they wanted and needed for their hunting and fishing adventures," Millner added. "He pushed for research and development in every outdoor field. Dick always looked out for the customer and if he couldn’t find a vendor to provide what he wanted, he pushed Cabela’s to design and make it. Because of that passion, the Cabela’s brand and its products are iconic throughout the world."

Next time you pull into a Cabela's for an overnight stop, be glad Dick Cabela stayed on top of his dream. After all, old fishermen never die, they just get reel tired.