Escapees RV Club is advocating to safely keep parks and campgrounds open for overnight stays during the coronavirus pandemic.
While local, state and federal governments have moved to close many businesses or otherwise restrict gatherings, Escapees has been working to demonstrate the essential nature of RV parks and campgrounds. The group turned to social media this past month to spread the word about its efforts and to share stories from displaced RV owners.
“Having that testimonial can help compel lawmakers to see (RV owners) as human,” Escapees Communications Director Georgianne Austin said.
Escapees collected and organized testimonials from RV owners who have been displaced from campgrounds due to restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Austin said the company is working with its local legislators in Texas to advocate for keeping parks and campgrounds open, and also with business leaders across the country.
“In addition to working as an association with our political leaders and our fellow industry leaders,” Escapees RV Club said in a press release, “we feel it is time to encourage each individual to reach out to their elected officials and explain to them why is it critical that they consider RV parks and campgrounds as essential businesses.”
Escapees RV Club also shared a web page that includes sample language and letters RV owners can send to their legislators in support of opening parks and campgrounds. Click here to see that page.
“We are an entire segment of citizens who have been forgotten and overlooked,” Escapees RV Club President Emeritus Cathie Carr said. “Many of us are currently being evicted from our campsites and forced to travel with nowhere safe to land. We aren’t vacationers, we want somewhere safe to hunker down and wait this out.”
Outside of campgrounds, some RV owners have seen that typically welcoming resting spots are no longer open as well.
RV owners Jean and Duane Mathes struggled to find a place to spend the night in their RV while travelling through Nevada during the coronavirus pandemic.
“In Nevada, we found the casino parking lots barricaded,” the Matheses said. “These are usually safe places where RVers are encouraged to spend the night. We just needed a place to rest before hitting the road again to get to our long-term reservation.”
While some RV owners were able to keep their reservations at campsites that have remained open during the pandemic, others have not been as fortunate.
RV owner Susan Hicks told Escapees that she and her husband were preparing to travel cross country as news of the coronavirus broke. Hicks said she and her husband decided to postpone their trip.
However, when they attempted to extend their current reservation at their campground, they were asked to leave on their scheduled date because the park was closing.
“This is when I realized how serious the situation is,” Hicks said. “I cried. I don’t cry easily.”
Escapees RV Club will continue to share information about its efforts to keep campgrounds and RV parks open during the coronavirus pandemic.
