The Grand Marais Park Board faces an enviable problem. During the peak summer months, more RV owners want to stay at the Grand Marais Municipal Campground commonly referred to as the “Rec. Park,” than there are spots open. But what to do about it?
While no action was taken at the park board’s March 3 meeting, Park Manager Dave Tersteeg gave an overview of current policies and possible alternatives that could be implemented to the park.
For more than 20 years campers have had 91 sites to choose from when they sought monthly rental space. But, Tersteeg asked, are these the best sites for that purpose? And do they meet the needs of today’s campers?
“Given the recent demand, we’ve had to limit monthly rates on sites not included in the pool designated as monthly during the busy June- September season,” he said. “Our best sites from the overnight/weekly pool are being requested by people calling (or lining up) first thing January hoping to book July and August before any standing overnight reservations tie the site up. We call this ‘seasonal creep.’ We have no clear policy to prevent it.”
Currently the sites in the monthly pool are assigned between January and March each year, with loyal guests who spend more than two months given first rights of refusal on a specific site if they commit a $100 deposit by February 1, said Tersteeg. Openings and availability for monthly sites are known by February so when a site becomes available, it is offered to others on the waiting list. The goal, said Tersteeg, is to have all sites placed by the end of March for the upcoming summer.
The current waiting list consists of roughly 120 people. “Over the past few years we have noticed a trend— more and more baby boomers with RVs are looking for a seasonal/ monthly site to spend summers by the lake in Grand Marais. Folks at the top of the list signed up in 2011. Last year 38 folks signed up,” said Tersteeg.
Some people are on the list as a placeholder for the future. Tersteeg said if they are not ready to accept offers for the immediate season, their position has been preserved on the list rather than going to the bottom.
With several new members on the park board, Tersteeg wanted to make clear, “We do not offer permanent sites. Guests rent a site on a monthly basis for one season at a time.”
Tersteeg said the park policy has always been to try to honor specific requests, but reserve the right to reassign sites as needed. “We offer certain sites at monthly rates on a year-toyear basis,” he explained.
A new problem is that many people have large RVs that are not suitable for the current monthly sites.
This causes a glitch in the current reservation system, said Tersteeg. Existing guests already returning to site often desire a better/bigger site, but there is no formal policy for processing their request to upgrade. This is especially the case for long-time guests that trade an old 28-footer for modern 36-footer. Their “usual” site is too small for their new rig and they expect a bigger site.
“This expectation is hard to satisfy, especially considering most of our 91 monthly sites are smaller [under 32 feet] with antiquated 30-amp power.”
Under the current model, the park has a “work your way up” system that rewards loyal guests, but, said Tersteeg this can create confusion and delay.
A lottery for spaces?
“A better way might be to create preferred placement,” said Tersteeg.
For example, a better bottom line achieved when a monthly site is booked with a four-month-plus commitment ($2,652 per site/season) not just July and August ($1,366 per site/ season).
“We have many people on the LLCwaiting list that want to spend the whole season here. Shouldn’t that factor into preferred placement?
“The waiting list could be hierarchical based on date of sign-up and desired length of stay. Guests wanting the full season would receive offers before those who just want peak season,” said Tersteeg.
He offered a second suggestion.
Those who are offered a site have two days to decide, and if they say ‘no thanks,’ they move to the bottom of the list. This creates an opportunity and hope for people deep on the list.
“Another concept for leveling the playing field but totally upsetting the status quo includes an annual lottery for monthly site opening/high value sites. This comes from the Rec Park Master Plan. Folks from both lists would be included in a drawing for a chance to choose from available site openings. We could create new revenue through ticket sales to play the lottery.”
Park board members had no appetite for the lottery plan but seemed favorable to giving preference to people who wanted to stay the full season. The board also talked about site upgrades and which sites might be put into a seasonal category or designated for overnight stay.
“I think the board will vote on some of these ideas next month,” Tersteeg said.
Campsite bookings already up
As far as bookings for summer, Tersteeg said February bookings were up 18 percent over last year.
He also said an electronic newsletter is under development with the first edition sent out last month. The goal is to feature monthly insights, photos and specials designed to increase the park’s social capital.
Other projects coming along well include the BookYourSite.com reservation system that was recently installed. “We completed the technical difficulties of offering online booking in February and are now putting the finishing touches on all of our print and online media.”
The RV show at the Minneapolis Convention Center was also a big success. “Thousands of brochures and lure pieces were given out and names and email addresses were collected for marketing,” Tersteeg said.
The Grand Marais Campground has:
. 300 campsites
. 161 full hook-ups
. 82 electric and water hook-ups
. 57 rustic sites
. 19 seasonal boat slips
. 9 buoy moorings
. 4 bathhouses
. 1 playground
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