Patrons Campgrounds

[mpullen]

Okay, this is only a theoretical question, to get some idea of the interest.

How many folks would be interested in a Patrons Campgrounds at Scarby?

It would be a General/Open campgrounds arrangement, with first-come/first-served. Until I get a large (like 500) number of folks interested, I don't intend to starting reserved camping areas like I have at Sherwood and in about 2 years at TRF.

I need to put together a sales pitch to the Scarby General Manager when I go up later this year (probably August-September).

How much would you be willing to pay for weekend camping? This gives me a revenue selling point.

My main selling point is that "intoxicated" patrons would not be travelling on the roads to get back to their hotels/motels (means less liability to the Faire). Additionally, if they save $80 a night from not staying at a motel, that means they have that much more money to spend in Faire.

Any other selling points would be appreciated.

I will have to sell the costs of land clearing, road gravel, port-a-potties, trash dumpsters, etc. to make my point.

It will take about 8-12K to clear the land, 5K to lay in the gravel, and about 10K per year for port-a-potties, dumpsters, and trash pickup. Figuring on a standard 5 year return on investment (ROI), we would need $13,400 per year income from the campgrounds, resulting that we need about 500 campers per weekend. If I don't see that interest, there is no reason to pursue this. BTW, SWFF attendance on the major weekends is 800, 400 on the lesser weekends, making us break even. With the expansion of the SWFF General/Open campgrounds and Reserved campgrounds, we should get a ROI in 3 years.

[SirRichardBear]

I would most likely camp twice a season even with living a short distant away just to hang with friends.  10 would seem reasonable for unapproved camping.

[SQiRL]

Having been going to scarby since I came to texas,  every year i hear a lot of folks from outside the dfw area say that they would come up if there was camping,  and every year its brought up in some form or fashion with 0 public response.  I have personally sent an email every year (for the last 6 years) on this very subject and never got a reply.

I personally only live an hour away... and yet... I would camp in a heartbeat if The option existed.  As I attend every weekend,  this would save me a lot in gas/exhaustion if the option was available.

At Sherwood and TRF,  i keep hearing that people refuse to come up on the sole grounds that there is NO camping.  Nobody wants to make a 3-4 hour one way trip to either go back home that night.

But... back to your point.... I would wholeheartedly back this if somebody could convince scarby to do it.

I would personally like to see a season pass for camping,  and the ability to have dedicated areas much like sherwood...

But i would pay 10 bucks a weekend.  - anymore would be pushing it in my opinion.

[DonaCatalina]

Given the number of people who have dropped off the forum; you might get a better response from Friends of Scarborough on Facebook, or even Row 12 between Fairs on Facebook.

[SQiRL]

Mike, i sent you an invite to the Friends of Scarby Group on FB.


Another thing to keep in mind mike is that Scarby also does Screams. 

This is another time where folks may want to come up and camp.... (but who knows...)

[DonaCatalina]

Mike, i sent you an invite to the Friends of Scarby Group on FB.


Another thing to keep in mind mike is that Scarby also does Screams. 

This is another time where folks may want to come up and camp.... (but who knows...)

Actually that might be more true than you think. It would mean that they wouldn't have to drive to Dallas at midnight after drinking at the pub.

[mpullen]

Mike, i sent you an invite to the Friends of Scarby Group on FB.


Another thing to keep in mind mike is that Scarby also does Screams. 

This is another time where folks may want to come up and camp.... (but who knows...)

Good point.

I'll check Facebook sometime in the next couple of days.

[Love Good Wood]

I live in Waxahachie and I would camp if offered... a couple of years ago there was 30 acres for sale about 1/2 a mile away from faire i was looking at, but didnt have the funds.

[Rani Zemirah]

If there was camping we would make the trip down from OKC at least 3-4 weekends per season, attending all weekend, instead of the 0-1 trip we make, now.  I believe you would pull in a great deal more repeat out-of-town, and even out-of-state, revenue if you had camping, since the cost of fuel is already more expensive than many people are able to easily pay, and  hotel room fees on top of that are prohibitive for almost all but the relatively well off. 

We LOVE Scarby, and would be there every weekend if we could!  Camping would make getting there more often much easier, and much more enjoyable, as well... and I would consider $10-15 per weekend for adults to be reasonable, with perhaps a combined rate for families. 

[mpullen]

Getting lots of good input from the Facebook page.

Firstmost - My business plan to be presented is for only primitive camping. That means no electricity, no water, no sheltered sites, no WiFi, no showers, no flush toilets. You get port-a-potties and trash dumpsters and a cleared plot of land to set your tent or trailer.

My intention is to make camping price as low as possible. My ideal is $20 for a family of two adults and two children (6-12). Pricing for other grouping gets complex. Remember that vehicles don't camp, people do. Thus setting camping price for a weekend at $7 per adult (13 and above) and $3 per child (6-12) (under 6 free) would make the $20 per family group (2 adults/2 children).

Once we build showers and flush toilets, price would increase to what we do at Sherwood ($10 per adult/$5 per child 6-12 and no family ceiling price). Remember that adding showers and flush toilets means adding power and sewer to support. That means a large cash investment from the Faire management. Presently, there isn't a power availability beyond the present requirements (same as Sherwood).

Give things three to five years to get Faire management comfortable with the idea and show that Patron's camping is a good cashcow. After that we will have a negotitaing point for improvements to what some folks desire.

[BLAKDUKE]

I will only weigh in this far.. I think it is a wonderfull idea and if I ever get a chance to to Scarby and the CG. is available I would take advantage of it.  The price is right.  However I have a 38' motor home.  With your plan would you be able to accomodate me???

[Rani Zemirah]

Mike, I think that price is very reasonable, and I would be happy to pay $10 to camp for the weekend for my daughter and myself!  We can bring any water we would need, and we have no need for electricity when we camp, so a flat space for our tent, with maybe a few trees left here and there for some shade, sounds wonderful to me!  It would make visiting multiple times during the season much more affordable, and give us a MUCH larger budget for Faire, itself! 

[Ryk Rakham]

We only live 1 1/2 hours up I-35, but I think it'd be fantastic for Scarby to have patron camping. I think we'd camp 2 to 3 times per year and it would - enhance the faire experience, save us more money to spend inside and create a bonding experience for Rennies both old and new as well as offer a way for new faire goers to meet us old Rennies and become more involved and interested in faire. For un-improved campgrounds - $10 per night would be reasonable, a bit more if they provided shower houses and flushies.

[Tink]

The hubby and I would definitely make use of camp grounds at Scarby (privy boxes, cleared land, and shade trees are all we would need)

[mpullen]

Replying to push back up the list.

I haven't forgotten the Scarby folks. Just that TRF ate up my time.

I may setup an appointment with the GM just after the Scarby season 2013. Since I have to stay at a motel in the area due to the length of drive both ways, I can't bring the Sister and dogs.

I had planned on retiring April 2013, but my company made me an offer I couldn't turn down (can you say unlimited paid time off over my 200 hours of annual vacation?).