Dang RV

Have you noticed that RV parks are now calling themselves resorts? I guess changing the name from trailer parks to RV parks was not enough to shed that “trailer trash” image. Of course, my brother likes to tease me by calling me “trailer trash” now that I’m a full-time RVer. Just jealous. Tee hee.

I limped into Sandy Heights when my truck had “issues” on the way to Idaho. Normally I would have been angry but it turned out to be a wonderful oasis for me. You see, my son’s in-laws live only 10 miles from the “Resort” and as it happened, my daughter-in-law was there visiting. She came right out to help me and lead me into the park since the only directions I had were from the freeway which I could not use. Talk about lucky! I knew my son had married very well. She was wonderful. Thank you , Janelle.

If you are a full-timer and near the Tri-Cities area, Sandy Heights is the place for you. They are much more than a campground. This resort is dedicated to full-timers while also still providing plenty of space, pull thrus at that, for overnighters. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. They have many pull-thrus and back-ins with full hookups and free cable TV. Wireless broadband internet is available for a charge and easy to connect to. They have a laundry room which I found to be quite nice and very clean bathrooms and showers.

For recreation, they have a pool, hot tub, playground, basketball court, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and a clubhouse where you can get Wednesday dinner or Saturday breakfast. The clubhouse is air conditioned so on a really hot Tri-Cities day, they encourage you to go play cards or watch TV at the clubhouse.

Outside RV storage is available in a locked and extremely well-lighted fenced enclosure as well as inside storage sheds as life overflows your trailer or for the long-termers who like to have their patio furniture in the summertime. There are mailboxes for long-termers. They do have inexpensive monthly rates and workamping is a possibility at times.

They also have that all important location, location, location. You won’t get a lake or spectacular view but they are right off I-182 at exit 7, close to everything in the area, Walmart and food are 1 exit west as is TRAC where you can go to a carnival, see a ballgame, or even watch their fireworks from the RV park if you are there at the right time. Broadmoor RV and Truck Center is right outside the front gate of Sandy Heights.

I highly recommend a stay here anytime you are in the area.

Click on the pictures below.

More pictures

First lesson about choosing campgrounds out of a book: never believe the book. Don’t get me wrong. I actually enjoyed staying at this campground. All the sites are pull-thrus and cable TV is supplied for free. The town itself was enjoyable. It is a small town right alongside the Columbia River and in close proximity to other historic towns and Pendleton, OR where the woolen mills are.

After I unhitched and set up the trailer, I spent a beautiful sunny day in the town park. I watched the ships going up and down the river from a lovely gazebo. I walked the paths. I got to see my first high school girl’s softball game there which was fascinating. The girls play every bit as good as the boys. There was some real competition going on there. The way they interact with their coaches, however, is quite different from boys. You know high school girls. Not flirting. More like they way girls interact with their fathers and the coaches were gentler. They seemed to know what happens when you yell at girls. The floodgates may open. Hee hee.

Now as to why you should not believe the book. First, the book said they had wireless internet available. They did not. They were going to put it in at the time the book was published but something had gone wrong and they did not have it. Since the books have submission dates well before publishing dates, sometimes campgrounds will have to fudge a bit to make sure a new perk makes it into the book. For someone like me who lives on the Internet, that hurt.

The book also said they have a pool and hot tub. They actually do. What it didn’t say was that they are heated by solar power! You can forget about a warm fuzzy experience in the winter months and it takes a while to heat them during the spring and fall.

I do give them points for being extremely helpful when I asked about sightseeing and places to go.

Click here for pics of Boardman, OR