What's a co-op park?

grennier · November 10, 2015

We're new members. What's a co-op park? I cannot locate a good explanation.

Thanks!

grennier · November 10, 2015

Never mind. Just found the explanation below. Essentially they are seasonal parks that only Club members can rent if a site is available. Correct?

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There are 11 SKP Co-Op parks from Washington State to south Florida. The Escapees RV Club helped start the SKP Co-Op parks, but does not own them or run them. Each Co-Op park is a separate and independent nonprofit corporation. Only Escapee members may purchase an SKP Co-Op membership (when one is available), and that membership entitles them to use a specified lot until they die or sell the membership back to the corporation. Only members may rent a site in an SKP Co-Op. Each SKP Co-Op sets its own rules and is self-governing with a board of directors elected by the members.Co-Op members share in the financial responsibilities of the SKP Co-Op. Operating expenses are shared equally among the membership by way of an annual maintenance fee.

Availability of rental spaces at SKP Co-Ops depends on members putting their lots into a rental pool while they travel. During the popular season, there may be few spaces for rent. Call in advance to check the availability of rental sites.

Note: SKP Co-Op parks are open to Escapees members only.

Kirk W · November 10, 2015

There are also co-op parks that are not part of the Escapee system. The method has been used to create RV communities for some time and we happen to live in one that is not a part of the system, yet the majority of our members are or have been Escapees. It is an inexpensive way to develop these facilities, but has the drawback that they are not deeded and so can't usually be financed.

LindaH · November 10, 2015

The Co-ops are not *seasonal* parks. They are all open all year long, although they may very well have a *high* season when most members are on their lots and other Escapees visit.

sandsys · November 10, 2015

A co-op is a type of property ownership. Generally in a co-op RV park, each member owns their own RV parking space plus they have a share of the common grounds like the clubhouse, streets, and other facilities. Thus the group makes decisions as a whole about the property, Generally these decisions include what you can or cannot construct on your portion of the property--like the size and type of storage shed, and clotheslines, and dog fencing, etc. It is VERY important to read the documents of a co-op before buying into it. And then it is important to be active in the government so they don't implement restrictions you would not be able to live with after your purchase. We have moved from townhouse communities who insisted on implementing restrictions we could not tolerate. Be diligent if you buy into a co-operative community. But they can be lovely places to stay for a night or a week or more as a visitor. And I was thrilled to discover the Escapee co-op in Yuma had community clotheslines outside their laundry room.

Linda Sand

Barbaraok · November 11, 2015

In a condo, you have a dead to the property you occupy plus share the common areas. In a co-op you purchase a share in the total co-op and are assigned a space to occupy. You do not get a dead to that space.

Barb

Kirk W · November 11, 2015

In a condo, you have a dead to the property you occupy plus share the common areas. In a co-op you purchase a share in the total co-op and are assigned a space to occupy.

Not really assigned, but you buy your membership in the Escapee coop by the site number. Each share is attached to a specific site in most cases. With most of the parks there are differences in what has been built on those sites, but at least two parks have identical storage buildings and amenities on each site.

Nolan · November 11, 2015

My wife and I workamp at a co-op park. It is not an Escapees park. You do not have to be a member to stay here. The office rents out 25 RV lots. People can buy as many lots as they want. A lot of people rent out the lots. There are also park models here. People buy those also, either to live in or to rent out.

D&J · November 12, 2015

We checked out a few SKP CO-OP parks and they are all a little different with different rules

Denny

Kirk W · November 12, 2015

We checked out a few SKP CO-OP parks and they are all a little different with different rules.

That is because they each are managed by a board of directors elected from among the membership and the park is member owned. Another factor is the laws of the state where the park is located. The two most alike would be those in CA.

LindaH · November 12, 2015

I assume the OP was asking specifically about the Escapee's Co-op's.

If that is, indeed, the case, then the rules for the Escapee's Co-op's are different than other co-ops mentioned here:

1) One does not *own* the RV space where you park (as in a deeded lot).

2) You do have to be a member of the Escapees RV Club to stay in one (unless you are a guest of a member).

3) For the buy-in price, you only get one lot, not multiple.

4) Rentals of the lots when the member is gone is handled by the Co-op, not the individual member (this assumes that they put their lot in the rental pool).

5) The issue of park models depends on the co-op. Some allow only "park trailers" but not true "park models" (I don't remember of any of the Co-ops that have true "park models" on them, but it's been several years since we've visited most of the Co-ops).

lasttruck · November 12, 2015

Our co-op in Chimacum does have rental sites that are not leasehold sites and are available for traveling SKPs and can be reserved in advance.

Also, park model (stick built vs. rv type park trailers) that are rv certified are allowed in this park. The county was the deciding factor here and allowed by the membership. Timber Valley in Oregon is regulated by the county against peaked roof park models, for example.