Three Escapees parks

kb0zke · February 23

Recently we either visited or tried to visit three Escapees parks. We're full-timers with a winter base at The Ranch, the co-op in Lakewood, NM. We've been leaseholders for several years now.

The first park we visited was Dream Catchers in Deming, NM. This is a pretty quiet park, with a mix of "permanent" residents and people who are passing through. Like other Escapees parks we've visited, they have Happy Hour on the schedule. We showed up at the appointed time and found we were the only ones who did. The manager said it is rare for anyone to come to Happy Hour there, or, for that matter, any of the social activities. Most people are only there for a night or two, on their way to somewhere else. Since the park is literally right at the exit from I-10, that's not surprising. There are some extra-long pull-through sites for those of us with longer rigs.

The second park we visited was the SKP Saguaro Co-op in Benson, AZ. This is a large park with lots happening. We were there only for one night, and were assigned one of the two paved pull-through sites with full hookups. The other sites had no hookups. VERY different atmosphere from The Ranch. Lot prices are pretty high.

The third park we wanted to visit was Rover's Roost, Casa Grande, AZ. Unfortunately, our trailer is 40' 9" long, so we are too long to visit there. This is also a co-op. We talked about visiting without the trailer, just to see what it was like, but our schedule didn't permit that. Maybe some other time.

2gypsies · February 23

We had a lot for many years at the Saguaro Co-op in Benson. It had a wonderful casita on it. It's a terrific, friendly park with lots of activities and excellent participation. Absolutely loved it!

We also had a lot and Chimacum, WA co-op park which was also nice.

There's a difference from Rainbow parks and Co-op parks.

https://escapees.com/escapees-co-op-parks-benefit/

Kirk W · February 23

10 hours ago, kb0zke said:

We showed up at the appointed time and found we were the only ones who did.

Very interesting! While it has been 2 years since our last stop there, we have spent a night or two there about every other year, usually in March or April. We too went to the happy hour and when we were there it was well attended and friendly.

We have also stayed at Saguaro Co-op in Benson on several occasions but it has now been about 5 years since our last visit there. We have never been to Rover's Roost. If it makes any difference, Dream Catcher is an Escapee owned park while both Saguaro and Rover's Roost are co-op parks.

Edited February 23 by Kirk W
add a thought

Danfreda1 · February 23

We have been at Saguaro skp park in Benson for almost 3 months now except for time in quartzite. Been to 3 other escapee parks but this one is the most friendly and active that we have experienced. The lot prices here are reasonable with all the amenities you get. The key here is volunteering. That’s what keeps the price down. If you haven’t been here stop and take a tour of the park. It won’t be time wasted

agesilaus · February 24

We spent a week at Dream Catchers last October. The place was still mostly empty and there was nothing going on socially. The folks running the place were helpful and friendly. The park itself was bare dirt with some saplings and we thought it looked new.

I suspect that you may be in error about the hookups in the Saguaro park. Hard to believe that park only has two sites with hookups. We spent a week in Benson at another park several years ago and went by the Escapees park any number of times.WE did not know before booking the other park that there was a SKP park there. Benson itself seems to be very RV friendly> Deming did not impress us. We had a hard time finding a propane fill there.

Danfreda1 · February 24

Benson has 1 dry camping spot that does have full hookups. All of the regular lots have full hook ups but when the park is full you go to dry camp to wait for a site. The full hookup site in dry camp is the same price as one of the lots. Benson has a volunteer group that fills propane on Monday morning.

2gypsies · February 24

5 hours ago, Danfreda1 said:

Benson has 1 dry camping spot that does have full hookups. All of the regular lots have full hook ups but when the park is full you go to dry camp to wait for a site. The full hookup site in dry camp is the same price as one of the lots. Benson has a volunteer group that fills propane on Monday morning.

I think you mean there is ONE boondocking area with no hookups; not one spot. The boondocking area doesn't have hookups; hence "boondocking". Dry camping are the sites in BLUE.

https://skpsaguaro.org/park-map-dry-camping/

Edited February 24 by 2gypsies

Danfreda1 · February 25

No, if you look at the map the dry camping area in blue has site 620 that is not blue. That site is the same color as all the rest of the sites “hence” full hook ups. We stayed in that site for a week last year in January, then 10 days in March on a lease lot. This year we are going on 3 months here on a lease lot. The only thing that site 620 doesn’t have is cable tv.

jbh · February 25

At Deming propane fill is a half-mile north of I-10 on NM-180; look for the big white vertical tank.

2gypsies · February 25

620 used to be set aside for someone with a handicap and required electric when the rest of the park was full.

Danfreda1 · February 26

5 hours ago, 2gypsies said:

620 used to be set aside for someone with a handicap and required electric when the rest of the park was full.

Ok have never heard that from anyone here. It’s a nice site but gets the afternoon sun

kb0zke · February 28

Yes, we were in Site 620 at Benson. It was the only site in that row that had hookups. All of the rest were boondocking sites and each site going away from ours was somewhat shorter than the previous one. There was a building of some sort next to our site (maintenance, maybe?) and I think there was another FHU site on the other side of that building. Again, none of the other sites over there had hookups.

Yes, I do know the difference between Rainbow Parks and Co-ops. We've stayed at both. I was simply reporting on what we experienced at each of the parks.

Danfreda1 · February 29

On 2/27/2024 at 7:43 PM, kb0zke said:

Yes, we were in Site 620 at Benson. It was the only site in that row that had hookups. All of the rest were boondocking sites and each site going away from ours was somewhat shorter than the previous one. There was a building of some sort next to our site (maintenance, maybe?) and I think there was another FHU site on the other side of that building. Again, none of the other sites over there had hookups.

Yes, I do know the difference between Rainbow Parks and Co-ops. We've stayed at both. I was simply reporting on what we experienced at each of the parks.

That building is a full wood shop and the side facing 620 has a drill press and work bench with welders, plasma cutter, torch and most anything else you need to do some small projects. It’s for all to use. The maintenance guys do have there office and supplies in there too.