BC RV Parks Decline in Number

Rising land values in British Columbia are proving too tasty to pass up. According to a story in the Vancouver Sun, RV park owners are selling out at a fast clip, reducing the number of RV parks and RV sites at an equally fast pace.

Chris Bower, general manager of Nk'Mip Campground and RV Park, Osoyoos and president of the B.C. Lodging and Campgrounds Association [BCLCA], who said in an interview with the Sun in November, that 74 parks representing 4,687 campsites have closed or changed use in the past three years. "We've lost 10 per cent," said Bower.

"As an example, in Osoyoos we used to have 1,200 campsites. Now we've got 640. And this is all over B.C., especially in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island and the Okanagan."

The campground association official said he's a bit frightened by the whole thing. He says he already sees that RVers are finding 'room at the inn,' a problem. "Our RV park numbers are way up," Bower said of his campground in Osoyoos. "But that's not good for the long term. You need enough competition within the industry to make it viable.

"A lot of this is because of the value of the land. They [campsite owners] have an opportunity to make $1 million to $2 million up front, rather than work for 10 to 15 years for it."

Provincial officials are stirred up about the problem, too. Already the minister of tourism has formed a joint investigative committee from both the government and business sector. For those who love traveling BC, let's hope the committee works faster than some in the lower 48. For the full story, visit the Vancouver Sun article.