Larry & Penny Thompson Park in Fl - NO BUSES??

[mugsytrpt]

Ok.  Here is the story.  I did an earlier post asking about places to stay on my way to the Keys.  Several responded and a few stated how nice Larry & Penny's park is in Miami and stated that would be a good place to stay.  Did any of you stay there in a BUS?  I just called to make a reservation for a week and was told they do not allow bus conversions unless it was done by a professional company.  I told them I had asked about places to stay on a bus forum and theirs was highly recommended.  I asked them when this policy had begun.  They told me that it has always been a policy and they did not allow BUS conversions unless done by a professional company.  SO....My big question is this...Have I bought myself a nice big beautiful bus, got hooked into being a busnut, and got my family somewhat hooked only to find out that many, I have called several over the past year, parks will not allow the best motorhomes to camp in the their spots?  My bus still has all windows, so there is no way to state it was not an OTR bus at one time.

If I seem to be frustrated, it is because I seem to be hitting a brick wall finding places to stay.

Thanks for all responses in advance,
James

[jackhartjr]

James...when park owners hear 'Bus'...they are thinking of 'The Partridge Family' bus.
Always say that you have a 'motorhome'.
Others will chime in hear and say basically the same thing I said.
Jack

[Mike in GA]

Another bus nut and I took our buses to Larry and Penny Thompson Park in 2009 and again in 2010 with absolutely no question about the nature of our conversions. In fact there was a long term seasonal camper there in a conversion and he said he's been going there for years. Not a clue how this has come about.
Mike in GA

[FloridaCliff]

James...when park owners hear 'Bus'...they are thinking of 'The Partridge Family' bus.
Always say that you have a 'motorhome'.
Others will chime in hear and say basically the same thing I said.
Jack

Exactly correct Mr Hart,

I have never been turned away (in any state of conversion) and have always said 40' motorhome.

Plus if there to hoity toity I couldn't drink a beer there either....oooops wrong thread...

Cliff

[mugsytrpt]

Thanks for comments.

Jack,

I have no problem doing that, but I do not want to be 8 hours away from home and when they see my bus and say sorry we do not allow those in our park.  I have two girls and my wife with me when I camp.  I would probably not be a very nice BUS person if I got there and they would not allow in with my Bus.  They ask for make and year model when I was making a reservation.  Now they have my make model and address.  Oh well......

Mike,

You posted on my previous post and your comment about L&P was the reason I called them.

Thanks,
James

[robertglines1]

Probably Just a hiredhand thinking hippie open air conversion. with wild cat and hawgs(animal). Year of conversion converted in 2002 by Ga Conversions(example). Never been turned away but have been aware of ten year rules that could be enforced for park owners protection. Most wouldn't know a 80 from a 2000. If it's clean and neat apearing and you don't have 50 kids pushing it in you should be good. Lot's of State parks there  John Penny camp one of our favorites.Don't forget Corp of Engineer facilities. Really don't know if there are any in keys. But those are usually nice and inexpensive.

[happycamperbrat]

Amazing! No ones bus looks more like a bus then mine. And yet I have parked in several campgrounds without ever having any problem whatsoever.

[Chopper Scott]

If they are so busy they can turn folks away then so be it. I guess I wouldn't tell them "bus" in any conversation. I would imagine you have a better rig than some of the s&s rigs that show up all the time. As Bob stated, it's hard to beat anything the Corp of Engineers maintain. Always worth a look see.

[Joebus]

We spent a month in L&P Thompson in 2009. My coach is a 1978 MC8. Never questioned. Staff and Park were excellent

[boxcarOkie]

If they are so busy they can turn folks away then so be it. I guess I wouldn't tell them "bus" in any conversation. I would imagine you have a better rig than some of the s&s rigs that show up all the time. As Bob stated, it's hard to beat anything the Corp of Engineers maintain. Always worth a look see.

When asked, we just say, 40' Silver Eagle motorhome, no problems.

BCO

[Dave5Cs]

If they let in professionally done, but not self done conversions, but both are called "Bus conversion" , Motor-home or Coach, etc. That my friends is called Discrimination and could be fought in court or bought to the media and they wouldn't want their name on that.

What do we have on this board and others say 3,500 Owners that might want to camp at said place. Maybe they don't relize how many might want to spend their money in their town or campground etc.
Just sayin

Dave

[Chopper Scott]

Anybody have their email address?

[Ace]

Just wait a day and call back. Be sure to say motorhome rather than bus!

[scanzel]

I have the same problem, keep calling it a bus. But once the passenger seats are gone and you have converted it over it now becomes a motorhome for living in. It not longer transports passengers for a fee. Just keep saying motorhome, motorhome, again and again.

[JackConrad]

    When we call to make a reservation for our 73 MCI we say we have a 40' coach.  If they ask for the make and year, we say 2003 (year we finished the conversion) MCI. Never have had a problem so far.
   Only place we have ever been turned down was when we pulled up to O'Lena State Park in FL without a reservation. The person at the check in building, looked at our coach and asked "how long is that?" I told him 40'. He said all the bigger sites were full, only thing he had availasble was tent sites. He did say we were welcome to walk through and see if we could find a site we could fit on. From the tents sites we had seen at other campgrounds, we did not bother walking through to look for one.  Jack