Where Motorhomes Become Works Of Art
Letterfly ArtPark, located near Plant City, Florida, is the home, gallery, and studio of Dave Knoderer, C5261, an artist better known as Letterfly. During the past three decades, Letterfly has created more than a thousand high-quality murals on motorhomes and towed vehicles, including hand-painted inscriptions, gold-leaf monograms, wet-blended and hand-painted pet portraits, and graphic stripe schemes.
Letterfly ArtPark is situated on a lovely oak hammock filled with meandering garden paths that lead to quiet, meditative settings. The haven is a destination for many RV and motorcycle enthusiasts who may be considering a graphic finish for their vehicle. The site includes ample parking for motorhome owners who commission a project that may take several days. These visitors also benefit from the invitation to enjoy the nocturnal campfire that helps the artist unwind at the end of a long day.
For more information about Letterfly’s creative services, or to view examples of his previous motorhome artwork, visit www.letterfly.com or call (813) 752-8065.
New Edition Of Casino Camping Released
The sixth edition of Casino Camping: A Guide To RV-Friendly Casinos by Jane Kenny ($15.95, Roundabout Publications) is now available to help guide RVers who visited casinos while traveling.
The latest edition of Casino Camping features listings for more than 600 casinos in 35 states. It identifies casinos that have RV parks and indicates which casinos allow free overnight RV parking. Locator maps at the beginning of each state section are followed by detailed listings for individual casinos.
The book is available from www.TravelBooksUSA.com (800-455-2207) and from online booksellers, including www.rvbookstore.com.
U.S. Representatives Start Congressional RV Caucus
In late June, U.S. House of Representatives members Dennis Ross (R-Florida) and Jackie Walorski (R-Indiana) announced the formation of the Congressional Recreational Vehicle (RV) Caucus. This caucus was created to educate members of Congress about issues that affect the RV industry and to highlight the importance of this American tradition for the tourism industry and the economy.
“As a young boy, I traveled the country in the summers with my grandparents in their 1960 Airstream, which I now have and have worked hard to restore to its original beauty,” Mr. Ross said. “Now as an adult, my wife, Cindy, and I have taken our sons, Travis and Shane, on countless trips by motorhome, stopping in each of the 48 continental states. The RV industry pumps billions of dollars into our economy and encourages families to take advantage of everything our great states have to offer. I’m glad to help start this important caucus that highlights the contributions of the RV industry.”
“In Northern Indiana, Hoosiers are proud to be known as the ‘RV Capital of the World,’ as this powerful industry continues to manufacture quality products, create jobs, and enrich American tourism,” Ms. Walorski said. “With over 80 percent of North America’s recreational vehicles built in Elkhart and LaGrange counties, it is critical that this industry remains relevant and continues to produce new products and technologies for recreational vehicles. I am pleased to introduce this caucus alongside Rep. Ross to support the RV industry and ensure its prolonged success for the benefit of American families.”
According to information contained in the announcement from Rep. Ross, approximately 8.9 million households across the United States own an RV, and more than 12,000 RV-related businesses operate across the nation, generating combined annual revenue of more than $37.5 billion. All members of Congress are being invited to join the Congressional RV Caucus.
KOA Directory Available In Digital Edition
KOA campers have yet another tool to help plan their travels and make sure they safely reach their favorite campground — the KOA Digital Directory.
The digital edition of the 2013 Kampgrounds of America Directory allows viewers to virtually turn the pages as they peruse the popular camping aid and atlas.
“We’ve had a digital version of the printed KOA Directory online for the past two years, but this new technology takes the experience even further,” said Mike Gast, KOA’s vice president of communications. “Users can get the same experience they would have with the printed directory, plus active links in the Digital Directory will take them right to campground landing pages on www.KOA.com for more information or to book their reservations.”
Readers also are able to print out the pages they need for their next trip. As always, the free print version of the 2013 KOA Directory is available at any of the 475 KOA campgrounds in North America, or it can be ordered online at www.KOA.com for a small shipping and handling fee.
Also new in 2013 is the ability to make KOA camping reservations directly from mobile devices such as iPads and smartphones. The KOA mobile site can be accessed from any mobile device by entering www.koa.com into the browser. Once there, campers can quickly navigate to their favorite KOA and complete their reservation on their mobile device.
National Parks Serve As Powerful Economic Engines
The United States’ national parks continued to have an important economic impact on local communities, with visitors generating $30.1 billion in economic activity and supporting 252,000 jobs nationwide in 2011, according to a peer-reviewed report released by the National Park Service.
The statistics for 2011 are based on the spending of nearly 279 million national park visitors. More than one-third of that total spending, or $13 billion, went directly into communities within 60 miles of a park. The numbers are on par with those reported in previous years.
The National Park Service also released its 2012 visitation numbers: 3.8 million more than in 2011, for a total of 282.8 million visitors to the National Park Service’s 398 parks.
The National Park Service report is done on an annual basis and is prepared through a cooperative agreement with Michigan State University.
Unknown at this time is how the mandatory cuts under sequestration will impact the local communities and businesses that depend on the income generated from visitors to America’s public lands. The cuts, which will affect America’s national parks, as well as its 561 national wildlife refuges and more than 268 public land units, will result in reduced hours of operation for visitors centers; shorter seasons; and possibly the closing of campgrounds, hiking trails, and other recreational areas.
Dicor Products Launches Roof Care Video Series
To help owners take a proactive role in protecting their RV roofs, Dicor Products now offers the Rudy Roof Care Video Series, an instructive show-and-tell collection of videos that provide information about cleaning, sealing, and maintaining this important vehicle structure.
The first two videos in the series feature well-known RV educator Mark Polk. In the first, he walks through the steps for effectively using Dicor Products’ lap sealant to seal cracks and deterioration in existing roof seals. In the second, Mr. Polk shows simple ways to determine whether an RV is covered by an EPDM membrane or TPO material (it can make an important difference in the kind of sealant to use). Other videos include information about replacing the roof; the company’s Ultra Sealant system; RV roof repair; and cleaning and protecting the roof. Upcoming videos in the series will touch on topics such as coating systems for rubber, fiberglass, and metal roofs; how to seal the installation of a new skylight, roof vents, or a TV antenna; how to seal trim strips; and how to measure for new shades and blinds.
Also posted on the site is a growing library of “Rudy RV Improvement Reports.” Every other week, Dicor sends out e-bulletins to RVers about different aspects of RV care, from removing black streaks to using specialized roof coatings. RVers can subscribe to these e-mails on the same Web page as the videos.
To access Dicor Products’ roof care videos, visit www.dicorproducts.com/resources/care.