FMCA’s Hidden Gem
Cincinnati makes a great destination or stopover spot for RV owners, and we know a fantastic little place for members to stay.
Chief Executive Officer
Chris Smith
csmith@fmca.com
FMCA maintains two bases of operation in Cincinnati, Ohio. One is the corporate office located at 8291 Clough Pike in Anderson Township, which is where I am sitting as I write this article. The other location is about 7 miles away in Newtown, Ohio, a small village that is the site of a second FMCA office and the FMCA Campground at 3590 Round Bottom Road.
One of the biggest challenges facing FMCA members, and RVers in general, is finding a place to park your RV at an affordable price. This problem has arisen from the RV boom that started during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues three years later.
The FMCA Campground is a hidden gem within the member benefit offerings of FMCA. It boasts 15 full-hookup sites and seven electric-only sites. Amenities include:
45-foot accessible
Dump station
Open year-round
50-amp electric
Water
Sewer hookups
Free Wi-Fi
Pet friendly
Access to Lake Barber, which is located right behind the campground area.
Back in 2020, FMCA added a dog park to the campground. RVers are very likely to have a furry friend, or friends, accompanying them during their RV adventures. The dog park allows those companions to stretch their legs and have somewhere to run and release some energy.
Access to Lake Barber, which is owned by the village of Newtown, was also added recently to the amenities of FMCA’s campground. This 52-acre lake is surrounded by a 1.5-mile path that is available for running, walking, and bike riding. The trail winds through shaded wooded areas with wonderful views of the lake and surrounding community and the opportunity to spot birds and other wildlife. Catch-and-release fishing is permitted in designated spots along the bank of the lake, with an Ohio fishing license. A gate with a keypad (code available from the FMCA Campground office) is available at the back of the campground for access to the lake.
The campground is located within 25 minutes of downtown Cincinnati. Depending on the time of the year, you can catch a Cincinnati Reds baseball, Cincinnati Bengals football, or FC Cincinnati soccer game, or a contest featuring one of the area’s many college teams.
In addition, Cincinnati boasts one of the top-ranked zoos in America, as evidenced by the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens’ number one ranking by USA Today as Best Zoo in America for 2019, 2021, and 2022. And this year the facility also became the world’s newest Level IV accredited ArbNet Arboretum — the first arboretum within a zoo to achieve this. So, its gardens are equally impressive.
If you are in the mood for history and arts, Cincinnati has a wide variety of options. The Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Museum Center, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and historic Cincinnati Music Hall are all “must visit” attractions. If you enjoy food and drink, you’ll love the Queen City. The tri-state area boasts more than 80 breweries and countless Cincinnati restaurant staples to sample. You will be sure to stay busy during your visit!
At one time, the FMCA Campground was available on a first-come, first-serve basis. With the previously mentioned boom in demand, reservations are now required. To reserve a spot, book online at www.fmca.com/stay-FMCA or call (800) 543-3622. The fee for a full-hookup site is $30 per night; an electric-only site costs $20 per night. Members can stay up to two nights per month at half off the regular rate. The maximum allowable stay is seven consecutive nights per month. Exceptions can be made if written permission is received from FMCA’s CEO.
This benefit offers FMCA members a very affordable place to stay. To continue providing the campground at such a low cost and to maintain and improve the facility, FMCA is raising additional funding through a commemorative brick program. Members can order a personalized brick in two sizes. An 8-inch-by-4-inch brick costs $50. An 8-inch-by-8-inch brick can be purchased for $75. The brick will be engraved with FMCA’s oval membership logo, your name, and your family membership number. The bricks will be used at the gated entrance to the FMCA dog park or to create a walkway from the FMCA Campground to Lake Barber.
Bricks can be ordered either online at www.shopfmca.com or by calling (800) 543-3622. We thank you in advance for supporting this program to help maintain and improve the FMCA Campground!
Parking note. We invite members to visit both FMCA locations here in Cincinnati, but please be aware that the parking lot at the Clough Pike office is not RV friendly. So, you’ll want to drive your towed/towing vehicle if stopping by the Clough Pike location. And if you’re staying at the campground, be sure you are headed for 3590 Round Bottom Road and not the Clough Pike office. Also, when traveling in an RV, it’s best to use the directions posted on FMCA’s website at www.fmca.com/fmca-campground rather than following GPS instructions.
On To Tucson!
FMCA’s 108th International Convention and RV Expo will be held March 20 through 23, 2024, at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona. FMCA hosted a wonderful event at this location in 2022, and we are excited to be making a return visit. The theme for this gathering will be “Fiesta Del Sol,” and we’re planning a fun-filled spring celebration in the Southwest. Registration will open on September 20, 2023. You can find the registration form on pages 41 and 42 of this issue and online at FMCA.com once registration begins.
Make plans now to join us for “Fiesta Del Sol.” Meanwhile, enjoy the journey!
The mission of FMCA is to bring together RV owners who share similar interests in congenial traveling, recreation, and social activities in order to preserve and perpetuate the traditional ideals and spirit of friendly and wholesome family fellowship as manifested by the founders of FMCA.