Brazel's RV Performance Center, a full service, one stop facility for motor coaches and trucks, has announced its 20-site RV Park is now open adjacent to their service facility. The park is centrally located off Interstate 5 between Seattle and Portland (exit 88 or 83), situated between beaches and the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

Brazel's RV Park in Centralia, Washington

Brazel's RV Park offers a large number of services:

• 20 paved sites that include 12 pull-throughs
• 50/30 Amp service
• Water hook-ups
• Centrally located sewer dump
• WiFi Internet connection
• Dedicated staff to assist you
• 24/7 on-site security

RVers may conveniently make one phone call to Brazel's RV Performance Center to obtain an appointment for service and/or performance work, while reserving accommodations at the Brazel's RV Park. There is a discounted rate of $20 per night for customers staying at the RV Park when service is being performed, and a rate of $25 per night for the general public. A special discounted rate of $150 per week (tax included) has been set up for RVers who would like to stay for longer periods of time.

The Brazel's RV Park is in an convenient location, being in close proximity to many local attractions including the Centralia Factory Outlet Mall, Lucky Eagle Casino, and the Great Wolf Lodge and Water Park. Brazel's RV Park has already successfully hosted its first rally in the short time the park has been open. The NWTFC Rally Master and Wagonmaster said, "…You guys did an outstanding job. We appreciate all of the great food and service that you provided to those desiring such. You have a great facility as well as an exceptional park." Another rally couple said, "Thank you for a very awesome rally, your hospitality, your facility and your team of professionals…the greatest…Keep up the good work!"

Brazel's RV Park welcomes all groups for rallies, events, and shows.

RVers may contact the RV Park Manager, Kathy Bronzini, by calling 1-877-786-1576 (during business hours) or 360-388-5881 (after hours). Kathy's email is kathy@brazelsrv.com. Brazel's RV Performance Center is a Premier Workhorse Chassis Service Center for the Western U.S. and also handles all extended warranted agreements.

Brazel's RV Performance Center and the RV Park are located at 3912 Harrison Ave, Centralia, WA 98531. If you would like to learn more about Brazel's RV Performance Center, please refer to their web site at www.brazelsrv.com.

Despite the current state of the economy, 71 percent of RVers claim that the current financial crisis will not impact their RV travel plans this holiday season. An overwhelming 81 percent said they will travel the same, if not more than last year, with more than two out of three RVers reported planning to travel more than 250 miles this holiday season.

According to a recent holiday travel survey conducted by the Good Sam Club, the world’s largest RV owner’s organization with more than one million member families, most RV owners plan to use their motor home during the holidays, breaking the myth that RVs are only used for summer vacation travel. RVers point to the overall sense of freedom as the most valuable component of RV travel.

“RV travel will be up significantly, with 33 percent of our members planning to travel more and another 48 percent planning to travel the same amount as last year,” said Sue Bray, executive director of the Good Sam Club. “With gas prices continuing to go down, RVers appreciate the convenience and cost effectiveness of traveling in their RVs without having to deal with extra airline costs, lost luggage, or flight delays. Something fun we learned from this study is that RVers find it tougher to stick to their diets than to their travel budgets.”

The survey results also showed that RVers don’t forget their holiday spirit when celebrating the season in their motor homes, as more than a third plan to decorate their rigs this year. Among those that do, 43 percent decorate their rigs with lights, 38 percent decorate their entire RV campsite, 36 percent decorate their dashboard, while 34 percent put a Christmas tree in their rig.

Eighty four percent of respondents said the comfort of home was their biggest motivator for choosing RV travel over airline travel this year. RVers prefer the advantage of cooking their own meals, having their pets nearby, and putting their own personal touches on their motor homes.

The survey was sent to 10,000 Good Sam Club members, November 10-16, 2008. This is the first year that the Good Sam Club has polled its members on holiday travel and the factors behind their 2008 travel plans. For the complete survey, see below; and for more information on the Good Sam Club, log onto www.goodsamclub.com.

Good Sam Club 2008 Holiday Travel Survey Results:

Myrtle Beach, SC – Ocean Lakes Family Campground was one of 21 campgrounds and RV resorts across the United States to earn an all around “A” grade in the nation’s first consumer satisfaction survey of privately owned campgrounds and RV parks.

The 3,447 site park, located on 310 oceanfront acres in Myrtle Beach, SC received an “A” grade in overall guest satisfaction for the year 2008. “Customer service is so important – after all, we are in the hospitality industry. More than 80% of our guests are repeat visitors, so we need to know if there is a problem.” explains Barb Krumm, Director of Marketing and Public Relations. “We believe there is always room for improvement.”

Ocean Lakes produces a magazine for its guests annually with park information such as amenity details, hours of operation, park policies, event information, TV cable listings, area attractions and more. “We have incorporated a postage paid guest survey into our magazine for years to encourage guest feedback. The ratings and comments are compiled and displayed near all of our time clocks for our teammates to read. It has helped all 170+ teammates see what our guests really think about us and has helped our team identify and address any problems. The addition of the online survey provides a user friendly tool with qualitative results, over time I believe we will rely more on those results,” comments Krumm. Not only has the campground surveyed its guests for years, but it also surveys its employees every few years through an outside consultant regarding its quality as a place of employment.

Nearly 13,000 camping and RV enthusiasts participated in the 2008 online survey, which evaluated guest experiences at independent campgrounds and RV resorts affiliated with the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

“Camping and RV enthusiasts didn’t hold back when it came to telling us which parks they liked and which ones needed improvements,” said Bob MacKinnon, president and CEO of GuestRated.com, the Murrieta, California based company that conducted the online survey.

MacKinnon added that GuestRated.com provides guest satisfaction surveys for more than 4,000 parks affiliated with the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), or roughly half of the nation’s private parks.

“The results of these online surveys will go a long way toward helping consumers identify the nation’s finest campgrounds and RV resorts,” MacKinnon said, adding, “The surveys are also helping private park owners identify and prioritize their improvements, based on their guests’ perceptions.”

Consumers are invited to submit their own reviews of the private campgrounds and RV resorts they have recently visited by logging on to www.gocampingamerica.com and clicking on the “Review a Park” tab. Survey results for many parks are posted on the GoCampingAmerica website. Ocean Lakes Family Campground encourages guests to complete the online survey with a “Review this Park” icon and hyperlink on their home page, www.oceanlakes.com. Survey participants rate Overall Experience, Service Quality, Facilities Condition, Campsites, Rental Units, Restrooms and Amenities. Ocean Lakes has maintained an overall 4.7 out of 5 rating for 2008.

The GuestRated.com national online survey program was launched in February 2008 in collaboration with the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC).

Bridgeport, CA - The largest and best preserved ghost town of the Old West is talking, again, through the pages of its new, semi-annual newsletter: The Bodie Times. Stories in the inaugural edition (Winter 2008) include details on a new approach to locating lost burials by the use of forensic detection dogs, what’s next for Bodie’s cemetery, a Bodie decedent’s family story and the introduction of technology to Bodie.

"This town may be inhabited only by ghosts but those ghosts still have many stories to tell," says Kent Adams, Friends of Bodie President. "Whether it's a bone, a piece of iron or some markings on a stone--all of these things can now tell their stories through the pages of The Bodie Times." Adams says the newsletter will not only provide a forum for sharing information about the ghost town today, but create a record for future research.

The Bodie Foundation announces the availability of its beautiful 2009 calendar. The calendars will be sold to the general public at www.TheBodieStore.com to raise funds for projects in development by Bodie Foundation that support Bodie State Historic Park. Donated images of Bodie were submitted by photographers from around the world this past fall and selected by the Bodie Foundation board of directors. In addition to the 2009 calendar, the Bodie Foundation has added a new and expanded catalogue of available items in its online store www.TheBodieStore.com. Whether it be a great holiday gift, or a chance to build one’s collection of Bodie books, The Bodie Store is an excellent way to support the many projects of the Foundation.

The town of Bodie, California, remains in a state of 'arrested decay'. A thriving mining town from 1860-1900, its population peaked at nearly 10,000 in the fever of the California gold rush. 200 buildings still exist on the site which is recognized as a National Historic Site and a California State Historic Park. The Bodie Foundation, evolved from a dedicated group of 'modern-day Bodieites', was formally established late last summer with the launching of www.BodieFoundation.org. Consisting of an all-volunteer team, the Foundation is encouraged with the number of Charter Members who have joined, as well as the many notes of encouragement sent from around the country and around the world.

Download The Bodie Times (pdf version)