TACO's 2012 guide cover
The Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) has begun to distribute 250,000 copies of the 2012 RV Travel & Camping Guide to Texas, a free, four-color glossy magazine that lists more than 350 campgrounds and RV resorts in Texas and surrounding states.
The 2012 guide, whose cover features a painting of a modern Class A motorhome in front of the Alamo, includes detailed information on campgrounds, RV parks and resorts, as well as old western style maps and prominent advertisements from Kampgrounds of America (KOA) and Trader’s Village, the largest flea market in Texas, according to a news release.
“We really have an eye-catching guide this year,” said Brian Schaeffer, executive director and CEO of the Crowley-based TACO, adding that the cover painting by Chris Snoddy of Burleson and the Western-style maps make the directory both fun and informative.
An initial batch of directories is being sent to campgrounds, RV parks, travel information centers and visitors bureaus across the state. Additional directories will be distributed at upcoming RV shows, including the All Valley RV Show, which takes place Jan. 12-14 in Mercedes; the Houston RV Show, which will be held Feb. 8-12 in Houston; and the Sept. 13-16 Southwest RV Super Show in Dallas.
RV and camping enthusiasts can order the nearly 150-page directory online by visiting www.texascampgrounds.com. The 2012 Texas RV Travel & Camping Guide is also posted on the website in digital page-turning format.
The 2012 directory provides detailed descriptions of more than 350 private campgrounds and RV resorts, or roughly two thirds of the private parks in Texas. A small number of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas parks are also included in the directory.
The directory is broken up into seven sections, each representing a distinct region of Texas. An eighth section is dedicated to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Locator maps are provided at the beginning of each section, with numbered listings of the campgrounds for each region. Campgrounds are also alpha-indexed by city and park name.
Each campground listing includes a grid that lists the park’s facilities, services and amenities as well as driving directions, a miniature locator map and many parks have panoramic photos showing off what campers can experience.
The directory also features a Texas Saver Card, which provides 10% to 15% discounts at participating parks.
The 2012 directory also includes a separate section listing campgrounds with cabin and cottage rentals as well as a listing of park model manufacturers.
Recreational park trailers or “park models” are 400-square foot, movable resort cottages. Typically upscale in appearance, they often include hardwood floors, bay windows and lofts as well as cherry, oak or maple cabinetry. And because park models are technically classified as recreational vehicles, they can be set up on leased or purchased sites in campgrounds and RV parks and used as weekend retreats or seasonal vacation dwellings.
Schaeffer said almost 25% of Texas campgrounds have cabin or cottage rentals. Many of the parks that offer cabin and cottage rentals also have sites for lease or for sale to park model owners.
The 2012 guide also includes two-dozen pages of articles and pictures highlighting things to see and do in specific regions of Texas as well as information about various camping clubs, including the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), the Good Sam Club, the Woodall’s North American Campground Directory and the Trailer Life RV Parks, Campgrounds & Services Directory.
