119 replies to this topic

[587Ranch]

$150/night for each campsite?

Clear Skies,

Phil

Around Lampasas people are creating parking spots in fields and will be charging $200 just for the day to park one car.

 

I'm a landowner and IMO it's not gouging. A private landowner will not have their ranch trashed (ruts and/or camping trash) that takes months to clean up just to make $1-5k   Just not worth the hassle of advertising, replying to a zillion people's questions, taking payment, setting it all up and the stress for the next 9 months. Then if ground is wet or soft it will take a lot of money to fix fields and driveways. Heck just liability insurance for an event like this is $400-$3,000 

 

 I promise if prices for camping didn't sell for over $100 I know zero landowners that would even think about opening their ranch. There would be far far less places open. 

 

IMO high prices are good as it may get lots of landowners trying to jump on the bandwagon which may (just may) end up making it cheaper, although not cheap I'm sure, than it is right now.

[bignick243]

Let the gouging begin!!!! Junction TX

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[jrussell]

Let the gouging begin!!!! Junction TX

  Zoinks!

[587Ranch]

You guys ready?   On the same road as my ranch this place (that's legit) has 1,000 acres. Boondocking RV spots will be $40 per night.  Super nice people. They've been renting campsites for 50+ years.

 

 Tell her Tim at 587 Ranch sent you. She's going to be overloaded with e-mails soon. She will send a confirmation etc. And will not be doing any BS or raising prices. They 100% know it's the eclipse (you'll see it on their site) and they know they could charge 5-10x the money. They just want to be nice.

 

E-mail Gennifer at barefootfishingcamp@gmail.com

 

 We should be up and running taking reservations in 2 weeks. We will not even be remotely as cheap. Consider me a gouger I guess but I'm opening my private ranch and it's worth "x" to me to have lots of unknown people on my property. I'll help others find cheap spots while I can though.

Edited by 587Ranch, 06 July 2023 - 03:21 PM.

[jrussell]

I appreciate that a lot of landowners are opening their property and offering reasonable pricing for camping. I hope all of you have nothing but the best people come stay with you. Personally, I don't know that I'd do it if I had enough property. Just knowing how some people have no respect for others I'd be concerned with rabble rousers just seeing an opportunity to PAAARRRTTTYYY on land they don't own or have a vested interest in. I guess that's why I'm trying so hard to find someplace remote to enjoy the eclipse.Just the other day on the 4th I had enough of a reminder of why I don't enjoy crowds. Just turning into a cranky old man I suppose.

[kfiscus]

IF, I repeat IF, someone hosting eclipse watchers has a way of filtering those wanting to watch on their property, and they only advertise through places like CN, they will be pleasantly surprised by the courteousness.  I was responsible for some of the 2017 eclipse viewing in Pawnee City, Nebraska.  After the crowds left, the local volunteers resigned themselves to cleanup at the observing fields.  They reported back that the fields were CLEANER than before the crowds had arrived.  (I saved the newspaper clipping with this report in my 2017 scrapbook.)

[587Ranch]

http://www.587ranch.com/

 

My wife updated. Still a week out but you can see the layout of our ranch.

We are hoping to get 1 or 2 big stargazing groups for the private areas.

[kfiscus]

587Ranch, I checked out your linked info.  Well done!  I'll be in Mazatlan but I appreciate you guys' planning and willingness to host quite a few people.  The ranch looks beautiful and the only thing that could make it better is clear skies that Monday.  Good luck!

[587Ranch]

Thanks kfiscus.

 

Already have a very good Texas BBQ expert that will bring his trailer down and smoke brisket etc. for the 5 days. I assume we will have people from all over staying here so they need to try real BBQ

[davidgmd]

In 2017 we flew to Charlotte NC and drove a couple of hours to a small motel in Greenwood, SC. We made arrangements a couple of months out, prices were normal, half the people at the motel were there for other things.

  
This time I got started earlier. Got a reservation a few months ago at a Super 8 in Waxahachie April 7-9 for $130/night all in. After finding this thread today I thought it wise to get another spot reserved in case of weather or cancellation by the motel. Found a Super 8 about 120 miles away in Harker Heights TX, booked today at only $100/night all in.

 
Neither place is right on the centerline but both are close enough with over 4 minutes of totality. Not interested in paying an additional $700+ per night for an extra 10-15 seconds.

  
Just checked American flights to DFW. At $500-600 round trip for April 7-9, fares are about $50 higher than the following week. Not bad right now. Southwest schedule isn’t open yet.
 

[emh52]

of possible interest  today's wall street j

 

https://www.wsj.com/...-price-37df599b

 

there will be mass migration like 2017.... and high prices for late bookers..... 

[emh52]

In 2017 we flew to Charlotte NC and drove a couple of hours to a small motel in Greenwood, SC. We made arrangements a couple of months out, prices were normal, half the people at the motel were there for other things.

  
This time I got started earlier. Got a reservation a few months ago at a Super 8 in Waxahachie April 7-9 for $130/night all in. After finding this thread today I thought it wise to get another spot reserved in case of weather or cancellation by the motel. Found a Super 8 about 120 miles away in Harker Heights TX, booked today at only $100/night all in.

 
Neither place is right on the centerline but both are close enough with over 4 minutes of totality. Not interested in paying an additional $700+ per night for an extra 10-15 seconds.

  
Just checked American flights to DFW. At $500-600 round trip for April 7-9, fares are about $50 higher than the following week. Not bad right now. Southwest schedule isn’t open yet.
 

Booked my AA flight first day it opened going and then again first day it opened return when essentially no seats were booked- before the computers realized it was elevated fare circumstances... since they use dynamic pricing it is bound to drift up as the dates approach, looks by now the fare computers have awakened to a pricing opportunity. I'll go with S&T since they will hold the hotel's feet to the fire, in 2017 some of the hotels canceled individuals knowing they could get a higher price booking. The big eclipse tour companies will have their bookings honored.... safer approach this time ensuring, clouds permitting, I will see it.

[Ken Watts]

We just had to cancel our reservations at Bec's RV Park in Concan, Tx. There should be an RV site available this morning.

[Diana N]

 I'll go with S&T since they will hold the hotel's feet to the fire, in 2017 some of the hotels canceled individuals knowing they could get a higher price booking. The big eclipse tour companies will have their bookings honored.... safer approach this time ensuring, clouds permitting, I will see it.

That's a big reason I am going with S&T as well (plus not having to bother with a rental car, and activities so the tri[p isn't a total bust if clouds block the eclipse).  And flying out several days early and returning a bit late keeps the airfare gouging in check as well.

Edited by Diana N, 31 July 2023 - 06:49 PM.

[hdt]

I had booked an AirBnB in Eagle Pass TX for about $190--and indicated that I was there for the upcoming eclipse. The host confirmed the booking. I just got an e-mail last week; the host would like to charge an additional $444. I'm ignoring the request, since AirBnB states that if I ignore the request, I keep the original booking. The host can always force-cancel me and take the negative AirBnB review 

 

As a contingency, I've booked a room in a Marriott in Mexico. I'd have to sort out getting the "drive across the border" permit, the Mexican auto insurance, and international coverage on the cell phone, but there's still plenty of time...

[winstar]

You guys ready? On the same road as my ranch this place (that's legit) has 1,000 acres. Boondocking RV spots will be $40 per night. Super nice people. They've been renting campsites for 50+ years.

Tell her Tim at 587 Ranch sent you. She's going to be overloaded with e-mails soon. She will send a confirmation etc. And will not be doing any BS or raising prices. They 100% know it's the eclipse (you'll see it on their site) and they know they could charge 5-10x the money. They just want to be nice.

E-mail Gennifer at barefootfishingcamp@gmail.com

We should be up and running taking reservations in 2 weeks. We will not even be remotely as cheap. Consider me a gouger I guess but I'm opening my private ranch and it's worth "x" to me to have lots of unknown people on my property. I'll help others find cheap spots while I can though.

Thank you for this post. My roommate and I snagged a primitive tent site at Barefoot Fishing Camp from April 5-9 for $10 a night each. There is one left if anyone wants it. Can be booked from their website, easily findable. Probably not appealing to most but we needed an affordable option in the hill country.

[jrussell]

Since I'm a Choice hotels member, out of curiosity I thought I'd take a look at the Choice hotels in the Belton/Temple/Killeen Texas area to see if anything was still available. I put in the dates as April 7-9, 2024 and here's what I found. These are the rates for each night. I'd suggest booking now. Hold onto your hats... (ETA: Wyndham hotel chain has some reasonably priced rooms at a few locations in the same general area as well)

 

Edited by jrussell, 25 August 2023 - 02:51 PM.

[tsk1979]

Okay, it finally happened. My Airbnb "cancelled" citing "renovation"

 

The grind starts again

[Jim Haley]

Okay, it finally happened. My Airbnb "cancelled" citing "renovation"

 

The grind starts again

I would not spend a ton of money booking way ahead as you might need to move for clear skies. If I really wanted to book ahead then I would book an affordable place west of the totality line and then drive in day off.  Here is one that I like https://www.xbarranch.com OUTSIDE the 2024 totality path. . I think in Texas there will be some HUGE traffic jams (due to most of drive in folks coming from the cities EAST of the path) but if my experience in 2017 is any indication then there should be plenty of room for a mobile person as well. Especially if you stay west of the path!
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If I was traveling and planning to dodge clouds in Texas in 2024 I would stay WEST of the eclipse path and travel east to view the eclipse (or NE/S to avoid clouds). That way I could stay away from all the folks wanting to return to to the cities. Similarly for other states I would stay outside the eclipse path on the side opposite of major cities. Plus I would wait at least several hours before leaving eclipse (if not the next day). And I would have extra water and snacks and a mostly full gas tank. A portable bathroom is a huge plus (like in an RV or just a small porta pottie from Amazon) but do stay mobile!  Texas Towns West of Eclipse Line roughly North to South include Pottsboro, Denison, Sherman, Gainesville, Valley View, Sanger, Chico, Bridgeport, Denton (Just N of Dallas), Decatur, Springtown, Axle, Mineral Wells, Mills, Santo, Gordon, Thurber (On I20), Strawn, Eastland, Gorman, DeLeon, Early, Santa Anna, Brookesmith, Lohn, Ballinger, Paint Rock, Eden, Melvin, Adams, Juno, Carner, Windmill, Comstock, Langtry. I really like Menard, Eldorado, Sonora, Eden, San Angelo and surrounding towns because they are generally west of Lake Buchanan and other large bodies of water. Viewing the eclipse over large water bodies can sometimes reduce afternoon clouds (at least that is how it worked for me in 2017).
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. I would not let predictions of traffic nightmares scare me into staying put and not traveling to clear areas inside the eclipse path and/or later traveling home.

[jrussell]

Just be aware that if you are planning to be west of the eclipse path in Texas (west of a line roughly from San Antonio to Fort Worth) some of the towns mentioned above are extremely small farming or ranching towns that may not have businesses there such as gas stations or restaurants, i.e. Brookesmith, Lohn.

[tsk1979]

I would not spend a ton of money booking way ahead as you might need to move for clear skies. If I really wanted to book ahead then I would book an affordable place west of the totality line and then drive in day off.  Here is one that I like https://www.xbarranch.com OUTSIDE the 2024 totality path. . I think in Texas there will be some HUGE traffic jams (due to most of drive in folks coming from the cities EAST of the path) but if my experience in 2017 is any indication then there should be plenty of room for a mobile person as well. Especially if you stay west of the path!
--------------------------------------
If I was traveling and planning to dodge clouds in Texas in 2024 I would stay WEST of the eclipse path and travel east to view the eclipse (or NE/S to avoid clouds). That way I could stay away from all the folks wanting to return to to the cities. Similarly for other states I would stay outside the eclipse path on the side opposite of major cities. Plus I would wait at least several hours before leaving eclipse (if not the next day). And I would have extra water and snacks and a mostly full gas tank. A portable bathroom is a huge plus (like in an RV or just a small porta pottie from Amazon) but do stay mobile!  Texas Towns West of Eclipse Line roughly North to South include Pottsboro, Denison, Sherman, Gainesville, Valley View, Sanger, Chico, Bridgeport, Denton (Just N of Dallas), Decatur, Springtown, Axle, Mineral Wells, Mills, Santo, Gordon, Thurber (On I20), Strawn, Eastland, Gorman, DeLeon, Early, Santa Anna, Brookesmith, Lohn, Ballinger, Paint Rock, Eden, Melvin, Adams, Juno, Carner, Windmill, Comstock, Langtry. I really like Menard, Eldorado, Sonora, Eden, San Angelo and surrounding towns because they are generally west of Lake Buchanan and other large bodies of water. Viewing the eclipse over large water bodies can sometimes reduce afternoon clouds (at least that is how it worked for me in 2017).
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. I would not let predictions of traffic nightmares scare me into staying put and not traveling to clear areas inside the eclipse path and/or later traveling home.

I fortunately found a small ranch in path of totality who are not charging a ton of money. They advertised on their listing "We are in path of totality and will provide free eclipse goggles". It was not showing up earlier, but looks like some cancellation.

They have free cancellation till April 6th. 

 

so hopefully we will know the weather by then.

[Katharine]

Still no cancelation for me, but I'm sure it will happen.  Hopefully they won't wait until I'm standing at the check-in desk...  Other than that I'm ready to go.  Hotel, flight, rental car, welding goggles with #14 glass (and spare glass in case of mishap...), crossed fingers.

[Jim Haley]

Still no cancelation for me, but I'm sure it will happen.  Hopefully they won't wait until I'm standing at the check-in desk...  Other than that I'm ready to go.  Hotel, flight, rental car, welding goggles with #14 glass (and spare glass in case of mishap...), crossed fingers.

Just curious,  Why welding glass instead of paper eclipse glasses / filters?  I would think paper glasses would be much more comfortable...

[Katharine]

Just curious,  Why welding glass instead of paper eclipse glasses / filters?  I would think paper glasses would be much more comfortable...

Not over regular glasses, they're not, plus they're flimsy (would be hard to stuff into a rucksack without damage) and not really reusable.  I don't have to worry about the welding goggles bending, getting holes in the filter, falling off, not providing full coverage, etc.

[kfiscus]

My wife is a full-time glasses wearer.  She much prefers a large piece of welding glass mounted in a cutout magazine to cover her whole face.  I like eclipse glasses.