County explores RV park sites

A site near the old Washoe Campground is one of three proposed for small RV parks on Douglas County property.

Around 60 Ruhenstroth residents turned out on Tuesday to talk about the proposals at the Fairgrounds and down along the Carson River.

“This is the first step of 1,000,” Community Services Director Scott Morgan said.

A preliminary study on campground alternatives resulted in the location of three sites.

The Carson River site would feature 38 spots located next to the mobile home park.

The fairgrounds site would accommodate 23 spaces while the former motocross track site on the other side of the road would have 85 sites.

The fairgrounds site would be fully improved with power and water. Morgan said most of the people using that would be involved in events at the Fairgrounds.

The motocross site would have RV pads and tent camping sites with a restroom location.

Residents who spoke generally panned the old motocross site, saying that the were concerned it would draw the wrong element.

Morgan said that of the three, the Carson River campground would definitely be a draw on its own, as opposed to an ancillary amenity.

“The location is situated to serve RV users that are both passing through the area along U.S. 395 as well as more local users that want to camp and potentially fish along the Carson River,” according to the $10,000 study performed by Wood Rogers. “Some layout challenges for this site that will have to be accommodated during the design process include septic system location, well location and flood zone considerations.”

Consultants said the Fairgrounds site was more suited to those attending events like horse shows.

At least one resident asked what happened to the Washoe Campground. Built in 1975, that 56-space campground weathered the flood of 1986.

Advisory Board member Debra Lang said she worked for the campground in her 20s and that the campground was flooded.

There was a major flood in February 1993, where ice floes piled up against the causeway. Whatever happened to close the old campground, it was being referred to in the past tense by 1994.

Residents will have another opportunity to weigh in 6 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Douglas County Community & Senior Center.

The county currently operates an RV and camping site at Topaz Lake. Morgan said RVs currently park at the fairgrounds during events without any amenities.

When the fairgrounds or any county facility is required in an emergency, all the renters and events are canceled, as they were during last year’s Tamarack and Caldor fires.