Paradise Lost - #120

In 2021, the year after COVID had stopped the world in its tracks, we finally were able to begin our RVing life dream. Our maiden year was a month long trip to Texas where we stayed at a wonderful campground for 5 mos and met wonderful people! Year two, we decided to cut down on the travel distance ( Texas was 2200 miles +) and try a southern coastal area. ( we love the ocean)  And so we found and fell in love with Bay St Louis and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We also discovered Bay Hide Away Campground - as near to perfect (for us ) as an RV park could be and a place we wanted to continue to spend our winters.  

This is year three in BSL. I couldn’t wait to get here this fall; we left earlier than normal to arrive the beginning of October. 

I knew there would be changes with different owners now in charge. We still loved the area and the campground location itself; if there were less activities, a few changes here and there, we could definitely live with that. But gradually- over the month we’ve been here, we’ve seen that the vision for the park is not what this campground was all about. It is apparent the new owners see the land in this park as an opportunity to “develop” every square inch of it into income producing sites at a frenzied pace. Community and campers seem to be way on the back burner. Besides cutting down trees and excavating in the woods and by the pond, I was informed the other day they would start digging up the area behind the pool to put in even more sites. This is a big green area where many people liked to walk their pets, Charlie would set up his archery equipment and we could just enjoy the green space.  This put me right over the edge!

The former trail entrance by Site 1

Excavating by the pond

Right by our site; cutting in a road

Green space behind the pool area

There has been so much work going on in different areas everyday, with heavy, noisy equipment. But the worst part is the lack of communication on what is going on, what we can expect. It’s like the guests don’t exist or matter. I think I could definitely adjust better if I knew what was planned or happening at a particular time instead waking up to the sound of chain saws or excavators. For example, over the course of two days, the “in and exit “ roads were repaved with asphalt. We were never notified in advance this would be happening nor on the days this was taking place were the roads “ detoured” while they paved. . It wasn’t until you drove almost all the way down did you find out you had to back up and go down the other road to either get out of the park or back to your site. A simple notification of text or a sign or placement of cone to block the road was all that would have been needed. 

I have been so upset I have been complaining and venting a lot to everyone who will listen and I realize I need to shut up. So these are my final thoughts. 

I have just been so sad and angry. But I am adjusting. 

Personally- and I’m not the only one who feels this way - we think the goal of the owners is to expand this park as fast as possible and flip it for a profit. 

The beauty of RVing is being able to move your home. So Charlie and I have made a list of three prospective campgrounds in the area we are going to tour. On one hand, I want to finish this winter out here - we are settled and comfortable in our site; but on the other, it is heartbreaking to see. So we have some decisions to make for our future winters. Life goes on.