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Hearthside Grove Age LImit
My wife and I have been wondering about the age limit policy at the Hearthside Grove resort.
Their policy is to accept only coaches that are 10 years old or newer. We stayed there and liked it back in 2014 when our coach was exactly 10 years old. It appears that now, 3 years later, we are ineligible to stay there.
This gives rise to a couple of observations/questions:
1. It’s easy to lie about my coach’s age. Few people can tell the difference between a 2004 and a 2007 Prevost. Nobody believes tha our coach is 13 years old and it looks every bit as good as a newer model. So why the arbitrary limit?
2. If one purchased a lot at Hearthside and then their coach subsequently crosses the 10 year age limit, what happens? Do you lose your right to park on your own lot?
While I’m sure I can afford the cost of a lot, I don’t think I can afford a new(er) coach every few years. In fact, I refuse to trade in a perfectly good coach to satisfy someone else’s need to feel exclusive.
Our 2004 Marathon On location in Polson, MT
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12 Replies
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We have discussed the 10-year rule before, and it still does not make sense. If campgrounds want to keep out ratty, old RVs, they ought to say so instead. Last time we were asked for a picture was at Treetops in Ft. Worth, I did send a picture of our 20-year old Country Coach Affinity, and was OK’d. When we got to the campground, there were mostly cheap trailers there, including several with obvious long-term residents that hardly lent a lot of class to the place! Perhaps it is time for us Prevost owners to boycott the campgrounds with a 10-year rule!
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I know a Gentleman that recently spent 2 weeks at Hearthstone in a 1999 Marathon XL 45. In fact He was parked directly across From Frank Sr and Frank Jr of LibertyCoach. He said they were very nice. And had a new Coach for sale on one of the lots for 2.8 Mil. And another slightly used one on their other lot. He said there was only one more XL in the park at the time. And He had scuds of people stop by and comment on how beautiful the XL coach was.
I asked Him about the ten year rule. And He said they have a pride of ownership provision. You have to send them a picture to show them that Your coach is not all beat up. This subject has been discussed several times here. Maybe someone will post a link to the threads.Bsafe,
Rocky -
This part of northern Michigan was my stomping grounds for 10 years and love the area. However, I’m boycotting Hearthside. I attempted to make reservations with them a number of times and the conversation always ended with me letting them know I will never stay at their resort. Marathon is having an open house there also and I also let them know of my opinion of their ten year rule. No one has ever responded.
Jon…jump in again or refer these folks to your previous posts on this matter.
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No matter what the reason it is discrimination. It is especially bad if the rules are bent to allow a lot owner to have an older coach while forbidding others to spend time in the RV resort if their coach is the same age. Hearthside has done that and probably still does that. Hearthside is not the only RV park like that either.
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We’ve had this conversation many times, here’s one from the past: Hearthside Age Limit
You will experience the same discrimination at Naples Motor Coach Resort. We have cancelled rallies at both Hearthside and Naples because of the 10 year discrimination rule as POG has done as well. I’m calling it discrimination, because the rule is overlooked for some and not for others.
Floyd – Go to Petoskey RV Resort, the old Signature, great place, I was just there last month for 4 days.
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Yep…the Petoskey RV resort is just fine, only issue is having to drive through town if coming from the north. That can be a real PITA sometimes when traffic is heavy.
We have stayed there more than at Hearthside, and it is quite nice.
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I’m new to all this but have read many post here and on other forums about it. I get the 10 ten year rule and what they hope to get out of it. But it also seems to me that sending a pictures is a reasonable request by a park to be used for approval. Why would that not be enough because these parks have written into their laws that they can reject beaters.
Mine is a 91, a few years over the ten year rule, but by any standard of measure, not an eyesore! Does a 1991 have a better chance of breaking down in their park than a 2015, maybe so? But it’s kind of a reach to base things on a wooda-coulda-shoulda from the breakdown standpoint.
My question is, why isn’t a picture good enough? If I sent a picture of my bus where its all polished up and looking great. And then pull in with a beat up old thing with the bumpers missing. I’d expect to be turned away if for no other reason than I’m a big fat lier! The picture just makes so much more sense to me than a very arbitrary 10 year rule.
As I began my post with “I’m new to all this” It’s a little hard for me to understand it because I’ve not lived it yet. Especially when you have a Prevost or a Newell that’s 11 years old and still maintains a value greater than 90% of the brand new 2018’s pulling into the park? It simply doesn’t make sense!
Harry
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Get some camping time under your belt Harry with your bus, you will likely have a different view of any Campground that requires a picture of your Prevost.
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Hi Tom,I obviously agree about getting some experience. I’m not really trying to give an opinion with my previous post, I’m trying to understand? If it’s not a 10 year limit or pictures, what is it? Or are you saying there should be no restrictions at all?
Harry
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Harry, Just tell um it’s 9 years old and go in. Done! Yours probably looks better that 75% of the other newer ones sitting there.
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As most likely know the RV resorts which have age restrictions really piss me off. Over the last 27 years we have been in a lot of different RV parks and they have ranged from those RV parks that spent serious money designing and building a spectacular, well done facilty, to some absolute dumps that had mostly small trailers that had been there so long it looked like they had roots in the ground and were falling apart.
We did not care what the other RVs looked like because it had no impact on us. All we cared about was if the RV park was a safe place for us, and if it was quiet when we wanted to sleep. Apparently the parks with restrictions somehow want snob appeal and if someone’s coach does not meet their standard they must think it somehow diminishes their value. Actually I am glad they place restrictions in the respect it identifies those places as places and people I really do not want to be around.
Whether we will admit it or not, we Prevost owners already have a bad reputation as rich snobs who think they are better than others. I am sure we have our share of folks that are impressed with themselves, but with respect to other RVs we have seen similar attitudes from people that own what are considered high end units ranging from coaches like Bluebirds, Newells, Monaco Signatures and Airstreams. Fortunately the snobs are few and far between and fortunately most people we meet are not social climbers.
When we are asked the age of our coach or to send a photo to an RV resort the conversation is over. I would rather park behind a Cracker Barrel than support and perpetuate discrimination.
It is also my feeling we don’t need the advertising dollars from RV parks with age restrictions.. I hope Tom agrees.
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We’ll said, Jon!
I know the topic has been well covered and I understand the nicer explanation of maintaining a standard for the patrons, but our experience is contrary. We have met great people and had fantastic vacations in places that allow tents etc. State parks with our Wanderlodge, a weekend getaway that I reserved without realizing they even offered a separate area for motorhomes so we wound up in tent city and most often the RV parks that allow us in with our truck when we have time on the road.
The element that that can ruin a vacation isn’t limited by age, money or pictures.
Kim
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