User's In-Depth Review of Maxwell/Gunter AFB FamCamp, Montgomery, AL
The following review was written and submitted in early March 2023 by website user Dede.
We have stayed at Maxwell AFB FamCamp more than ½ dozen times. We have family in the area, and Montgomery is a convenient stop. Hours 8-5 M-F. The manager is always out of his office. The primary excuses are always the same. He is in a meeting and will be in later this afternoon. He seldom makes an appearance. It is self-serve if you arrive on the weekend or after 5:00 pm. The buildings are deteriorating; steps have rotted away on the clubhouse, and shower, laundry building. Yellow tape is the primary color of choice. Homesteaders have taken over the primary section of camp. Our TDY students have priority, but it has gotten out of hand. Trash everywhere; most are taking advantage of the BHA Basic Housing Allowance. Why get a house? You get water and electricity-free; why not pocket that $600 to $800 and live in a run-down RV trailer? There is a fine line between an RV park and a trailer park. There is no cable or WIFI.
Read more: User's In-Depth Review of Maxwell/Gunter AFB FamCamp, Montgomery, AL
INCORRECT Information on Elgibility
A popular website and a RV discussion forum on the Internet recently reported that "ANYONE with a DD-214" can use U.S. Military Campgrounds and RV Parks. THIS IS WRONG INFORMATION!
The Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans Equal Access Act of 2018 became law in August 2018 and took effect on January 1st, 2020. This bill does now allow the following veterans use of commissary and exchange stores, and MWR facilities (includes campgrounds):
-
Veterans Awarded the Purple Heart
-
Veterans Who Are Medal of Honor Recipients (already authorized)
-
Veterans Who Are Former Prisoners of War
-
Veterans With Service-Connected Disabilities (0-100%)
-
Caregivers of Veterans
-
NOT "Anyone with a DD-214"!
For more details on this new eligibility, please look at these articles:
Lunga Park in Virginia FINALLY Reopens!
After being closed for several years, since WWII unexploded ordinance was found, Lunga Park Recreation Area has been closed. Finally, they are partially re-opening in June 2023. Currently, the RV Park will remain closed. Tent sites, cabin rentals, the marina, and boat rentals will be available.
Lunga Park Information
Navy Starts Using Recreation.gov
The Naval District Washington has stopped using the "Navy Getaways" website (www.dodlodging.net) for reservations of their campgrounds and RV Parks. Instead, the Navy has contracted with Recreation.gov to handle their reservations. This affects making reservations at Navy Recreation Center Solomons, the Pax River Paradise Grove Campgrounds and the Pax River Hog Point Campgrounds.
While the name "Recreation.gov" sounds like a government operated website, it's not. The private company of Booz Allen was contracted by the US Forest Service to operate the Recreation.gov portal for the federal government. Several government agencies use Recreation.gov for handling recreation reservations.
Recreation.gov being operated by a private business brings additional "processing fees" to the cost of reservations at these three campgrounds. Recreation.gov charges a $8 reservation fee if you make a reservation via their website. The reservation fee is $9 if you call in for the reservation. The reservation fee is only charged once per your reservation, whether you stay 1-night or 7-nights.
Remove Ads - New Subscription Plans
Advertisements on the website are a necessary evil. I don't like them either. However, this website is privately operated and relies on the support of users to continue to operate and improve. I don't get any support from the various U.S. Military branches, or the Department of Defense. Advertisements are a major source of support for the website. When a website user visits an advertiser, a little revenue is generated for website operations.
I recently started offering "Website Support Subscriptions". These are optional subscription plans to help support the operations of the website. As a "Thank You" to subscribers, all 3rd party advertisements are removed from the website during the users subscription period. Website Subscriptions are available in monthly, semi-annual, and annual plans.
Since starting the website over 17 years ago, one of my goals has been to keep the website free for everyone to use. The website remains free, but with advertisements. With a website subscription, the advertisements are removed.
Thank you for your support!
2023 Army Post Redesignations
The U.S. Army is changing the names of eight of their installations in 2023.
The following U.S. Army installations are changing names. I've also included what U.S. Military Campgrounds and RV Parks are affected.
You can also download a graphic chart showing the Army base renaming here.
Users In-Depth Review of Tyndall AFB FamCamp (Raptor Ranch)
The following review was written and submitted in early March 2023 by website user Dede.
The overall presentation of Tyndall AFB FamCamp *** 3-5 stars. Primary buildings, office, maintenance garage, Clubhouse, and cabins were well maintained and clean. In addition, stone covers all roads and overflow parking areas.
The FamCamp has basic amenities, one hundred plus sites, with water, electricity, and sewage hookups. Each site has a concrete slab and picnic table. Several of the tables need repair and a fresh coat of paint. Other locations need shingles replaced on the canopy or the canopies removed. The park has a couple of benches and swing sets sitting at the water's edge. Again, these amenities need a fresh coat of paint and basic repairs. The estimate for paint tables, benches, and swing replacement is under $3,000.
Read more: Users In-Depth Review of Tyndall AFB FamCamp (Raptor Ranch)
- Information on Tappen Springs, AZ Added to the Site!
- Reservations at Military Campgrounds and RV Parks
- Access for Veterans With Service-Connected Disability
- Allison Point Campground, Valdez, Alaska ADDED!
- Weems and Victory Ponds Camping ADDED
- Luke AFB Saguaro Skies FamCamp Added to the Site!
- NEW RV Park in Missouri!
- Yakima Training Center Travel Camp Added to the Site!
Page 1 of 5