Leaving Roycroft in Seminole FL

[gcal]

New manager is apparently doing her best to drive customers away. She seems to be a control freak and we are told she's also a religious nut. The rec hall is kept locked. Once a week there are coffee and donuts here. There is a pot luck dinner once a month. These are run by the park. Few people go. If the residents want to get together to do crafts or run a book club that are not under her control, like they used to, they are not allowed to use the facilities for which they are paying.

There is no pool, no cable, no wifi. The game room is supposed to be open from 2 to 4 to use the pool tables. I have never seen anyone in there and I have never seen it unlocked. Gods forbid you want to play cards in the small back room. I have never seen anyone use the shuffle board and have never seen the cabinet with the equipment open. If anyone complains, they get kicked out at the end of the month. If you leave a beer bottle on the picnic table, you get kicked out, because she doesn't like drinking. 

In a park with fewer than 100 sites, in town, in peak tourist season, there are 32 empty sites with few reservations. People are leaving. People who had come here for years aren't coming back. People who are leaving are offered cheap summer rates to stay. Some of the people with permanent setups who can't easily leave wish they could. We are checking around to see if we can leave early and get out of here. If you are looking for a place to stay in the St Pete area and don't mind having to deal with a priggish busybody, give Roycroft a call. They have openings and will probably negotiate.

 

[Canine]

The last time me and Vic were in St. Pete we hired a sailboat for a sunset cruise.Unfortunately the wind didn't co operate and we just motored around the bay for 3 hrs.Sounds like you need to find another campground.

 

[MrNoodly]

Find out who the owners are and complain to them.

 

[LeeRevell]

Sounds like the "Manager from Hell".  And she doesn't like business.  I'd give her the isolation she craves and go elsewhere.
A kinder resident might try sitting her down for what we Southerners call a serious "come to Jesus meeting".  Maybe she can be reasoned with.

 

[NomadMike]

A kinder resident might try sitting her down for what we Southerners call a serious "come to Jesus meeting".  

I so badly want to reply to this comment, but im afraid of being banned!

 

[LeeRevell]

Go ahead, take a chance. 
It just means trying to talk some sense into someone who seems lacking in it.  Not a 'religious' comment at all.

 

[gcal]

Sounds like the "Manager from Hell".  And she doesn't like business.  I'd give her the isolation she craves and go elsewhere.
A kinder resident might try sitting her down for what we Southerners call a serious "come to Jesus meeting".  Maybe she can be reasoned with.

My understanding is that those who have complained or tried to get things changed have been told to leave at the end of the month. I do not know those people, personally, but have been told this by multiple sources. As we are finding out, peak season is not a good time to try to find another park. One of the owners has recently died after a rough illness. Right now, the wife and daughter are dealing with that. Sooner or later, tho, they are going to start looking at the books and wondering why a park that had always been packed in season under the previous manager is now a quarter to a third empty and is bringing $15,000 a month less income.

 

[bigsallysmom]

What's the problem with going directly to the owner to let them know what's going on?

 

[gcal]

People who have done that have been kicked out of the park as troublemakers. While the family was dealing with the owners illness and death, the current manager had a free hand. She might continue to do so while the estate is being settled. After that, I think the wife and daughter's accountant is likely to try to get their attention and point out the problem. Meanwhile, the granny skirted tyrant reigns supreme.

 

[Cammalu]

A lengthy anonymous letter perhaps?

 

[gcal]

in 2 days, and I will be glad to do so. It is weird and unwelcoming here. This is the cheapest park in the area, is neat and well maintained, and has around a hundred sites ( including permanent setups) and over 30 of them were empty  in December, January and most of February.  There are still over a dozen empty right now. It used to be packed, even tho it has no park wifi or pool, and is noisy as hell with sirens, traffic noise, fork lifts for the store behind it rattling around at 6:30, and the garbage truck banging around with the mall dumpsters at 6:00 am. It used to be be full and now it is not.

Here is the story we got from the residents when we first came. The old owner died. The widow and daughter fired the old manager and hired a new one that used to be the old managers assistant. The assistant had been going behind the old managers back telling tales for some time. The new manager is a churchy sort and does not like alchohol. People who have left beer bottles on their picnic tables over night have been kicked out. She is also a control freak who discourages any resident activities that she does not control. Seasonal regulars are no longer coming back and several permanent residents would like to leave.  Again, this is the story we are getting from the residents, not personal experience. We were not here when this was going on.

Personal experience is this. The Rec Hall is now off limits to anyone unless it is a park sponsored activity. No one is allowed to use it for any other reason, not a private party or a book club or Xmas decorating committee. The Activity Room is kept locked, too, and is only open for a few hours a day during the high season. The shuffle board gear is kept in a locked cabinet.  I have never seen anyone use the court. This park has been a quarter to a third empty during a season when nothing else is available, anywhere.

We will not be coming back here.  In part, it is the incessant noise. In part it is because Thousand Trails gives us better options if we make timely reservations. In part, it is because we both really do not care for the current manager.

 

[TrainChaser]

Some people have to learn things the hard way. After a while, they'll start whining that they're not making enough money. After that, it's a toss-op as to whether they smarten up or not.