Coosawattee Campground: Why it is important to CRR

When I started this blog I made a commitment to try and stay out of ‘hot button’ issues as there are other venues that dominate discussion on these topics.  However, I felt it important to touch base on (what I personally feel) to be an important, and integral part of Coosawattee River Resort.

Most residents are familiar with or have heard of the Campground area (even if they have never found it!).  The Campgrounds at Coosawattee are comprised of 750 privately owned, deeded RV lots with power hookups and shared septic systems.  As I stated before, my first foray into ownership within CRR was in the campground section.  My lot and camper provided my family and friends with an affordable get-away and a small (but very well appointed) home away from home.  I have to tell you, I have many great memories of our times in the campground.  Despite some things I’ve heard about certain areas of the campground, I can say that my street was quiet, clean and I rarely saw the owners of the other RV’s.  My little place was a great getaway and provided a peaceful and private retreat.  In fact, the family and friends loved the area so much we quickly outgrew the tight confines of the RV and I ended up finding a great buy on a foreclosure in the residential area.

I have to be honest, although my experience in the campgrounds was exceptional; I have done enough exploring in the area to know that there are areas that need some help.  The primary issues I see that haunt the campgrounds today are actually the ghosts of the past.  The last couple of years (and revision to the building covenants) have proved to be healthy for the campgrounds.  A lot of the current issues that residents, as well as myself, have with the area are the old, unkempt and often abandoned properties.  The other issue lies in often shoddy construction or RV repairs that would not meet any Architectural Review Committee or safety requirements.  Fortunately (unfortunately), most of these issues arose in years past when the monitoring of construction was not regulated.  New building requirements and closer attention paid by CRR management is slowly correcting these problems.

Aside from known flaws, the campgrounds are very unique properties that can provide families the opportunity to enjoy our beautiful community without full-out homeownership.  They also provide a sizeable amount of our income each year.  I am a big supporter of the campgrounds and would like to detail some of the reasons that the campgrounds are vital to CRR’s overall health.

PROS:

·      The campgrounds (by my best approximation) consume less than 5% of the overall land mass of CRR.  However, the dues generated by the campground properties represent 10% of our overall dues revenue.  There are 7500 lots in CRR – 750 of those are in the campgrounds.  Not too shabby.

·       By majority, the campgrounds are utilized by ‘occasional use’ owners.  These are typically weekend visitors in spring, summer and fall.  The dues generated by occasional use owners far outweigh the use and wear and tear on amenities and infrastructure.

·      These visitors may also become future homeowners.  I have heard numerous stories from people that had purchased a lot in the campgrounds and ultimately ended up falling in love with CRR and purchased a home.

·      The campgrounds provide additional exposure for the tent and RV rental campsites as well as the Ogden road RV Park.  These are the rental sites owned, maintained and operated by CRR.

CONS:

·      Aging properties.  There are many properties in the Campground section that are showing their age or simply have not been maintained.  The recent change to allow roof-over construction is slowly fixing this problem.  Roof-overs provide protection from the elements and in general keep the RV’s clean and looking good.

·       Lack of Pride in Ownership.  I think that the Great Recession may have had a hand in some of the abandonment issues, nonetheless I have witnessed general lack of caring.  When I had my camper I made special trips to CRR to do routine maintenance cleaning on the lot and RV.  All properties come with a great deal of maintenance.  It doesn’t matter if you have a $250,000.00 cabin or $15,000.00 RV – they all need maintained!

·       Clutter.  Let’s face it, campers don’t provide a ton of storage and when RV’s are used as small cabins you can acquire a lot of ‘stuff’.  It is important to plan ahead with additional storage if you are a ‘stuff’ gatherer like me!

Revitalization:

My sincere hope is that the CRR management and Board continue to make concerted efforts to focus attention on the campground’s needs and revitalize this asset.  Some things to consider that will make a large and positive impact on the properties as a whole:

·       In house legal counsel should seek avenues for obtaining rights to remove abandoned units and clutter from known eyesore properties.

·       Additional research efforts should be put into place to locate owners of trouble properties and advise them of the issues with their properties AND detailed steps that can be taken to correct issues (this is common practice in all HOA’s).

·       Put into place a Local Operating Procedure for verifying the installation and age of all RV’s entering CRR by owners of deeded lots.  Our covenants specifically state no units older than 15 years.  I realize that options for enforcement become limited once a unit is located on the property, but proactive policy and installation requirements would give CRR more legal authority if the proper steps were not taken.

My last suggestion is a controversial one, but an idea that would make a HUGE difference with some of the older neglected properties:

·       Create a temporary CRR Buyback Program.  Offer owners of neglected, or eyesore properties a predetermined, nominal cash payout and past dues forgiveness for their lot and camper.  Demolition and removal could then occur hassle free.  There are many recyclers that would come and take the old RV’s for free if the unit is given to them.

·       This program could be operated by our current real estate staff, would improve needed areas of the campground AND raise property values – in turn making CRR’s investment worth more when resold.

So, these are my ideas and thoughts on this unique asset.  I have seen the campground changing for the good over the last few years and I hope this trend continues.  It appears that most of the vacant campground lots owned by CRR have been sold this past year.  More investment and activity can only lead to better things along the Coosawattee River.  I’d love to know your thoughts.  I know this post is a borderline ‘hot button’ topic, so please keep all comments civil and constructive.

Till next time,

Chris

Favorite photos from my travels

One thing I really enjoy doing is to take a ride off the beaten path and explore new areas.  I also love to take pictures of unique locales and ‘things’ that inspire thought.  Winter is well underway and I find myself recounting the great times I had with family and friends this past season in the Ellijay area.  The only thing I missed this year was the vibrant autumn colors.  I guess the rainy summer had Mother Nature a bit confused!

 

I thought I would share some of my favorite photos from this past season.  Click on the image to view it full screen.  Feel free to send me some of your pictures with a description and I’ll post them here.

 

The pictures below  are a couple of my favorites.  I can’t really say why, other than there is something about it that really screams rural North Georgia - and I love it.  Not something most get to see in today’s world of bustling cities and mass transit.  The train trestle pictured below is just below Carters Dam on the Coosawattee River.  It took a bit of an awkward jaunt to get the second picture, but it’s another moment in time where rural North Georgia shines.  The best area to get scenic pictures of this trestle is from the Carters Dam viewing area below the dam.

Speaking of Carters Lake; it is truly a watersport enthusiasts dream come true.  Carters Lake is a fantastic recreation destination.  There are numerous parks around the perimeter of Carters Lake to simply stop and take a walk, dip your toes in the cool, clean water, pack a lunch for a picnic or have a family function at a covered pavilion.   It is also home to championship bass tournaments and some enormous Walleye – yes Walleye!  Most people don’t believe that Walleye live as far South as North Georgia, but they do.  In fact, Carters Lake is one of the most southern areas where anglers can find Walleye.

 

And who can visit the North Georgia region without a visit to Amicalola Falls.  There isn’t much more that can be said for the falls but ‘stunning’.  A true natural wonder.  The picture below was taken just after sunrise.  It was a very frigid morning in late October.  If you visit the falls make sure you also visit the ‘lodge’ at the top of the mountain for some spectacular views (and the lunch buffet isn’t too shabby either!).

 Autumn Falls at Sunrise

The Falls in the Summer

 



 

The Falls from Below

Here are some of my favorite photos from within Coosawattee River Resort.

 

Stone Bridge by Beaver Lake

 



 

Coosawattee River Downstream Under Fife Bridge

 





 Beaver Lake

Still going through the photo albums, so more to come!  Again, if you have any favorite photos you’d like to share feel free to send them to me and I’ll post them here.

Till next time,

Chris

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Thanks!

Chris

Nostalgia Along the Coosawattee River

There are numerous memories I cherish from my childhood growing up in the north.  My family lived in a very rural location and we had access to thousands of acres of wilderness, lakes, streams and miles of trails to ride ATV's and motorbikes.

 

The winter time always invokes special memories of walking along the edges of frozen streams and lakes watching the frigid water rush past the snowy banks.  Icicles hung from frozen vegetation, dangling precariously above the freezing waters.  I would often just sit in the snow along the water's edge and listen.  It was amazing how silent the forest became in the winter.  If you sat totally motionless you could almost hear the snowflakes land on the shoulders of your coat.  The heavy blanket of snow created an insulator to the sounds of the forest, but if you watched closely the forest came alive.

 

Wildlife was all around you.  Squirrels scurrying about the trees, deer cautiously nosing through the wind driven snow searching for a morsel, an occasional fox with last season's pups closely in tow and birds dashing about the trees and brush searching for berries and nest material.  It was all too easy to take the beauty of nature for granted unless you stopped and made yourself aware of everything around you.

 

This past week provided me a glimpse back into my childhood.  The dusting of snow we received made me long to relive the discovery of nature's wonders as you can only find through the innocence of a child.  I simply could not resist stopping at River Park on my way back to the house.  As I got out of the car the crisp winter air immediately began to sting my face.  This didn't bother me, though.  This was an all too familiar feeling.

 

I walked to the river's edge and looked into the pristine waters.  The reflection of the fingers of the bare trees reaching toward the grey winter skies served only as a reminder of the lush green canopy they provided in warmer months. The crisp air providing a familiar and fresh smell that one can only find when the mercury heads south for the winter. And to think, I spent many an afternoon only months ago floating this very stretch of water on an inner tube.  However, unless I found some ice, or lost my footing, I had no intention of getting in the water today!

 

I meandered upstream along the banks of the beautiful Coosawattee River.  I could hear the rustling of wildlife in the woods to my right and the babbling of the water to my left.  Aside from that - silence! 

There was no better feeling than standing alone along the banks of the river in an almost meditative state watching the river's endless flow work it's way downstream.  And, doing as I did as a child, I stood motionless and took in all of the scenery around me.  I quickly realized I was not alone!  Numerous birds flocked along the shores of the river presumably seeking out their dinner.  A doe several hundred yards upstream was at the river's edge for a drink of water and a lone squirrel made a mad dash into the underbrush with a lucky find in his mouth.  It is a surreal feeling to find yourself standing amongst the wildlife and being part of the natural wonders occurring around you.  Surreal and peaceful - what a feeling!

 

I just smiled and realized how lucky I was to be able to enjoy this moment in time.  If only for a few minutes, I felt the same feeling of joy and discovery as I felt as a child.  Nature is awesome!  You just have to stop occasionally and enjoy everything that surrounds you. 

 

That's life along the Coosawattee River!

 

Take nothing for granted and enjoy every moment as if it will never be duplicated.  You don't always get a second chance to relive the moments in your life that shaped you. 

 

I feel very fortunate that I did.....

Enduring the blistering cold!

I hope everyone survived the cold!  Wow, I registered 0 degrees on the front porch Tuesday morning at 9:00am.  I heard the 'official' temperature in Ellijay was -1.  I guess it depends on your elevation and exact locale - nonetheless, it was bitter!

I also hope that noone had any issues with their plumbing.  I had one spigot freeze before 10 O'clock Monday evening.  Fortunately it did not crack before I got it thawed out.  After that, I decided I would follow my instincts and let the water trickle outside.  I would have done it sooner if I wasn't so cheap!

I was concerned, however, about the pipes UNDER my house.  I have a crawlspace so it is not a heated area.  Although it is considered a 'crawlspace' it is tall enough to walk around upright.  As an experiment I hung a refrigerator thermometer  from one of the floor joists.  I made sure it hung below the level of any pipes.  I was curious to see what the temperature under the house was when it was 0 outside.  I was surprised and relieved when it read 30 degrees!  I had noticed it was considerably warmer when I went under the house, but didn't think it would be that big of a difference.  I am now relieved that if we have another cold snap, the pipes should be fine.

However, as a preventative measure I visited Ace Hardware and bought numerous sticks of pipe insulation foam.  These sticks are hollow with a slit in one side so you can easily snap them around your pipes.  Although we don't typically need that kind of protection in Georgia, I guess it doesn't hurt.

Would you like to tell your story of enduring the historic cold?  Please do so in the comment section below.

Thanks!

Chris

Winterizing the Recreational Vehicle

My years of living in the frosty north taught me many things, but none as important as this: when Jack Frost comes knocking at your door you better be prepared.

Years ago I own a deeded RV lot and camper in the campground section of Coosawattee River Resort.  I loved my little piece of heaven, but every December brought the same routine - winterization.  Now, we all love north Georgia for its relatively temperate climate, but as we are seeing this week the cold can hit hard and you have to be prepared.

Now, I love watching real estate trends and noticed this summer that a lot of campground lots in CRR were sold.  With more sales come more campers and more possibilities of frozen pipes this winter.  I thought I would take a few minutes to share some quick tips for winterizing your recreational vehicle if you choose to leave it on your lot this winter.  If you are an experienced RV'er you probably don't need to read any further.  However, if you are a camper virgin like I was, these tips may help make life a lot easier.  It is always best to refer to your owners manual if you have one and follow the recommended procedures of the manufacturer.  You will most likely find yourself in the same shoes I was with no directions!

First, if you own an RV with a fresh water holding tank and a 'dry camp' pump to operate the water system from the fresh tank you have two options.  If you don't have an internal pump you can get one that operates on a 12 volt battery and attach it to the inlet hose on your camper.  You will need to pump directly from the RV Antifreeze bottles.

Option one:  Drain the system and pump with antifreeze:

1. Turn the water off to the camper.
2. Now, you can simply drain any water from your fresh water tank through the drain nozzle under your RV, remove the plug on the hot water tank (accessed from outside) and let it drain completely and reinstall the plug.  Remember to let your hot water heater cool off completely before draining or you will certainly burn yourself.
3. Next, fill your freshwater tank with approximately 12 gallons of RV Antifreeze.  This seams like a lot, but remember you have to fill the hot water heater and that can take around 10 gallons alone.
4. Now, go inside the unit and open the hot knob on your sink faucet (don't worry about the cold knob or the other sinks, shower, toilet yet.)
5. Turn your water pump on and let it cycle.  As soon as you begin flowing pink from the hot side of the faucet shut it off and move to the hot side of the shower.  Once that is complete go back outside and access the outside shower head (if there is one) and repeat the process.  The hot side of your system is now winterized.  It's now time to do the same process with the cold side of each faucet and toilet (don't forget the washer wand).  Once completed you can feel confident that your plumbing won't crack.
6. Don't forget to unhook the hose from the water inlet outside and drain.  If the temps get into the 20's it will surely freeze.

Option two:  Not draining the water system and pump with antifreeze

 

1. Let me start by saying that this is not the optimal way to do it, but will work in the event that the plug in your RV's hot water tank will not come out.  This is a common issue with RV's and you never want to force the plug.  RV Antifreeze is a lot cheaper than a new hot water heater!
2. You will now have to repeat the steps above.  Keep in mind that you will probably not get the same shade of pink out of the hot side of the faucets as you do the cold.  The main reason for this is that you are mixing the RV Antifreeze with the existing water in the hot water heater tank.  However, once you get a solid flow of pink you should be OK.
3. Now, repeat the process for the cold side. 
4. Remember, you may have to buy a couple extra gallons of antifreeze depending on the size of your hot water tank and your internal water system.

The other option you have requires a small air compressor and a small air gun with a trigger.  You will need a compressor large enough with an air tank that will push about 30 PSI.  The PSI needs to be set on the regulator attached to the tank.

 

1. Turn the water off to the camper and let your air compressor pump up.
2. Open all of the faucets to 'On' in the unit.
3. Using electrical tape you can wrap the end of the air gun to make it seal tightly against the end of the water inlet hose.
4. Next, gently add air to the system and continue to add air until all of the faucets, toilet and toilet washer wand are blowing clean.  You will probably hear a 'gurgling' sound from the hot water tank.  That is because you will not get all of the water out of the tank with compressed air.  You will need to drain the tank.
5. Remove the drain plug and drain your hot water heater as described above making sure that water inside has cooled to room temperature.  If the plug in your hot water tank will not come out you will be best served  to use options 1 or 2 above.

Don't forget to add a shot of RV Antifreeze down each of your drains.  Your system should now be free of water and ready to endure the cold winter months. 

I know folks that use other methods to winterize their units, but these are the two I have found that work best for me.  If you have any other tips or tricks to make this yearly process easier please share them in the comment section below.

Welcome and Happy New Year!

Good morning!  Brr.  It is definitely January!  Happy New Year to everyone.  I would like to welcome you to my blog.  This blog will discuss life in the North Georgia mountains and the surrounding communities in the Ellijay and East Ellijay area.

 

I am a part time resident of the Coosawattee River Resort (CRR) and have never regretted my purchase.  I have owned property in CRR for the last five years.  While I am not a full time resident yet, I hope to be someday!

 

I was fortunate enough to get a great deal on a foreclosure in the Resort several years ago and have spent my spare time remodeling and rehabbing! I will be posting on my experiences, and believe me, since my first purchase of a foreclosure I have a lot of tips and useful knowledge I can share with others looking to make a similar purchase. I am not a builder and I am not in the construction business, but I have a lot of knowledge in the field and I hope to share some of that information.

 

I will be very truthful.  The reason I started this blog was to provide positive information and life experiences to those that currently live, or are looking to purchase a home in or around the Ellijay area. 

 

Many of you may have found my blog through the Topix or Yahoo message boards used by residents of CRR. You will also know that these sites are often used as sounding boards for complaints such as road issues that need addressed, amenities that have issues or wildlife concerns.  These issues often 'grow legs' and become overblown - as is a common issue in large property owner associations.  It is all too often that negativity is spread by a few negative people, but I have yet to find a blog that addresses the benefits of mountain communities as well as the myriad of activities and recreation that is available. 

 

I am not here to disguise, address or make counterpoint to the negativity on any other blogs or message boards.  I am here to share my experiences with fellow residents, part time home owners and perspective buyers.   My travels across this great nation have taken me to many locales, but none as beautiful and scenic as the Coosawattee River Resort.

 

Please feel free to let me know if there are any topics in particular you would like me to cover and I will do my best to include them.  While my intent is to not get into the 'hot button' topics of the other blogs and boards as they relate to being a resident of CRR, I will certainly share my points of view if you wish to hear them.  Please place your comments and questions below!

 

Again, I would like to welcome you to my blog.  Please check back soon for new posts!