“Our guests expect the same type of services, accommodations, and amenities that they would find in any upscale vacation resort,” says Ellen Powers, a Compton Ridge spokesperson. “Yet, we know that the great outdoors is part of the RVing experience and our park offers plenty of space and scenic views from sites and picnic and recreation areas. At Compton Ridge, we like to say we have luxury living in the woods.”
However, RVers today also want entertainment, either within the campground or in the surrounding area. Compton Ridge plans activities such as Easter egg hunts, themed parties, craft shows, and fishing tournaments. The resort hosts a week each spring and fall for fiddlers and woodcarvers. Workampers are key to the success of numerous services and events offered by Compton Ridge.
“During the fall, we have a Haunted Trail with a haunted house built by Workampers,” Duane says. “The park also hosts contests for the best costume, pumpkin carving, and the best decorated campsite. We enjoy working here and being a part of these events.”
Duane and Arlene Folks bring a lifetime of RVing experience to their jobs. Before retirement, they owned a trucking company and body shop for approximately 40 years. In addition to working in their company, Arlene also worked as office manager in several nursing homes and as a city clerk, honing skills that serve her well in registration at Compton Ridge. Duane is knowledgeable in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing, skills he uses daily for maintenance jobs.
The Folks have been Workamping for five years. “Our children are grown and we greatly enjoy our grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Arlene says. “But we realized it’s time for us to enjoy our own life. At an RV Show in South Texas one winter, we visited with vendors about various campgrounds. We decided to go to work for a KOA in Texas. Our duties were basically the same as the ones we have at Compton Ridge. Duane did outside maintenance and escorted guests to their sites. I worked at the registration desk, and we both helped with activities in the park.”
After that initial Workamping experience, Duane and Arlene noticed in Workamper News the ad from Compton Ridge. “We’ve been working here year-round,” Arlene continues. “The park is lovely and the managers are great employers. Meeting new people and making life-long friends is one of the best things about Workamping. In the Branson area, an additional bonus comes in discounts to the shows and attractions.”
Gary and Dee Meyer found their way to Compton Ridge from Workamping jobs in Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Missouri. After fulfilling a contract at a park in New Mexico, the Meyers discovered job openings at Compton Ridge. The Branson area had been home to them prior to full-time RVing.
“We’ve been working at Compton Ridge since July 2006,” Gary says. “The job gives us chances to spend time with family and friends. And there’s so much to do.
“We enjoy fishing and boating on the area lakes, Table Rock, Taneycomo, Bull Shoals, and Beaver, to mention a few. We like the Branson shows, the shops and restaurants, and of course, Silver Dollar City and Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Play. Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is a quick and beautiful drive away.”
Like many other RVers, Gary and Dee started camping early in their 43-year marriage. They began with a tent and all the accessories, and then moved to a pop up camper, which their family enjoyed for nine years. Currently, they live in their third fifth wheel.
The Meyers researched RVing options approximately a year prior to their retirement in May 2005—Gary as a probation and parole officer and Dee as a secretary at the local hospital. “Workamping seemed to be the ticket for us, offering a variety of ways to achieve our goal of travel,” Gary says. “We could pick an area that struck our fancy from Workamper News and contact an employer. Or we could submit a resume to Awesome Applicants. We could choose to work as a volunteer, or we could look for part-time or full-time jobs that offer a wage, plus a site and amenities. We chose to submit our resume and wait for opportunities to open up.
“The adventure began May of 2005 with a job offer at Portal RV Park in Moab, Utah, a result of our Awesome Applicant resume,” he continues. “We jumped at the chance and worked three six-hour days for six months.” At the Utah park, Dee greeted guests and took reservations in the office. She also sold store items from the campground store, assigned sites, and kept the shelves stocked. Gary’s responsibilities included general campground maintenance, mowing, watering the grass, cleaning bathrooms, fixing water lines when guests accidentally hit the hydrants, changing out bad electrical breakers and light bulbs, and cleaning fire pits. On one occasion another worker and Gary put together a floating dock for the swimming pond.
The Meyers used their free time to explore the area. “Moab is a Mecca for four wheeling,” Gary says. “We enjoyed trail riding in our four wheel drive truck. We took day trips to places like Monument Valley, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, the La Sal Mountains, Goblin Valley State Park, and Grand Junction, Colorado. The hiking and biking trails were awesome.
“We enjoyed the Farmers Market held at the park each weekend, and the many eating establishments and shops in Moab,” he goes on. “We took a Canyonland by Night excursion on the Colorado River. As we proceeded up river on one of their boats, our guide pointed out different formations in the canyon walls. We imagined an alligator, a witch, and many other characters. Reaching the turn around point at dark, we started back down river. A specially designed truck equipped with powerful lights and speakers followed us along the road next to the river. Lights choreographed to music illuminated the canyon walls. These are a few of many things we would not have experienced if we had not decided to combine Workamping with RVing.”
At Compton Ridge, Dee and Gary have duties similar to those at the park in Moab, Utah. Dee works in the office and Gary works on the grounds.
The Folks and the Meyers chose to spend the past winter at Compton Ridge, closing down and winterizing the park. Gary and Duane trimmed trees, disposed of fallen leaves, and tore down one old building and remodeled another.
Gary assisted in removing all the mattresses, TVs, and kitchenettes from the Compton Ridge Lodge. He helped construct an area in each room for a microwave, coffeepot, and a small refrigerator. Duane and Gary painted and improved bathrooms with new stalls and tile floors. “The wintertime list of improvements goes on,” Gary says.
Dee and Gary took time away from winter duties to represent Compton Ridge at an RV show in Springfield, Missouri, handing out pamphlets and telling people about the resort’s amenities. “We had a ball just talking to people about RVing,” Gary says.
“So far our Workamping lifestyle has been positive,” he goes on. “We continue to improve our Workamping skills with jobs in each new park, campground or resort. And most importantly, we’ve gained friendships with co-workers everywhere we’ve worked.
“We love this mobile lifestyle, to have the freedom to pick and choose where we want to go and what we want to do,” Gary sums up. “The Workamping lifestyle sure works for us!”