Ventura Beach RV Resort Flooded...Again

Above, the Ventura Beach RV Resort during better times in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, it's happened before (most recently two years ago) and now it has happened again.

The Ventura Beach RV Resort, my favorite RV park in Southern California, got flooded by the nearby Ventura River.

According to KTLA:

An RV park in Ventura was flooded Thursday morning after the Ventura River rose 10 feet in three hours as heavy rain drenched the area, according to the National Weather Service. 

The Ventura River remained just above flood stage at 10 a.m., sending water into nearby Ventura Beach RV Park near the 101 Freeway, the weather service tweeted. Photos showed several vehicles trapped in floodwaters, which inundated the area. 

By then, water levels peaked and were beginning to drop. The weather service canceled its flood warning  in the early afternoon after the river's water levels at Foster Park went below flood stage.

Above, The Beast at Ventura Beach RV Resort in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The flooding the RV park sustained two years ago was much worse. Because of its close proximity to the Ventura River, it is bound to happen again.

To read more, go here. 

Message From Ventura Beach RV Resort

CELEBRATE SUMMER WITH US AT  VENTURA BEACH RV RESORT! Dear Valued Guests,  Ventura Beach RV Resort has finally re-opened after many months of working around the clock to get the resort back up and running. If you didn't know, we experienced a massive flood back in February of this year, that swept RV's out into the ocean. It destroyed our store, some landscaping, damaged the pool, recreation room, office and much more. Nevertheless, our team has been working around the clock to welcome you back! We thank you in advance for your patience as we work through sorting each reservation out and taking care of refunds and reservation transfers.  For those seeking new reservations for the summer, we highly suggest you book now as we are filling up fast.  Should you have any questions please feel free to reach us at: (805) 643-9137 We look forward to seeing you again here at Ventura Beach RV Resort! FREE Pancake Breakfast is Back! Enjoy our famous FREE pancake breakfast every  Sunday morning with  your resort pass! Beach Cruiser Rentals  Don't have a bike? No worries! We have a fleet of beach cruisers and other fun bike rentals for you to enjoy! Live Entertainment Kick back and relax to  LIVE MUSIC every  Saturday night this summer! New Pool! Take a refreshing splash  in our NEWLY LINED pool.   The kids will love at!

Ventura Beach RV Resort, 800 West Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001

Ventura Beach RV Resort Back In Business

Above, Ventura Beach RV Resort last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last weekend (Fourth of July weekend), Ventura Beach RV Resort re-opened after several months of repair and clean-up work due to a river flood from heavy rains back in February.

According to their Facebook page:

Welcome guests to our grand opening weekend! We hope you are settling in at #VenturaBeachRVResort. For those seeking to join us this weekend, we still have some tent sites available, so call the #resort at 805-643-9137 to secure your tent site and take part in all the weekend activities!

I, for one, am glad they're back open again. I'll be making some reservations for some stays before I head up to Idaho next month for the eclipse.

Above, The Beast at Ventura Beach RV Resort last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For access their website, go here. 

One Year Ago...

Above, The Beast at Ventura Beach RV Resort last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe how fast this past year went by.

It was one year ago today that I went to Ventura Beach RV Resort for some badly-needed R & R after days of turmoil. Instead of re-capping what went on, just go here.

I liked the park so much that I declared it my getaway "Camp David" whenever I just wanted to get away from it all. I've been back several more times.

Above, the playground and propane tank. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I've been "itching" to head back there, but, unfortunately, the nearby Ventura River overflowed its banks during a storm in February and the owners have been working to get the RV park back in shape in time for its re-opening on July 4th weekend.

They wrote on their website:

We are currently accepting reservations starting on June 30th (4th Of July weekend). Due to the flooding of the Ventura River on February 17, 2017, we will be closed until said date above (June 30th, 2017).  

Look for an announcement soon with additional details. 

We will be sending a notice out to those with currently booked reservation who will be impacted by this closure.  

Thank you for your patience and support as we work to re-open as quickly as possible.

As soon as they have re-opened, I'll be heading over there.

Here's my review of Ventura Beach RV Resort from last year.

RV Campgrounds, Parks and Resorts

Above, Ventura Beach RV Resort in Ventura, California. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Have you ever wondered what's the difference between a RV campground, RV park and RV resort?

Generally, there's a difference between the three, but there are some where the difference is much more subtle.

Fortunately, Do It Yourself RV has an article that explains the differences between them.

They start with:

Planning your RV vacation is easier if you understand the subtle differences between an RV campground, an RV park and an RV resort. 

Although the differences may vary from place to place and even from one RVer to another, if you have a general idea of what’s in store for you at each destination you can keep your expectations in check and ultimately have a much better time during your stay. 

TIP: Keep in mind that some campground, RV park and RV resort operators don’t understand the general differences between facilities. For example, some mistakenly believe they operate a resort when in reality it’s closer to a bare bones campground!

To read more, go here. 

Ventura Beach RV Resort Closed Due To Flooding

Above, The Beast at Ventura Beach RV Resort last June. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Oh, Drat! 

Until I received today an email from Ventura Beach RV Resort, I didn't know that they've been closed down since a flood hit the park during the big rainstorm of February 17.

I checked their website and this is what they posted:

We will be accepting Reservations for the 4th of July weekend. Due to the flooding of the Ventura River on February 17, 2017, we will be closed for approximately two months for clean-up, repair, and remodeling.  

Look for an announcement soon with additional details. 

We will be sending a notice out to those with currently booked reservation who will be impacted by this closure.  

Thank you for your patience and support as we work to re-open as quickly as possible.

I was thinking about making some weekend reservations and their email was rather, uh, timely.

They may have a "soft opening" before July 4 according to their email.

To go to their website, go here.

Home Again

Above, this weekend's campsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After spending a couple of nights at the Ventura Beach RV Resort, I am back home. I arrived about a hour ago.

The fire in Calabasas (that started yesterday afternoon) seems to be out. I saw no smoke rising as I drove through Calabasas. I was concerned if it were anywhere near the freeway. It wasn't.

Above, preparing Friday night's dinner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The high 90s temperatures in the San Fernando Valley seems to have tapered off. The weather in Ventura was cloudy and foggy. The temperatures were in the mid-70s.

The campsite was nice and level. Again, I didn't have to use my leveling blocks.

Above, Friday night's dinner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I went to bed around midnight last night. After I did, I heard a ruckus outside. Some man was angry about something and was yelling his head off. The park's security team responded and told him he had to leave the premises. He resisted. Finally, he left and all was quiet again. That is, until my former roomie, Jes called. She was in the hospital for some procedures and abdominal pain in Norwalk. She was in the mood to chat.

I had a nice, relaxing weekend. I'll probably go back in about a couple of weeks.

Now to just kick back and unwind from the drive.

Back At Ventura Beach RV Resort!

Above, The Beast today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yes, I'm baaaack!

I decided to spend the weekend at the Ventura Beach RV Resort in The Beast. Only this time, the circumstances surrounding this visit is a much happier one (not that I didn't enjoy the facilities the last time). The last visit was immediately following the aftermath of the Hawaii trip. I'll be here through Sunday. I am two spaces from where I camped here the last time.

When I discovered this RV park, I immediately decided that this will be my getaway/battery recharge place to go to. Besides, it is supposed to be in the upper 90s this weekend in the San Fernando Valley and I am not terribly fond of heat.

Last night, Denise (along with her son Aiden) and I went out to dinner at Outback Steakhouse. We decided to put the past troubles behind us (remember Lot's wife, don't look back) and get back to just having fun together again. The dinner turned out to be an enjoyable one for the both of us. She's already indicated that she wants to do it again.

No, we aren't "back together" again in the strictest sense, but we are, at least, working to dispose of the drama that dominated the past few weeks. That's all one could ask for. There was no real villain in what happened, just a lot of misunderstandings and bad reactions by both sides.

It's in the mid-70s here and a little overcast. But I'm not complaining. It's better than being in an oven.

Anyway, now for a cooler (temperature-wise) and relaxing weekend.

The Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant Are Gone

Above, the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restarant in 2009. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It had been about May 2009 when I last drove through Oxnard. At that time, I stopped at the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant the famous kitschy landmark off the 101 freeway. It was closed and in a state of disrepair. I blogged about it back then.

Above, the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant during much better days.

Efforts were made to save the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant and the nearby Wagon Wheel Bowling Alley, but those efforts failed.

Above, another view of the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The bowling alley was demolished last year and the motel and restaurant were demolished in 2011, two years after I stopped by.

Above, the familiar sign to Ventura County residents. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

On Thursday, I noticed that the Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant were gone (I didn't follow the story over the legal battles to save it) while en route to the Ventura Beach RV Resort.

Above, the Wagon Wheel Motel rooms. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

However, thank goodness I still have the photos of the former Oxnard landmark.

Ventura Beach RV Resort Posted At RV Park Reviews

Above, The Beast at the Ventura Beach RV Resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

My review of the Ventura Beach RV Resort has been posted at the RV park Reviews website.

I decided to try it out for some major unwinding and recuperation. I'm still at the resort.

To access it, go here.

Ventura Beach RV Resort Review

Above, the Ventura Beach RV Resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like I found my RV park/campground for those little weekend "mental health getaways" that may crop up now and then.

The Ventura Beach RV Resort is one nice little RV park that is only an hour's drive from Los Angeles. It is sandwiched between the 101 freeway and Ventura's Main Street.

Above, check-in parking and store/registration office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This place has everything that one could want in an RV park:

• Arcade
• Recreation Room (pool tables and card tables)
• Bike Rentals
• Pool and Jacuzzi  
• Playground, horseshoes and Tetherball
• Free Rides To Downtown Historic Ventura (they do ask for tips)
• Pet Friendly (except pit bulls or any canine that resembles a pit bull)
• Nicely Manicured Campsites (grass) with level pads, table and fire pit
• Fully Stocked Store (more like a regular convenience store)
• Laundry Room
• Free Wi-Fi

Above, the recreation room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The summer standard rate per night is $70.00 (there's also a 10% hotel tax). I've been to other RV "resorts" who charged more, but they looked like asphalt parking lots with a table and hook-ups.

Above, the pool and jacuzzi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's plenty of trees around the park and it is a 10-minute walk to the beach. They have a nice staff and security on premises.

Above, the transport vehicle to downtown historic Ventura. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I just got here today for a few days of R & R and I am enjoying it. It is just what the doctor ordered!

Above, the playground area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Maybe I shouldn't write about it so the hordes would stay away, but I am enthusiastic about this find. I originally was going to go to the KOA Kampground in Santa Paula, but they were booked up. It was my good fortune that they were booked up, otherwise I wouldn't have found this place.

Their website: https://www.venturabeachrvpark.com/

My grade: A+.

"Gittin' Outta Dodge"

Above, The Beast at the Ventura Beach RV Resort. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The best thing about owning an RV is that one has their own stuff in it and it is kept stocked, so that a spur-of-the-moment "get outta Dodge" trip is possible.

That's what I decided to do today. I am currently at the Ventura Beach RV Resort in Ventura, California getting some needed R & R after the turmoil of the past few days.

Above, a little break after setting up camp. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While it is overcast here, that poses no problems for me as I just plan to lounge around and read. I brought along a book on the Pearl Harbor attack, Day of Infamy by Walter Lord (A Night To Remember) and a copy of a special National Geographic magazine on Yellowstone National Park that I found at the local supermarket this morning. Those should keep me well-occupied.

The nice thing about being in Ventura, it is only about an hour away from home. Amber will be taking care of Sierra while I'm gone. I thought about bringing Sierra with me, but she was sick a week ago and Amber felt it best she stays home.

Above, a little more of the park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The site I was assigned is so nice and level, the bubble leveler was smack-dab in the center, I didn't have to put any leveling blocks under the wheels. As you can see, this is a very nice RV park. The RVs here are predominantly Class As.

I will likely write a review of the park later, but, so far, I am enjoying it and will do so for a few days.