Distant Drums RV Park

11/3/09

We only stayed at the Verde River Resort for 2 days. We went there because we could stay there at a good rate for 2 days and it was on our route. We spent the days just chillin and cleaning and doing regular stuff. The internet was good the first day so I got some blogging done, but the 2nd day our connection was lousy, so didn't get much internet time. On the 3rd of November, we drove 4.6 miles, now the shortest to date to Distant Drum RV Resort in Camp Verde, AZ. We met Steve and Lauri, at the Dead Horse State Park in Cottonwood, who are managing the Distant Drum Park. They had been full timing for a year when they stopped at the Distant Drum and decided to become work campers for a while. Work campers are people who work about 22 hours a week between the couple for free lot rent. After they work camped for awhile the resort approached the couple to see if Steve would like to manage the resort. Now Steve manages the resort and Lori went back to working as a nurse in Cottonwood 15 miles away. The resort lets Steve and Lauri stay rent free and all expenses paid in the apartment over the office. Steve also gets benefits and a salary. On their weekends off they take their RV to places to visit and to get away. That is how we met them at the Dead Horse State Park, in Cottonwood. They told us about Distant Drum and that this resort had just joined Passport America, a club we belong to, that gives us half price for a few days. We could not give up a deal so we drove the 4.6 miles to check out the park.

Distant Drum is just off Hwy. 17. The park is owned by the Yapavai and Apache Tribes. Our corner lot 134. This park is a very nice and clean. But you are very close to your niegbhors. Our view out our dining window. The water tower has a sign that says RV resort. Photo of our lighted streets and the full moon. The office ahead as you drive into the park. You can also see the water tower in the distance. The office again. Steve and Lauri's apartment is on the top floor above the office. Nice paved internal roads. Great for Mallery on our walks or when we do our power walks and she is in her stroller. The pool, though it is not heated. The temperatures has averaged in the low 80's, but the nights have been 40 to 50, so the pool is too cold to swim in. A control burn out in the distance. Steve told us that they do a lot of control burns around here. The laundry room has new Maytag's and the washer and dryer are $1.25 each. That is pretty cheap. Most places charge up to $1.75 each. Joe and I agree this place would be nice to camp host at. We have good internet service, cable, full hook ups and it is close to Sedona, Prescott, Flagstaff, and Phoenix. If you are a camp host here you gets lot rent free, all laundry and propane free. We told Steve and Lauri we might be calling them someday, if this economy doesn't turn around and we can't find better interest rates on our savings!