‘GoG RV Resort’ celebrates new name, upgrades

       Renovated, rebranded and slightly expanded, the Garden of the Gods RV Resort will be open to the public for a barbecue and ceremonial ribbon-cutting Wednesday, April 24 from noon to 2 p.m.

A new sign, at the resort's entrance from Columbia Road off Colorado Avenue, displays the new name.
Westside Pioneer photo

       “It will be open to everyone to look through,” said resort general manager Ian Horgan. “We hope to have as many people as possible.”
       Started in 1968 as the Garden of the Gods Campground, the 13-acre facility at 3704 W. Colorado Ave. is now part of RVC Outdoor Destinations, a national company that specializes in outdoor resorts.
       RVC bought the property a year ago, and since then has spent more than $800,000 in improvements, according to an RVC press release this week.
       The work can be seen in the main lodge (which will have a new gift shop/store called Haven Outdoor that will include locally offered products), as well as in many of the accommodations.
       The press release sums up the work: “Garden of the Gods RV Resort has 173 RV sites, including 6 new Executive Pull-Thru sites, and 29 upgraded lodging units. In addition to renovating all of the buildings, various improvements and amenity additions include a new lobby, the Midland Trail gateway, a 'bark park,' fully remodeled Garden Studios & Suites, a new pool deck, new fencing, road and landscape upgrades, upgraded wifi, a new business center, and new picnic tables. Also, a new Base Camp area has been created that includes upgraded bunkhouses and family suites that surround a community campfire and grill.”
       Also in the works is a repaving of many of the internal roads, Horgan added.

In what's known as "Base Camp" (popular with large groups such as Boy Scouts and church groups), several cabins encircle a center area with a fire pit.
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       A key goal of the improvements, he said, is to appeal to “glampers” - a modern shortcut term for “glorious campers,” meaning people who seek a pleasurable experience on the road. “Health tourism” is another market that RVC is hoping to attract. Part of this strategy is to change the “stigma” that the site is just an RV park, he said.
       For example, glampers can find more than 30 indoor units at Garden of the Gods, with varying levels of home-style comforts. Such amenities can include flat screen TVs, heat and air, modern kitchens and bathrooms, outside decks and a nearby swimming pool. High-speed internet is also part of the glamping effort, because a number of people traveling in recreational vehicles are running their businesses in the process, Horgan explained.
       Not that the resort is giving up on RV travelers. The past year's site improvements actually added six RV pads. On 12 of those, tent camping is allowed as well.
       In addition, Horgan emphasized that RVC has made an earnest effort to retain many of the features that people have liked, not making “change for the sake of change.” For example, for 40 years, a local man has offered barbecues and Saturday pancake breakfasts on site, with prices that haven't changed for decades. And that tradition will continue, he said.
       RVC had bought the Garden of the Gods site out of bankruptcy proceedings. The company also runs six resort facilities (three in Florida and one each in Arkansas, Georgia and North Carolina).
       A link with information about the Garden of the Gods RV Resort was just put up on the RVC website this week. That link is rvcoutdoors.com.

New furniture has been added to a lounge area near the front desk as part of a makeover of the main building.
Westside Pioneer photo

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