America is replete with privately owned RV parks. Some of these parks have been in operation for decades. The best deliver not only a pleasant camping environment, but also a sense of history. It’s more than a good night’s rest. It’s a cultural experience.
It’s always a good sign when your campground hosts also own the property. That’s the case at West 40 RV Park in Shamrock, Texas. Norbert and Jaye Nell Schlegel are excellent campground hosts. There’s a tangible element of Southern hospitality here. The campground is located along Route 66 in “the crossroads of America” — where Route 66 and Highway 83 interect.
With our Good Sam discount, the price of this campground was around $25. But if you’ll forgive the cliché, the experience was priceless. If some parts of this town seem familiar, it’s because you’ve seen them recreated by Disney in the movie Cars. There’s a famous tire shop in town that was used as a model for Hollywood’s animated tribute to Route 66.
But what we really enjoyed at this campground was getting to spend time with the Schlegels. RV camping is really about people; the Schlegels are people we will always remember. Having operated their campground for more than four decades, they’ve seen a lot of change. They’ve celebrated good times and endured bad times. Their RV park has hosted celebrities like Ernest Borgnine and Dick Butkis, not to mention travelers from Australia, Asia, and Europe.
For the most part, everything remains in its original state as it was back in 1967. “If you take care of the park, the RVers will take care of it too,” the Schlegels said. They only accept cash and personal checks. In over 40 years, they’ve only received one bad check.
The Schlegels have a chalkboard that serves as a unique guest book. Guests leaves their messages written on the board in colorful chalk. The Schegels take photos of the messages, and hang them on the wall for posterity.
We’ve documented the phenomenon of Wal-Mart camping in this space. And yes, we’ve been known to spend the occasional night parked atop a sea of retail asphalt. Sometimes it’s a matter of convenience, and sometimes it’s a matter of saving a buck. But here’s a glimpse at what you’re missing when you park at Wally World.
Hey Sean nice new toy! I dig the new mic.
As Antsy McClain said “Living in Aluminum!” I look forward till the next entry.
Matt
hey Matt! Great to know you are still out there. Who’d a thunk we would still be blogging?
Yes, I am digging the wireless mic setup. Truth be told, I’ve had that stuff for a couple of years, but am just now getting around to using it. Doh! The handheld mic works especially well in windy environments. For some reason, it seems we’re ALWAYS dealing with a windy environment.
Anyway, stay tuned for more. We are headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico in the morning, so we’ll probably shoot some stuff there (err, with our cameras).
Cheers,
Sean
OOOH OOOH can we go to Roswell I want to touch the eyes please……. please. Maybe we can go to the Million dollar museum……. are we there yet I have to pee. Can I get one of the funny green plastic heads with the big green eyes.
Matt
LOL – Matt, we are settled into our campsite in Santa Fe. Although I LOVE the idea of taking an Airstream to Roswell (since it already looks like a UFO!) I dunno if we will make it on this trip. We will probably hang around Santa Fe for a while, then head north into Colorado. Right now, I am just enjoying the scenery (not to mention the local brew). 😎
Hi Sean & Kristi!
Really enjoyed all your videos and always look forward to the next one. Any chance that you might attend Burning Man this year? I’ve never been there myself but it would be interesting to view your take on the event. Here’s link to their website. Your heading in that direction.
http://www.burningman.com/
aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh beeeer!!!
Steve, I’m not sure if we’ll make it to Burning Man, though it sounds like a blast. There’s definitely a big Airstream crowd there. I’ve heard it’s a wild scene! If we go, I will try to convince Kristy to dye her hair green, or something like that. 😆 But our planned route from here is Colorado; Kristy has never been before, and I haven’t been in many years.
Matt, I like pale ales, and the Santa Fe Pale Ale is pretty good. It’s not better than Sierra Nevada or Sweetwater, but it’s good.
Sean, Kristy,
Stop what your doing! Last night I went to bed and had a nightmare about you and the blog and the wheel problems you have been having. It was worse that I thought. Carnage of massive size and scale. So I went down to the local tea leaf, tarot card reader, exorcist/home decorator and stylus to the stars and I got the low down on my dream.
In between trying to wrangle the kids and stop sneezing from the burning tea leaves and the patchouli incense I knew I was in the right place, and had the right person. After I bought $1000.00 in clothes for the kids so that they were in the latest fashion she worked on me!
I never knew, you could not wear orange shirts and tan shorts with Teva’s. Whew, I am so glad I dodged that bullet, Thank god!
What she had to say made so much sense. So I got the $199.99 enlightenment special I believe her 100%. She said that you and Kristy need a new Airstream, a 34 Classic Limited S/O right away. She said to call her so that she can get your funk schwey in line with your chili? It was getting a little blurry by then the needles in my forehead were starting burn. All’s I know I am styling with my powder blue Hagar slacks and 1 inch horizontal striped shirt with a serial number on the back in 3/4 white boot and orange belt I am so glad I went, now I have all the tools I need to stay safe.
The one thing I don’t understand why more people don’t dress like this more often. I feel like a million bucks and, I get a police escort wherever I go! Wow how to feel so important thank you so much Miss Kiddy Kat and thank you for the $10,000.00 in home furnishings my wife will love the bean bag sofas and the nest of fondue pots. Ya just need to tell me where to put the life size gold and red volure statue of “boota the wonder man”………god I hope I have enough black paint for the wall and ceiling.
Safe travels and look forward to your next blog update
Matt
LOL Matt, you had me going for just a minute there. I guess I am having nightmares about our tire also! In my bad dreams I see a blowout…and much gnashing of teeth. Really, we’re going to have to get the thing examined AGAIN. We’ve got to get to the bottom of these problems.
As for the clothing issues, Kristy has forbade me to ever wear black socks with shorts! Although I do think that once you are able to do so in public, you know you TRULY don’t care what anyone else thinks. In fact, that may have been one of the great Buddha’s steps of enlightenment (Step #248 — Wear black socks with shorts. In public.)
Also, with regard to that new Airstream, Kristy fell in love with a 30-footer! It would give us an extra four-feet. As you know, in an RV every square-inch counts. I love the 34-footers but am a little intimidated by the prospect of towing ’em. Although it WOULD fit with our “long, long” theme quite nicely!
Thanks, if I get a chance I will put together a quick blog video this weekend with some Taos footage.
Sean
Sean, I follow you’re blog faithfully. Really do enjoy it. I know this isn’t the proper forum for this question but I don’t have any other way to ask it. Would you mind telling me what software you use to edit your clips?
Hi Boomer! Thanks for your note.
As for video editing software, I use and recommend Sony Vegas Pro. I use version 7, but version 8 is available.
I have also used Adobe Premiere Pro, but prefer the interface of Vegas.
If you are an Apple guy, iMovie or Final Cut will do the trick!
i am a great admirer of Texas Campgrounds, as they offer a lot of facilities and one example is that of Norbert and Jaye Nell Schlegel’s. I am much impressed by their work as they are serving the people since 1905.
I like this site!