Housing woes....

Shooters,
You may remember me as the coach of the Ohio rifle and pistol association junior pistol team. Today I find myself in a huge pickle, it seems that camp perry lodging never got my housing request so here I am getting ready to register the team but have no place to stay. Normally we stay in the huts, I need seven of them this year. Can anyone help the kids and I out? Thanks

Hi Fred; Not sure if this will help but when I called minutes too late to reserve a Hut all 101 were taken first day they were available to shooters. The national guard I assume knocked-down all the old huts and only built 101 new huts! When calling around I found a trailer up near the power plant that had 2 bedrooms (I think) The woman that was managing the rental for the owner said she could add an Air Mattress and I also think she said there was a couch someone can sleep on. Wasn't rented a week ago but I'm not sure if available now. Price was $150/day one day free if rented for entire week. I was thinking about taking it but instead got a Condo just before the Draw Bridge in Port Clinton where the Army stays. As I wander commercial row I'm going to tell all the venders I don't have any money to spend because I used it all on a place to stay and coupled with the Mess Hall  I eat in town and don't have any money left to spend on the row!
 If interested I can try to find her number. Last year my son called last minute and got a New Hut! But I think this year because only 101 are available calling to get a canceled hut reservation will be a crap shoot especially when places outside of Perry are requesting sizable nonrefundable deposits.

I am from Toledo which is not far from Camp Perry, I can offer a few suggestions.

I know Port Clinton and on base is what everybody wants, but there are alternatives given you don't mind a little bit of a drive time.
Port Clinton is a sort of regional summertime vacation spot and is always busy, gets even worse during Nationals. This is the time of year where Port Clinton businesses really make their money. A few nearby places some of you may want to look.

Fremont is about 20/25 minute drive, a few hotels, places to eat, Walmart. Prices here will probably be a little lower as this isn't a popular vacation destination. 

Sandusky which is another popular summertime destination with Cedar Point and all. However because of that there are plenty of hotels and restaurants, prices vary greatly for basic place to sleep to a little more luxury but should be comparable to Port Clinton. Depending on where you are in Sandusky, 25/35 minute drive.

A little further out is Maumee Bay State Park. http://www.maumeebaystateparklodge.com/ Google maps puts this about 35/40 minutes away. They have a restaurant there, not really too much else around it though.

About the same distance from Camp Perry is a city called Oregon,OH. Hotels and restaurants galore. All of this is on Route 2, which is a straight shot east to Perry.

I am in Toledo 5 minutes away from downtown which has hotels and restaurants, which is near Oregon and it takes me 45 minutes to get to Perry.

I know some of the further out places may not be the most ideal and nobody wants to be driving a lot in the early AM before matches but hopefully this gives you guys some options just in case.

Fred,
Did the lodging people say there isn't any barracks space left?

Another option is the on-base camping facility. There is 0% chance that will be full. Your junior shooters might even think it's fun. You can get a good quality tent for about $50 at Walmart these days. Be sure to try out the model you pick before buying enough for the whole team. The models with a large rain fly are best at keeping rain out and stay cooler due to better ventilation.

I hope something works out.

Last year there were at least 5 available tent spots due to cancellations.

jmdavis wrote:Last year there were at least 5 available tent spots due to cancellations.

That is surprising because on their web site, they say they only have one tent camping site in the RV park.   I was thinking there were two.  


Once they tore down the condos, housing on Perry became almost impossible to get unless you applied as a team (and they didn't lose your application).  

Over half is taken up by volunteers and staff,   

The first year I went I volunteered, and noticed that eighteen of the 40 spaces were reserved for volunteers.  
That was 2008 before they tore down the condos, and a lot of the huts.  

It got much worse starting in 2011.   Haven't been on post since.

There are 8 tent spots on the South side of the Campground latrines. Last year they were sold out and my group booked elsewhere. When we arrived at Perry, 7 of the spots were available, due to cancellations.

But the should add more camping in the area where the southern huts were. It's alot cheaper than building huts or barracks.

jmdavis wrote:There are 8 tent spots on the South side of the Campground latrines. Last year they were sold out and my group booked elsewhere. When we arrived at Perry, 7 of the spots were available, due to cancellations.

The problem is, you can't count on those cancellations.  

If you are bringing 28 people, you have to know well ahead of time that you have a place, and are not going to end up paying a couple hundred bucks a night downtown.  


I suspect people sign up for camping to do it as a last resort, knowing that if it is a rainy week it is going to be very unpleasant.    Then when they get in elsewhere, they cancel.    It is the nature of the situation.

There is a 40 acre field next to the RV park where the tent campsites are supposed to go.  Last year there were 2 tents in the entire 40 acres.  You can't tell me that they are ever "full".

Rob Kovach wrote:There is a 40 acre field next to the RV park where the tent campsites are supposed to go.  Last year there were 2 tents in the entire 40 acres.  You can't tell me that they are ever "full".

I don't think it is a matter of space.   I think it is a matter of access to power, and the bathrooms.  


For that matter, there is no earthly reason for Camp Perry not to set aside an entire field for those with self contained RVs, to camp for a minimal fee, other than the fact that it might cut into their revenues.  


But the whole of Camp Perry has the vibe of government over regulation overseen by unaccountable bureaucrats.   

This is why I like the idea of a move to the Cardinal center.

Schaumannk wrote:For that matter, there is no earthly reason for Camp Perry not to set aside an entire field for those with self contained RVs, to camp for a minimal fee, other than the fact that it might cut into their revenues.  


But the whole of Camp Perry has the vibe of government over regulation overseen by unaccountable bureaucrats.   

You can say that again.

If you think that the Perry prices are high, check into the cardinal prices for cabins. 350 camp sites is great but the 40 cabins and less than 200 rooms within 10 miles isn't.

Barracks space appears available right now. You might want to call and check.

jmdavis wrote:If you think that the Perry prices are high, check into the cardinal prices for cabins. 350 camp sites is great but the 40 cabins and less than 200 rooms within 10 miles isn't.

If they move the National matches, I imagine the NRA will rent the whole facility, and then charge whatever they think the traffic will allow.  

Just like they do at the Camp Perry.  

Ten miles is no big deal.    You can be on the eastern side of Port Clinton, and be ten miles away from the range.

Gentlemen,
thank you all for the assistance and suggestions. I have secured housing off site for the year. I will say that since one of the camp perry lodging staff either retired or moved elsewhere our housing has had a glitch in it. We like to stay on site if possible,this year it isn't. Thank you all again
Fred