Week 177-178 - Elks Photo Collection - 01-10-2010

The Elks

Last week we highlighted New York City and this week the Elks.

No, not those elks, these Elks!

BPOE, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Who are they? In 1867, Charles Vivian, a musician, came from England to New York City. Sundays were a "dry day" in NYC. Charles, wanting to play music (and drink) on Sundays assembled a group of fellow musicians in the attic of his boarding house. Enjoying their fellowship, this group of entertainers and actors grew and called themselves The Jolly Corks. As the group expanded, many of the members wanted to become a more benevolent and protective society. This did not sit well with Charles and others, so the groups split and the BPOE was formed, commonly known as the Elks. Today, the Elks, with 1.2 million US members, have distributed over 3 billion dollars in cash, goods and services to the nation's youth, veterans, disadvantaged, handicapped and in the support of patriotic and civic programs. They rank as one of the largest private providers of college scholarships. [These notes courtesy of the Thousand Oaks Elks Lodge #2477].

So what does the Elks have to do with RV travel? For us, RVs were our introduction to the Elks. Atascadero has only one RV park. We noticed it many times as we traveled along El Camino, just north of the Atascadero Elks lodge. One day in spring of 2006, we stopped in at the Elks to inquire about the RV park. To our surprise, the park was private, for Elk's members only.

We were only a few weeks away from heading out on our maiden voyage and asked if it would be selfish to join the Elks, just to be able to use the RV parks? "No, of course not" was the reply. Everything the Elks do has the goal of raising money for their benevolence programs. If we joined, we would pay annual dues and every day we stayed at an Elks RV park, they would make money. It is a win, win. The Elks get more funds for their programs, and we added hundreds of low cost locations to our RV parks repertoire.

We should have joined the Elks decades ago as we have also been involved with youth at school, as coaches and at church. You should join if you enjoy helping the youth and disadvantaged. More importantly, if you ever travel full time, join the Elks! You will spend hundreds of dollars at Elks RV parks and will save hundreds or perhaps thousands.

Why is that? The Elks national organization has encouraged the local lodges to provide RV parking for local members or members visiting from other lodges. Some have complete park services like our lodge in Atascadero who provides 50 amps, water, sewer, cable TV (discontinued) and WiFi (EWSCI). Wow! And this for only $25.00 (05-2014). Some lodges do not have any room to park your motorhome. But, most will make room, even if they have no hookups. We have stayed on 60 different lodges across the nation (120 lodges as of 06-2022). The nightly fees vary from "make a donation" to $35.00. Many of the Elks parking sites are not a place you would come to spend time, but a convenient and economical home base from which to visit the area. However, surprisingly some are "destination" parks. In this collection we highlight 40 of the lodges that so graciously made room for us. Most of this will be of little interest unless you are an RV traveler, but there are some interesting stories here. Prices shown are followed by the date we visited.

The lodge is atop a rolling hill with this view. Hookups included electric and water and sewer (EWS) for $20 (02-2007)

We came into the Westminster Elks at night. Lauren met us and helped us park. We thought Lauren and Jeanette were the park hosts, but they were just outgoing, friendly and helpful folks. We saw them again at the Elks in Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Colorado and at their private lot in Yuma, Arizona. You meet great people at the Elks. Electric, water and sewer (EWS) and good friends for only $21 (05-2022).

20 pull throughs in 2007 (more being planned), $15 for electric and water with a free dump a few blocks away. (09-2007)

EWS for only $10. A great location from which to visit White Sands National Monument. ((03-2007)

12 sites with EWD, electric, water and dump on location for $10 (01-2010).

This view is out our front window. 20 amps of power for a donation. When you visit a lodge to park, you need to go into the lodge and register and make a donation. Most have a recommended donation amount, some like this one let you decide. Depending on what time we reach a lodge, we will go in for dinner, bingo, a dance, billiards or bowling. Yes, a few lodges we visited had bowling alleys. When you take the time to visit members, you get the scoop on what local activities, restaurants and sites. (04-2007)

Limited RV parking for $15 with 20 amps electric and water. Nice fitness center with saunas and showers. Nice folks.(04-2016)

Room for dozens of motorhomes to dry camp. Huge lodge with 10 lanes of bowling. Camping is $10.(05-2007)

Pawley's Island Elks, South Carolina: We did not take any photos, in fact, we weren't even going to stay. We called the lodge and asked if they had RV parking. By the way, there are printed books available that detail which Elks have RV parking with hookups. We don't use them! We just call the lodge when we get close. Generally, the bartender is your contact. We inquire about RV parking and so many times, when the books will not list parking, they will tell us to come on over. We always get their name and leave ours. When we arrive they know who we are and they are ready for us. Now, back to Pawley's Island. We called and "Linda" told us we could park there. When we arrived, no one was there and there was no room for the Mothership. They had about five parking spaces and a strip of grass separating the parking from a four lane highway. So we fired up the diesel and started to pull away. Just then, Linda arrives and asks if we were the ones who called. Yes, we were, but we see there is no room for parking. Linda told us to park on the grass! As we backed in, we walked to the back to see how close we could park to the hedges. That's when we found an electric cord dangling from the bushes. We had a lovely grass site, power and they did not want a donation. Their hospitality was wonderful and we stayed five days. All at a lodge that is not listed as having RV parking.(05-2007)

24 sites with EW, dump on location and cable TV for $15. (03-2008)

Maybe it is just us, but, when we traveled in the East,coming from California in a Big Rig, we were greeted as Rock Stars. "There gonna put me in the movies . . .", oh, never mind. Dover was no exception. It seemed as everyone in the lodge wanted to meet and talk with us. We had a wonderful night learning about Delaware and Dover. Dry camping only. (06-2007)

Large beautiful lodge, no RV sites but very nice little niche in their parking lot for $5. New York City lodge was #1, this was #6.(04-2008)

Several sites with 30 amps and water for $15. And we got a great meal for $10. (01-2009)

Four sites, $18 for EW and a dump on location. (10-2012)

Huge RV Parking. 42 sites with 30 amps and water and dump on location. Nice restaurant with many menu choices.(01-2009)

No sites, but they tucked us in the back lot. Donation accepted. Lodge has smoking and non-smoking sections. We met a man from Montana with six children and had an enjoyable time exchanging stories. (08-2009)

Interestingly the lodge has few members and is rarely open (06-2008), but the RV park is in use. 15 sites with EW and dump.(06-2008)

Only one site with beauty like this and we were amazingly lucky enough to get it. 11 sites with 30 amps and dump for $16 (06-2008).

A few sites on the back lot had 50 amps, water and dump. Tuesday Night Tacos at $1 each were excellent. $25 per night.(10-2017)

We had a wonderful chat with the locals in the lodge. Ten sites with EWS for $15.(07-2008)

We should mention that when the Elks provide hookups, most of the sites are very narrow. In fact, many times you cannot open your awning all the way without hitting the coach next door. Most of the photos above are misleading as to the site size. The sites in Tempe are very wide, as far as Elks parks go. There are 26 sites with EWS for $17 to $20 per night. (03-2009)

Thirteen sites with electric, water, cable and dump on location. Apparently, the site comes with a Babe! We also arrived in time for an excellent Friday night BBQ! $20 (09-2020)

This RV Park is in a park, a few miles from the Lincoln City, Oregon. It has room for RVs big and small. $18 for electric and water. (09-2009)

Eight sites on solid surface includes water, electric and cable TV but no dump. Within easy walking distance of Newport stores and sites. $15 (09-2020)

Florence, Oregon Elks has RV parking at their lodge and a regular RV park shown below. This park has 40 sites with 50 amps, water and a dump for $18. Parking at their lodge is not scenic and has no dump, but does include a full gym and showers. $25 (09-2020)

The Eugene Elks has only five sites and they are small. They were created for pickup campers or small class C motorhomes. However, they are happy to squeeze anyone in. Before we parked we had to discuss who was leaving first and park accordingly. We were leaving first, so we took the outside site and so on. Sites have 30 amps and water for $10 (09-2009).

Four sites behind the lodge, 2 dry and 2 with power and water. Hookup sites are $10 and the spaghetti dinner was terrific. The ER came over to meet us during our dinner. Every Elks has an ER or Exalted Ruler. The other top officers are the Loyal Knight, Leading Knight and Lecturing Knight. (04-2009)

The West Sacramento Elks has only a single site and with a bit of work and a lot of cable you can get 20 amps of power. Water is available. They just asked for whatever donation you wish to make. We joined them for Bingo and it was a lot of fun. This Elks is within easy walking distance of Old Town Sacramento, which has dozens of shops and restaurants (04-2009) Sadly, this lodge is now closed.

When we flew to Hawaii, the Vancouver Elks allowed us to keep the Mothership in one of their RV sites with power. The sites have 30 amps which keeps our refrigerator running and batteries charged. This two story Elks has an 8-lane bowling alley in the basement. (10-2009)

Redding Elks has a very large property and a huge membership. The lodge has a big pool surrounded by grass, large meeting and dining room, several billiard tables and other amenities. The RV park has 20 sites with 50 amps, water, sewer, cable TV and WiFi for just $30.00. They celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2006. (07-2021)

Louisville, Kentucky is lodge #8. It is small lodge with a big heart. They have no RV sites but parked us in the back and brought out an extension cord for power. Ellen had a case of poison ivy and stayed in the motorhome. Pete visited the lodge and was again treated like a rock star. One member introduced Pete to all the members. On the second day, there was a family get together and when Pete came over to say goodbye, he was again introduced to everyone as the guy from California. Oooooooooooooh! (07-2007)

Burien has a handful of RV sites with 50 amps and water for $15 per night. The large lodge sports a restaurant with a very full menu.(04-2009)

Dry camping only for a donation (04-2009). Our stay was just overnight and the lodge was not open. (04-2009)

The Springfield Oregon Elks has four sites with 50 amps, water and WiFi but no dump for $15. (06-2019)

We visited briefly in the lodge and they were very hospitable. (10-2009)

Pete spent two weeks at the Bend, Oregon Elks. Ellen had taken the train home. The staff at the Elks "adopted" Pete and made sure to invite him for meals and other events. This is a wonderful thing about being an Elks. Their motto is "Elks Share, Elks Care" and it really showed in Bend. As you can see the Oregon weather can vary from day to day (10-2009). The sites have 30 amps only for $20 per day. (08-2021)

The members at Salisbury, Maryland Elks with very friendly. We stayed 6 days waiting for RV service. Many befriended us and especially two different couples which we met on several evenings. On our last night one couple brought Ellen a going away gift. They are so cute! This lodge purchased a golf course and clubhouse. The property also includes a large pool. They did not have RV sites but allowed us to dry camp for as long as we needed for a donation of our choice. (06-2007) As you can see, the Salisbury Elks is a step above some of the other Elks.

Another Elks that we were taken with is the Palmer Elks in Wasilla, Alaska. The lodge is on Finger Lakes and the views from the lodge are truly amazing. The mountains shown below are viewable from the RV sites as well. There are 21 spaces of varying lengths all with electric only for $15 per night. Water is available with a very long hose; there is no dump.(06-2009)

More views from the Palmer Elks. Members can reach the lodge by vehicle, boat and seaplane.

If you have stuck with us this far, then you are in for a treat, "The Garden of Elks". We landed in Cape Girardeau, Missouri days before our 33rd wedding anniversary. Pete's intention was to get a nice hotel with a spa for this special occasion. But this was better. This Elks has a large two story lodge overlooking a 38 acre lake. The RV parking has 11 sites, two with 50 amps. A dump station is available by the lodge. The RV parking is through a card-keyed gate, across a dam and onto the other side of the lake. From our site you could not see the lodge. (08-2007)

The PER (Previous Exalted Ruler) Mark, met us when we arrived and took us to our site. The lodge has a 5-star chef and Mark suggested that we come to dinner on Thursday night. On Thursday, it was raining hard and we were waiting for a break to ride the scooter to the lodge. Then along came Larry in his car. He told us he came to keep us from getting soaked. Not only did Larry take us to dinner, he bought dinner for both of us.

Ellen loves to fish. Each morning she would get in her kayak and fish from it or from the shore. She caught the largest fish in the lake that year. It was August and quite humid. While Ellen fished, Pete could work in the air-conditioned Mothership with the views below.

Now you have seen the best and it is only $10.00 per night! Elks Share, Elks Care. Wow, we love the Elks.

So long from Cape Girardeau. See you soon.

Love, Pete and Ellen

This special edition travelogue was brought to you as there is nothing new in our travel.

Photos from May 2006 to Jan 2010