Wilderness Lakes Campground Reveals New RV Storage Facility
On February 21, 2023, Wilderness Lakes RV Resort held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to debut their new RV storage facility, which uses solar power to supplement huge portions of their energy use. They accomplished this by constructing a massive RV storage facility with over 3,500 solar panels on the roof.
RV storage is already a great service that this campground provides, but they’ve elected to go even further by implementing solar power into their infrastructure. Now guests can keep their RVs in a safe and enclosed location, while also reaping the benefits of clean, renewable energy. Because the panels are located on the roof, they also don’t take up a lot of space within the park.
This is an exciting development that could lead to major changes throughout the campground and RV industry. As more and more people shift their focus toward electric vehicles, they need campgrounds that can offer places to recharge. The updates at Wilderness Lakes look like a step in the right direction.
The RV storage facility/solar panels
Although solar panels are starting to appear on the roofs of homes and RVs, it’s not too common to see them in campgrounds and parks. The new RV storage facility at Wilderness Lakes combines the functionality of solar panels with the convenience of a separate building.
Thousand Trails (the owner of Wilderness Lakes) worked with established clean energy partners such as DSD Renewables and Black Bear Energy. Instead of scattering panels throughout the park, they’ve consolidated them into a single area. This improves the aesthetics of the campground, while still providing power. The storage facilities are also quite large and can accommodate vehicles that are between 30-45 feet long.
They are fully enclosed to protect RVs from weather and temperature changes, plus they feature controlled access points and surveillance cameras. These storage containers are available to rent on a monthly basis, so guests can book long stays if they want to.
As mentioned earlier, there are currently 3,500 solar panels in this park, and they are expected to produce about 2.4 million kilowatt hours of green energy per year. At that rate, these panels should be able to supplement about 50% of the park’s energy usage. It’s not a completely self-sufficient system, but it’s definitely a great step forward!
This percentage is particularly impressive when you look at everything that needs to be powered within the park. This is a high-end campground that has several amenities that require electricity. There’s a heated pool, a rec hall, a fitness center, laundry facilities, and much more. That’s not even counting the rental cabins and the electrical hookups for the 500+ sites!
Campsites and cabins
Supplying half power for all of these amenities is no mean feat. If this initiative turns out to be successful, it’s possible that they might add even more panels to increase the campground’s electrical output. But even if it stays as is, Wildnerness Lakes is already one step ahead of the competition.
However, the new RV storage facility and solar panels aren’t the only attractions in this park. It’s been around since the early 2000s and has continually changed and improved over the years. Nowadays it’s a large and highly rated park that’s part of the Thousand Trails family.
There are 523 sites at this park, making it one of the largest in the country. In addition, each of these sites comes with full hookups for water, sewage, and electricity. There are also on-site restrooms and showers for guests to enjoy if they want more elbow room than their RV bathroom can provide.
There are also 19 rental cabins located on the property, which is perfect for weekend getaways or long-term visits. If you decide to store your RV while you camp here, you might want to take advantage of one of these cozy little cabins. Each cabin can accommodate between four to six people, and they are fully furnished with linens, kitchenware, TVs, and beds.
Additional campground amenities
There are also plenty of activities to enjoy when you camp here! Wilderness Lakes is located on the outskirts of Los Angeles, so you can easily explore the city and enjoy the countless entertainment options. But even if you stay within the campground, there are lots of fun things to do.
This resort includes a heated swimming pool, hot tubs, a wading pool, and outdoor games such as pickleball, tennis, horseshoes, and shuffleboard. There’s even a playground and mini golf course, so the whole family can have fun together! You can also go fishing at one of the nearby lakes, or visit one of the many full-sized golf courses in the area.
If you’re feeling more indoors-y, check out the rec hall. This facility is equipped with a game room and a fitness center. Campers can also pick up necessary supplies at the on-site general store. This place will keep you stocked up on firewood, ice, fishing supplies, RV supplies, pet items, and groceries. You can even buy a fishing license here if you don’t have your own!
There’s also a self-service RV wash station and metered LP gas, so your RV will always be ready for adventure. It’s truly a full-service campground that offers everything you need for a great experience. The solar panels are just the newest addition to an impressive destination, so put Wilderness Lakes on your list of places to visit!
The future of solar power in RV parks
The idea of a solar-powered RV park is still fairly new, and there are definitely a few things that will be adjusted once these changes go into effect. However, Wilderness Lakes has proven that solar power can be used to power massive facilities instead of just small areas.
Many modern RVs already come with solar panels installed, but this new project could indicate an industry shift toward renewable energy within campgrounds and RV resorts.
Thousand Trails has supported this project in Wilderness Lakes, and it’s possible that they’ll implement these changes in their other 80+ parks if it’s successful. In fact, a spokesperson for the company stated:
“We already have solar storage at our Thousand Trails campground in Morgan Hill, California, and we plan to begin a project to expand the solar storage at that location in the next few months. We have another solar project that will be underway at a property in Fresno, California by early March.”
Right now, the idea of a solar RV storage facility seems to be a good jumping-off point for future eco-friendly developments. In the future, each RV site might come with its own personal solar panel setup. Some of these already exist, with the panels acting as a roof for the site.
Later on, we might see a blend of these two ideas, with large buildings that have a lot of panels combined with smaller setups for each site. Right now, the future is in flux, but it seems like many RV manufacturers and park owners are starting to lean toward solar power as a supplementary energy source.
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