The Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) is increasing its staff and expanding its legal, legislative, educational and marketing initiatives on behalf of park operators across the Lone Star State.
“We are finding that park operators need our support more than ever, particularly when it comes to providing them with assistance with legal and legislative issues, online education and marketing support,” said Brian Schaeffer, TACO’s executive director and CEO. “As a result, we’ve expanded our staff in Crowley to help us provide more services and support for our members.”
Here’s a rundown of TACO’s recent efforts on the education, marketing, legislative and legal fronts:
Education
TACO launched educational webinars that were well attended. The topics included risk management and emergency preparedness, Pool Operator Certification and management operational topics like work campers versus employees and much more. TACO News also featured a three-part series looking at the ramifications of electric vehicles (EVs) on the camping industry.
Marketing
TACO launched a Texas Campgrounds Blog that highlights different member parks throughout the year as well as a Texas Campground YouTube channel that features drone videos of several popular campgrounds in Texas. Produced at the direction of TACO’s marketing department, these videos can be used by campgrounds to bolster their marketing efforts.
TACO has also produced the 2023 TEXAS RV Travel & Camping Guide to Texas, which features over 400 TACO member park listings and finder maps. The guide emphasizes a glamping theme with covered wagons on the cover. “We added glamping and EV camping as two new potential amenities categories for our member service and facility charts,” Schaeffer said.
Legislative
“We surveyed our members in 2022 and received an incredible response from them,” Schaeffer said. “The results confirmed that our members’ number one priority is TACO’s legislative initiatives. You might think that 2022 being a year with no Texas legislative sessions meant nothing was going on. That could not be further from the truth. As we are preparing for the 2023 Texas legislative session, there were lots of meetings and discussions on topics such as the RV limited liability law, property tax and the water bill.”
Legal
TACO staff and attorneys reviewed, revised and expanded the TACO Legal Handbook to the extent the association now has a completely new TACO Legal Handbook in print and online at the member’s site: www.TACOmembers.com.
Strong Momentum Heading into 2023
Schaeffer said TACO is financially stronger than it has ever been in the 50-year history of the organization. New members were sworn into the TACO board in January, including Jan Pillai, who represents Midland RV Campground in West Texas; and Scott McGee, of Roberts Resorts, which owns and operates several parks in Texas, including Rayford Crossing RV Resort in Spring; Majestic Pines RV Resort, Majestic Hills Tiny Home Community, Water’s Edge RV Resort in Willis and Oasis RV Resort in Amarillo.
Michael Moore, TACO’s assistant executive director, is also regularly participating in state and national meetings including the Texas Travel Alliance, Campground Association Management Professionals and RV Industry Association to help identify ways the groups can strengthen the campground and tourism industries.
The Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) provides membership services for over 400 campground members and more than 90 vendor members.