Holidays Adds New Motorhomes
Holiday Motorhomes has expanded the brands offered at its Everett location by adding the Tropi-Cal, Dolphin and Sea Breeze motorhomes built by National RV.

The Tropi-Cal is an affordable diesel motorhome built on the Freightliner XCS chassis and comes in a variety of floor plans and interior choices. The Dolphin and Sea Breeze are both gas motorhomes that have built reputations for quality and value for decades. National RV, based in Perris, California, is one of the nation’s most experienced RV manufacturers, founded in 1964. Holiday Motorhomes is at 12620 Highway 99 South in Everett. For information, call (866) 423-9595 or visit www.holidaymotorhomesrv.com.

Camp Web Site Attracts Children
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts have launched a new Web site to encourage children from 4 to 12 to think about camping. Developed in conjunction with Warner Brothers, the site uses cartoon characters to engage youngsters.

At www.JPKid.com, children can sing along to traditional campfire songs while Yogi Bear and friends move to the beat, can built a campsite on the computer screen, can make a scrapbook page about a camping trip, and can get recipes for s’mores and “singing apples.” The site also has cartoon clips from the original Yogi Bear series, and offers two customized games developed for the site by Warner Brothers. Children also can sign up to receive a card on their birthday or send an electronic postcard to family or friends.

Funding Lags for National Parks
The National Parks Conservation Association reports that national parks are continuing to fall behind in funding, resulting in reductions in park maintenance and cutbacks in public education programs, science and research. The shortfall has grown from $600 million to $800 million over the past five years, according to the association.

Among the cutbacks cited by the association are a reduction in the operating hours of the visitors center at Olympic National Park in Washington and a reduction in rangers from 23 to 15 at Death Valley National Park in California. The National Parks Conservation Association was formed 85 years ago to work for the betterment of national parks. Its Web site is www.npca.org.

RVIA Elects Chairman
Carl Pfalzgraf of Atwood Mobile Products has been elected Chairman of the Board of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, which represents manufacturers and suppliers in the RV industry.

Newly elected to the board were Jason D. Lippert, president and CEO of Lippert Components, which makes and markets slideout mechanisms, axles, chassis and other products for travel trailers and fifth wheels, and Bob Tiffin, president and CEO of Tiffin Motorhomes. Re-elected to new terms were board members Mike Harris, president and CEO of Thetford/Norcold; Dick Parks, CEO and chairman of Newmar Corp., and Garry Enyart, RV business director of Cummins Power Generation.

Seven Feathers Opens RV Resort
Seven Feathers RV Resort is now open in Canyonville, Oregon, behind Seven Feathers Truck and Travel Center at exit 99 off Interstate 5. The resort has 191 spaces, including 104 pull-through sites, along with an 8,200-square-foot recreation building with a heated swimming pool and spa.

The RV resort also has barbecue pavilions, horseshoe pits, a play area for children, walking trails and common areas for bicycling. Services include free wireless Internet, expanded channel cable TV, a concierge service, and a valet service to guide or park vehicles. The registration office also houses a media center and gift shop. A shuttle bus stops at the RV resort each half hour to take passengers to and from the Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort.

The RV resort is the first business in Creekside Development, a project on several hundred acres owned by the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians.

Most Washington Parks Open in Winter
More than 100 Washington state parks are remaining open seven days a week through the winter under a schedule announced by the state Parks and Recreation Commission. A total of 24 parks will be closed until March or April and another seven will be open during the winter on weekends and holidays only.

The complete schedule is available online at www.parks.wa.gov/newsreleases.

Most state park campgrounds are open to RVs on a first-come, first-served basis during the winter. Parks that take reservations year-round are Cape Disappointment, Dosewallips, Grayland Beach, Fort Columbia, Ocean City, Pacific Beach, Deception Pass and Steamboat Rock. Reservations may be made by calling (888) CAMPOUT. Fort Worden State Park maintains its own reservation system at (360) 344-4400. For general park information, visit www.parks.wa.gov or call (360) 902-8844.

Tread Lightly! Forms Kids Club
A program to educate children on their responsibility to protect the environment while enjoying outdoor recreation is being undertaken by Tread Lightly! with formation of the Lightfoot’s Kids Club. Club members will receive periodic e-mails from Lightfoot with fun activities and tips on playing responsibly outdoors.

“Kids aren’t just hiking and camping, they’re biking, riding ATVs and driving motorcycles,” said Lori McCullough, Tread Lightly! executive director. “This group is the future of recreation, and we want to make sure the next generation learns early how to tread lightly on the environment.” Youngsters can sign up for a free membership at the Web site, www.treadlightlykids.org, but must provide a parent’s e-mail address to verify a parent’s consent before joining.

Tread Lightly! is a national nonprofit organization, based in Ogden, Utah, that encourages those who enjoy outdoor activities, and particularly motorized recreation, to treat the environment responsibly.

Ford Plans Stronger Tow Vehicle
Ford Motor Company is citing the growing popularity of travel trailers and fifth wheels as one reason to launch a new tow vehicle for 2008, the F-450 pickup, which will be capable of hauling more than 24,000 pounds combined weight of truck and trailer.

Towable sales have been increasing this year while motorhome sales have been essentially flat, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. Ford officials say this could mean increased demand for tow vehicles, such as pickups and SUVs. Ben Poore, Ford’s truck marketing manager, said a growing number of trailer haulers are looking for more towing capability than a conventional heavy-duty truck can offer, and the new F-450 is designed to meet that need.