This is the front of the Mariposa Fairgrounds, which they say has the capacity to SQUEEZE in over 100 RVs. In my opinion, that would be a LOT of squeezing. Needless to say, they probably have 100 electrical hookups and water hookups, but getting 100 RVs into this place would be hard to do.
The registration is self-service. Pay, pick out your spot…if the next day you want to move, just move. If you arrive when the office is open, they will take credit cards. There is a very nice camp host living on grounds now, and her husband seems to work for the fairgrounds too. They are just starting to put white lines between sites…they should have done this before the Butterfly Festival because people parked taking up two spots or more all over the place and they turned a few people away on Saturday night. Personally, I don’t see why because there was at least two open spots that I saw on Sunday before people pulled out.
The people working here are so nice, and even talked to a few of the town folk who have been nice too. The biggest complaint that I have, and others according to their reviews, is the slop of the land that the RVs are asked to park on. This is where we are (picture above), and you can see by the way the HHR is, it is slopped to the left, and also slopped very much down to where I was standing. Dealing with this double slope is very difficult. The first two nights we were pared along the right, towards the back. On Sunday I moved to where we are now for shade, and for a bit less of a slope…well we got shade, still have huge slopping. The other good thing, it is very quiet back here by the Camp Host. Under busy times, they would want the motorhome parked like the car is parked…but we leave Wednesday morning, and the entire fairgrounds has under 20 RVs in it right now so the Host said we could park as we are since the weekend crowd is gone.
In the back of the fairgrounds (upper left picture) they have spots for around 16 motorhomes with full hookups…everywhere else it is electric and water. There is a dump station just past these full hookups, free to use if you are a camper. However, the hose does not fit into the hole, and that is without any connector on it. For dump stations I use a hose which connects to the motorhome, but just fits in the hole for dumping. At least it is all in a basin, so the mess does not run all over the place.
At the front of the fairgrounds is a large grassy area, and this is the largest area for RVs. There was a small RV Rally Friday-Sunday, and they were all in this area, along with a few others. I would guess that they squeeze 30-40 RVs into this grassy area, although this past weekend it was around 25-30, and it also is right along highway 49.
The California State Mining & Mineral Museum is located in this grassy area too. There is a $4 admissions charge, and I planned on visiting today after the weekend crowd left. But they close on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday…oh well. The town of Mariposa has its own museum, open 7 days a week, 10-4…now why the State of California cannot do the same, who knows????
Like many cities who are struggling to make ends meet, Mariposa is too. The rates of using the Fairgrounds have gone up from $25 back in 2010 to $35 today. And the $133 Bungalow fee…well that is just ridiculous. 
A glorified tent, with a ceiling fan, with a small refrigerator, a queen bed, a fold-up table with fold-up chairs. I assume you could sleep a few people on the floor…but if you have more than 3 people in a RV, you pay an extra fee…as you do for pets (although they waived the pet fee for us, thank goodness.) I think they rented one or two out all weekend. Personally, I’d stay in a motel...
Yep, those are the four bungalows…in the sun, no A/C, no toilets or showers or sinks (so you have to use the restrooms like tent campers do). One last thing, be sure to look at their calendar on their website (Mariposa Fairgrounds) … camping is first come, first serve, but large groups (rallies) can reserve…and the fair is always over Labor Day, so trying to camp here then would near impossible…unless you are part of the concessions or carnival.
The city of Mariposa is a quant little town of 2,100 people. Its name is Spanish for "butterfly", after the flocks of monarchs seen overwintering there by early explorers. Today, much of its economy is tourist based, since it is the last large little city on your way to Yosemite. Yes, there are modern hotels, and the grocery store is pretty good size for such a small town.
It is the County Seat for the county of Mariposa, and above is a picture of the county courthouse, constructed in 1854, it is the oldest in continuous use west of the Rockies. It is also at the southern end of the “Mother Lode”, so when gold was discovered in California, Mariposa was a mining town, and home to American Explorer (and politician, and soldier) John C. Freemont, one of many California legends.
Houses vary in age and look…but this old Victorian sure caught my eye. Overall, Mariposa is a nice little town if one doesn’t mind the constant tourist traveling through.
Tuesday is laundry and cooking day, then we head for Kings Canyon National Park, where the temps are suppose to be a bit hotter than here, but there will be Redwoods to shade us.
Tuesday is laundry and cooking day, then we head for Kings Canyon National Park, where the temps are suppose to be a bit hotter than here, but there will be Redwoods to shade us.
Well for heavens sake. I never knew there were so many RV sites at the fairgrounds. It would be a good place to stay while checking out Yosemite!
ReplyDeleteYes, it definitely is the best for your money, but spring, fall or winter, not summer because it gets HOT here. Most of the class A RVs I have seen here were down on the grassy area.
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