[ILHam] Greene County Fairgrounds Camping Review

[Rich]

On our way back home from an RV vacation in October we intentionally stopped
for the night at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, OH.   We've been
going to the Dayton HamVention continually since the early 1980's (missing
only a handful of years) first staying at the Days Inn at I-70/I-75 and
after 1986 at the KOA in Brookville, OH.  We have a reservation at the KOA
for the 2017 HamVention but as it's roughly a 45-minute drive from the KOA
to the fairgrounds we wanted to scout the fairgrounds in general and the
camping facilities in particular.  

 

First let me say that our first impression of the fairgrounds was positive.
The grounds are nicely landscaped and, like the all of the buildings (none
of which were open at the time of our visit) appeared to be well maintained.
There is a large race track with grandstand that also appears to be in very
good condition.  Based on what I saw the fairgrounds have all the makings
for a great HamVention.  The staff we encountered and spoke with were
universally friendly and helpful.  

 

There are two RV camping areas, one by the racetrack containing 40+ spaces
laid out in two rows and the second on the opposite side of the grounds with
60+ spaces laid out in three rows.  All spaces are 20' wide with lengths
varying from 25' to 50'.  A worker at the fairgrounds office told me that
they likely would only be using two-rows in each area with spaces measuring
20' wide by 50' deep.  I parked our motor home between the lines and found
it was wide enough for our slide out rooms to be extended but our awning
extended into the adjacent site.  The sites are all on mostly level grass
but you'll need pads under your leveling jacks.  The only question I have is
how well those grass sites drain when it rains but of course it never rains
during HamVention.    All tow/towed vehicles will have to be parked nearby.


 

Each site has access to water and electric hookups located on telephone
poles spaced at regular intervals in the camping areas.  There are
individual electrical hookups and water spigots at the poles (with a central
circuit breaker box) but depending on how many RVs are expected to hook up
to a specific pole you might need an electrical cable and water hose ranging
in length from 20' to 60'.  It all depends on how the RVs are positioned.
The sites by the racetrack seemed to have mostly 50-amp hookup while the
other area hookups are all 30-amp with just one 50-amp box.  Water pressure
was excellent.  I measured it 90-psi at the spigot we used so be sure to
bring a pressure regulator.  There are no sewer hookups but there are two
dump stations and the fairgrounds will have a honey wagon available to pump
your black and gray tanks.

 

Being very close to Dayton over-the-air TV reception is good.  Those with
satellite dishes will have no trouble locking onto Dish or DirecTV
satellites save for a single spot by a tree in the area by the racetrack.  I
was not able to detect any wifi signals during our visit but I had excellent
(5-bar) Verizon Wireless coverage.  

 

Back in September I placed my name on a waiting list for an RV space at the
fairgrounds.  Fairgrounds personnel were not sure how many spaces would be
available for the event but during our visit I learned that there were only
60-names on the waiting list.  A few days after we returned home I received
a packet of information from Greene County regarding the rental of RV
spaces.  Greene County is renting spaces for 3, 5 or 7-days at a cost of
$450, $650 and $770 respectively ($150/$130/$110 per night respectively).
That includes 2-HamVention tickets and pumping two tanks at one time from
your RV.   Once parked you cannot remove your RV from the grounds until the
conclusion of HamVention on Sunday afternoon.  No guarantee will be made as
to 30-amp or 50-amp electric so be sure to have adapters.  

 

I have included links to the photos I took during our visit.  I hope this
information proves useful.

 

'73

Rich, N9DKO

 

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/82j7o0o7giv442z/2016-10-25%2016.37.38.jpg?dl=0

View of larger camping area with our motor home

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/prsbkv8anwwsmvq/2016-10-25%2016.37.45.jpg?dl=0

Second view of larger camping area.  Smaller area by racetrack looks the
same

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/linf1fpryi8pdzh/2016-10-25%2016.38.13.jpg?dl=0

Electrical hookups with common circuit breaker box

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/v4378s3nc0g5c0d/2016-10-25%2016.38.40.jpg?dl=0

Water hook up