I can't tell you the last time I saw Security on patrol through Scholler. Back twenty years ago, you heard them going by all night in VW's and gators.
My favorite: year before last, two boys who looked to be twelve, riding through the camp on a dirt bike - the one in back was launching bottle rockets. This at about 11pm.....
Yeah, that was one of the campgrounds that frustrates me as a paying Camp Scholler camper. The people in those campgrounds illegally hop the fence to use the Camp Scholler portapotties, easy access to the main gates, and most shamefully, use the Camp Scholler shower houses. I got to the campground early enough to camp at 52nd and Elm this year. There was a STEADY stream of campers from nearby campgrounds into Scholler. I went to alert EAA Security about these people. Within hours, the owner of the private campground placed a piece of farm equipment to block the main path. People then started to go around the obvious block to continue into the campground. I went to EAA Security to alert them a second time. They responded in a strange way--basically, they said there was nothing they could do to stop the illegal activity. HUH?!? Put up a fence--even a temporary one. Patrol the area, question and stop people breaking the rules. There were several things they could do.Our friends always stay at the old barn campground at the Waupon/Knapp corner, right off the end of the ultralight runway. They pay only $15 a night with no minimum stay...no showers or fresh water/dump facilities.
It got so bad that on Friday night, at 3am, I was awoken by a couple of drunks making all sorts of noise outside of my camper. I stumbled out of the camper to find that the drunks belonged to the private campground next to Scholler. They had gotten into some trouble in another part of Camp Scholler, and one of their "buddies" drove them back to the closest access point to their campsite. That point was the path through the broken fence near my campsite. The buddy parked in a way that blocked my truck and escorted the drunks back into the nearby campground. Then the buddy came back about an hour later only to honk at my trailer several times as he drove away. Yes, honking in the campground at 4am!
I asked several of these people why they were crossing into the property illegally. Most argued that it was not illegal. HUH?!? The wristband gets you into the AirVenture grounds, not the campground shower houses! The most common response, one that I cannot argue with, involved the idea that EAA Security didn't care. They argued that if the EAA didn't care, then why should I?
I sent Rod Hightower a private message about the situation, but he has not yet read nor responded to my message. That is unusual and I know that someone will respond. I cannot believe that the EAA does not care about this situation. I will certainly be back next year, and the year following that. AirVenture is a great event, and I do enjoy camping in Camp Scholler. I will be there in the campground again next year, but there are always things that can be improved and this is one of those things.
Back to the ferris wheel... my son an I saw it from a distance and both said, "no way." Kind of cheapens the experience.
I agree that this airventure missed something. Typically there is a WOW moment - you gotta see this! Not this year. Maybe next. As for the ferris wheel, model a cars, bouncy house etc. While i recognize Ford is a key sponsor to airventure and I am grateful for the support. The ferris wheel did seem awkward and out of place. If it was an integral part of kid venture, I would not be troubled. So here are my two cents on an improvement. Move kid venture to the main grounds. If ford wants a ferris wheel, I get it, kids like it - how about in kid venture, same with the bouncey house - that way, ford gets its attraction and EAA can entice kids with aviation via the kid venture activities. What troubled me about the grounds was the hodgepod feeling of airventure. It seemed a little bit like a disorganized state fair with airplanes - Airplanes over here, intermixed with, well . . . Hoping for a better Airventure 2013.Daniel
Typed on IPad, please excuse typos.
Last edited by danielfindling; 08-05-2012 at 09:25 PM.
mrstephenson.... allow me to ask you one question.. IF you were camped in that private campsite...would you go out the 'legal' exits of it and go around the maintaince building and go into Camp Schroller that way, or would you use the 'path of least resistance'??? Come on already.. Yes..a wristband was purchased to gain access to the Airventure grounds..and althouth no wristband is required for Camp Schroller...arent those persons that stay at the private campground in Oshkosh, Wi. for the same reason you are?? To attend Airventure??? I stayed at that campgrounds my last two visits to Oshkosh...in '09 and again this year.. I did not arrive until Wed afternoon and I was camped about 75 feet from Knapp Street!!! I did not use the 'shortcut' you mentioned, as there were several 'good' access places along Knapp.. As far as portapotties..the area of that campgrounds I stayed in had at least 8 set up and had wash stations along side of them also..and they were kept clean. True..no showers as that is actually a hay field most of the year, but I could stay for one night or the whole week without a minimum stay..could put up a couple of tents as there was not 30'x20' site limits..(common sence prevailed) and only cost $15 a night!!! As an ex-truck driver, by partner and I used the showers at the truck stop down at exit 113. As far as those people using the Camp showerhouses...would you rather they not use anya at all..and you were sitting beside them , downwind, watching the airshow??? Lets face it..not everyone can or wants to camp in Schroller..I think the 'population' there was close to 40,000... Im a hill hick and like the more laid back atmosphere of the grounds provided by the 'Neighbors of EAA'...and I will use it again..in the manner it was intended..the same as you enjoy your stay in Schroller...different strokes for different folks...that all enjoy Airventure!!!!!
Im sure there were campers in Camp Schroller that also violated some of the rules there as well..but please remember..we were all there to attend Airventure and not everyone was a violator of someones rules..
Last edited by orvie6; 08-05-2012 at 10:04 PM.
err....where is this alternative private campground? Exactly?
The campground is owned by the Stadtmueller family and is at the junction of Waupun Road and Knapp St.. about a hundred yards from the Ultralight Red Barn..I belive the 'rent out' about 20 acres during Airventure..the open the grounds the week berfor Airventure and will allow camping into the week following the show..Look at Google Earth and you will see it quite plainly..
The campgrounds is owned by the Stadtmueller family and is located at the junction of Waupun Rd. and Knapp Street...If you look at Google Earth, you will see where it is..it is about 100 yards from the Ultralight Barn!! They open the grounds the week before Airventure and also allow you to stay into the week after the show as well..
I saw the ferris wheel and saw kids on it and was glad they were having fun at Oshkosh.
...same here...I must have walked past it 10 times and never had a negative reaction to kid's having fun on the ferris wheel.Originally Posted by Bill Greenwood
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