Camp Scholler Tent Camping

[RobW]

Hi, I was hoping to get some info I have been unable to glean from this forum or other sources. I have been to Airventure twice before. Once stayed in a hotel in Fond DuLac, and then in a cabin at Sleepy Hollow. Definitely liked being closer. This year I hope to camp at Scholler.
Most of information I have found talks about getting there super early or showing up late to get a good spot. I am flying in (commercial) from Calif, so I will be getting in late evening after rental car & buying some tent camping stuff. Don't really want to be next the Highway. Airplane noise @ 6am = OK, Truck Noise @ 1am = No sleep. Don't need to be close to the Paul Woods, just not next to the highway, and not next to the 24 hour generator camping. My wife and 2 kids (9 & 7) will be joining me on Wednesday evening as the end point of their month + long cross country road trip.
What I really want to know is where will I likely end up camping if I arrive on the Saturday evening before? Would U of Wis dorm rooms be a better move (have some reserved w/o AC)? Do I try tent camping at Sleepy Hollow (also first come first serve) which could be considerably closer & shadier?
Thanks for the help
Rob

[Joe Delene]

The 1st thing I will ask is, does your family have much experience tent camping? Since you may be buying some(most) of your gear a few of the better comforts may be lacking. Even when driving a pickup truck full of gear tent camping has it's challenges.

How about you camp solo the 1st handful of days, then move into better digs once the wife & kids show up? There will be openings somewhere later in the week. You can get your fill of every hour at the show, then back off a tad & make the experience enjoyable for them.

This may be somewhat moot if you family is well versed in tent camping. Just saying it takes effort keeping the spirits up in a soggy tent.

[MNWORD]

Hey RobW, If you show up on Saturday you should be able to find a spot in the mid forties block or so. If your family hasn't tent camped before you will need to be PREPARED! If your lucky try and find a tree it will help with shade, picnic tables will be hard to get..... but you might get lucky. As a former Scoutmaster may I suggest that you get a decent tent with a ground cloth to keep moisture from coming through the bottom when it rains(and it will). If it doesn't come with a ground cloth sheet plastic works well( just tuck the edges under the tent to keep it from pooling water underneath the tent).You will need Rain repellant, Bug repellant or citronella candles, sleeping mats or thermal rests, pillows, sleeping bags, towels, battery powered lights. etc,etc. You can get your supplies at home and ship them by UPS to a UPS store in the OSH or APW area. As for shipping your clothes, pillows, sleeping bags and stuff use vacuum pack bags (which you can get at Walmart/Target stores)to save room in your box. There is a web sight you can go to that will help www.familytentcamping.com (http://www.familytentcamping.com). I might suggest you use www.amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com) to buy equipment as it will save you money.
Feel free to PM me if I can be of further assistance.

[malexander]

Rob. PM me if I can be of any assistance. I'll be in Sleepy Hollow with my motorhome AND car from Friday the 25th through Aug the 2nd.

[RobW]

All,

Thanks for the thoughtful replies. We, as a family, are quite versed at tent camping. Though I should put a qualifier on that statement and say 'California' tent camping. We don't have much rain or humidity during the summer camping season, or bugs for that matter. The high sierras for a week, with 40 degree nights, 70 degree days and low humidity is not Wisconsin. So bug repellent and plastic ground cloths will be added to the list. I might add that my Wife and Kids will be tent camping intermittently along the way from California (Bryce & Zion and ....). So when they arrive most of our real camping gear will arrive. They just don't have the desire for 5 days of Airventure (though next year my son maybe up for it, especially if we fly in).

The point about shipping stuff is a good idea, as anything I ship out, I can stick in the car with the wife and kids for a return trip. I was under the impression that Airventure had a ship too site, besides using the typical UPS store. I was hoping to send out a bike as well.

If I end up any where east of 10th, I should be happy. Anything East of Doolittle and I would be estatic! To Honest 101 woods is my spot of choice, due to having more trees.

I may take folks up on the assistance once I arrive. Sleepy Hollow was quite nice the last time I stayed, and their tent sites have lots of shade.

After the airventure, we are headed up to Fish Creek in Door county for some relaxation. We love that area and go there every time we make it out as far as Wisconsin, though we do stay in a hotel.

Thanks
Rob

[rleffler]

There are plenty of great campsites available in Camp Scholler. But like most things in life, the cost to obtain one, may not equal the value you place on it. :)

You can reserve a spot starting June 27, but you have to pay the daily rate from that day until you leave. Plenty of good spots available then!

You would be surprised of the number of folks that show up that early to reserve a spot. Although many have grandfathered agreements that get the fees reduced or waived.

[CarlOrton]

Oshkosh usually has an on-site site for receiving packages; the details for 2014 are not yet posted on the AV website.

You mentioned having a bike. Instead of shipping a bike or having one take up space in your car, consider buying a bike (low prices!) at the Goodwill store right across the street from the field. Then donate it back to them at the end of your stay. I think they bring in bikes from the entire upper Midwest for the show!

[orvie6]

Hello Bob, Have you considered the campsite over by the ultralight barn? It is privately ran by the Staudtmuller family and is a very nice area. No showers on site, but they do have portapotties and wash areas. And usually no problem finding a spot to camp. This year they will be charging $15 a night. No limit on number of nights either. Some people seem to shy away from there, because it is not EAA, but they have been very nice and it is close to the action.. The entrance to it is located at the junction of Waupun road and Knapp St. Check it out on Google Earth.. Just a suggestion. Wayne

[rleffler]

Hello Bob, Have you considered the campsite over by the ultralight barn? It is privately ran by the Staudtmuller family and is a very nice area. No showers on site, but they do have portapotties and wash areas. And usually no problem finding a spot to camp. This year they will be charging $15 a night. No limit on number of nights either. Some people seem to shy away from there, because it is not EAA, but they have been very nice and it is close to the action.. The entrance to it is located at the junction of Waupun road and Knapp St. Check it out on Google Earth.. Just a suggestion. Wayne

You opened pandora's box. My experience camping near there on the EAA side of the fence, is that they don't provide adequate resources for restrooms or showers. In past years, folks have torn down the EAA fence between the properties, then use the facilities on the other side of the fence in Scholler.

For those of use that paid the EAA the additional fees so that we can have adequate facilities feel imposed upon due to the additional traffic, door slamming, mess, etc that accompanies those visits. There is another set of folks that feel that it's their right to use those facilities since they are EAA members and paid their weekly admission fee to Airventure. There is probably no way you are going to get either party to see the other's view.

[rickatic]

Hello Bob, Have you considered the campsite over by the ultralight barn? It is privately ran by the Staudtmuller family and is a very nice area. No showers on site, but they do have portapotties and wash areas. And usually no problem finding a spot to camp. This year they will be charging $15 a night. No limit on number of nights either. Some people seem to shy away from there, because it is not EAA, but they have been very nice and it is close to the action.. The entrance to it is located at the junction of Waupun road and Knapp St. Check it out on Google Earth.. Just a suggestion. Wayne

While I have not stayed here, my good friend Alan always parks his 40 foot motorhome at Staudmullers...we visit him often...and with the costs continuing to rise I may decide to switch loyalties to my wallet and join him...actually beat him there...being self contained I can live without the Scholler amenities ;)...did I just commit treason???

Regards

[orvie6]

Yes, I have heard the reports of the fence cutting and 'intruding', but I have camped there, am an EAA member and since I am a retired Commercial Truck driver, I head down to the truck stop on the highway and shower there, plus get a meal and supplies for camp.. Not everone that uses that campground is a 'bad guy/gal'.. but we all know what a couple of bad apples does to the barrel!! Anyway, I was just offering another choice to that mentioned. I guess it is about the same as those people that sit on the hillsides at a NASCAR race while others have to pay big money to sit inside!!! Wayne

[malexander]

We have the same problem at Sleepy Hollow. Seems the folks to the west feel they have the right to use the showers & facilities that we're paying for. Jeff & his family have worked harder each year for us to have nicer facilities the next year, that we paid for. I know, some people think they have the right to other people's stuff. Yeah, these are the moochers, leaches, & parasites!

[RobW]

All,
The main reason for starting this thread was to get an idea of where I might end up in Scholler if I arrived the Saturday evening before Airventure, of which I received one answer. More input about where one could grab a site Saturday night would be great.
As Bob Leffler pointed out, you can get a site a whole month earlier. However, not only do you have to pay for it, but you (or some EAA member representing you) must physically be there. Not possible for most of us Californians, at least my budget won't sustain (37 days x $25 + Airfare + rental car + 1 night Hotel) that just to stake out a good site in addition to what ever costs I incurr while there.
Until recently, I guess some RV rental places would go and get a Scholler site for you and even set up the trailer. Can still do that if you choose something like Sleepy hollow, or if you peronally meet them at the gates of Camp Scholler. Still a bit pricey for me to do, plus I got started a bit too late for RV rentals in the area (My Summer work schedule was not that concrete until recently). Let me be clear, I am not bitching about how it works, it just the way it is right now. It does sort of favor people who are closer or bit richer than I.
Camping with out showers is ok if it doesn't get too hot, or there is some lake or stream to jump in once in awhile. I camp in Yosemite's high Sierra's for a week at time with no showers, but that is not hot and muggy Wisconsin. So campsites with out showers are out for me as a tent camper. So Scholler, Sleepy Hollow or Dorms will work, but not any of the other nearby sites with out showers ( I am too much of a rule follower to mooch showers in Scholler, nor would I teach my kids that when they arrive). Right now leaning toward Scholler just to be a part of the scene.
Buying a bike at Goodwill sounds like a nice idea. I have a folding bike, but it is a pretty nice bike, and I get the feeling that the bike corrals are more like dumping grounds. I also worry about theft, though Airventure in general seems like a safe place. Yet, bikes in general seem to be something people 'borrow' with out asking.
Overall I am looking forward to coming. I hoping it will help me get motivated in progressing with my BK Flier build, so eventually I can fly it in!
Best Regards
Rob

[scuba72]

Rob,
I usually try and get there early afternoon on Saturday and 4 out of the last 5 years I have found a camp site between Shaick and Lindbergh and between 10th and Stitts. That area I like because its close to the west store and the showers. The only year I didn't get that area was 2011. I ended up and 10th and Elm. Even though it wasn't as close to the store, it was still close enough and I have no complaints. Last year I didn't get there till after dark due to some mechanical issues on the trip, but still found my preferred area.

The shuttle bus system works well and I use it exclusively to get around. Sometimes you end up with a long ride and sometimes a long wait because the buses get bunched up. When that happens, I just relax and enjoy the wait. You'll meet some darn nice folks while doing that and I have developed long lasting friendships from it. The Goodwill bike tip is great, but I still don't find a need for one yet. Someday I might regret it, but not yet. The bike corrals are not dumping grounds that I have seen and I have not seen theft as a problem. I doubt anyone could get near the grounds with a bolt cutter to cut bike locks.

If your willing to break camp and move you will find people coming and going all week. Last year I was in my preferred area, but noticed one morning that a site opened up much closer to the store. I was headed back to move, but when I got back to my camp there was a couple of guys on motorcycles setting up camp next to where I was. To make a long story short, I didn't move because they were great guys and we helped each other the rest of the time.

There are more veteran Scholler campers than me but what I have learned is its not so much as where you end up in Scholler as it is what you make of it. You might end up in the perfect site with a neighbor who parties all night (But I doubt it) or you might end up in a bad (Far away) site with the greatest neighbors. Its all about the people, the airplanes and the show. I hope this is more the kind of feedback your looking for.

Dave in Missouri

[klavdivs]

Ditto with scuba72 on the location. There is also always room out by the emergency runway out by Cottonwood Avenue (don't camp on the emergency runway, somebody tries every year) and the newest shower room is out there if I remember right. It is far enough from both the 24-hour generator RVs and the highway to sleep. In fact, the best marker is the stream that runs through the campground-- keep it between you and the Interstate and you will be fine. BTW: another trick people pull is to rent a camper in Madison and drive it up there for the week. There are a number of willing vendors. Oh yes, also be careful of getting too close to the stream because it has flooded on rainy years like Sploshkosh (2010). If you are landing at the show, of course, you can camp right under or next to your plane.

[FlyingRon]

I have never camped in a tent in my life other than at Airventure for the past 20 years. I've done it first in the North 40, then in Vintage, and one year when my plane was down, I camped in Scholler. My EAA chapter goes up reasonably early and sets up a compound for those of us who are going and want to camp there. I got a spot big enough for my truck and my tent but shared in the common dining fly they set up.

The other option is to find a friend with an aircraft in Vintage and camp next to his plane. You'll be a lot closer to the action :)

[dclaxon]

I've been going on Friday ever since opening day was fixed on Monday, and I've always been either on or very near Doolittle. The past three years I've been right outside the entrance to the Fly-In Theater, and since the main gate was moved west, and the diagonal walkway to the forum area, I find that location convenient enough that the only time I've even bothered with the bike was to ride around the grounds looking for friends' campsites. Twice I've come on Thursday to get a better campsite, but one of those years was Sploshkosh, and the area I was hoping for was underwater when I got there. (And it was also where they had just put in the new electric campsites.)

Dave

[wyoranch]

Please let me know if this should be a new thread and I will move it. Can you drive in to your campsite or do you have to park and carry everything in? I wont be arriving till Tuesday afternoon.
Thanks to all of you
Rick

[martymayes]

In Scholler you park right at your campsite. I can park my camper, truck, and all other gear within the specified campsite dimensions.

[RC Gregg]

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.9748823,-88.5699882,1554m/data=!3m1!1e3 wyoranch: Here's a link where you can get a good look at camp scholler during airventure on google maps. switch to satellite view.

[RobW]

All,

Well my bike arrived today at Oshkosh, about 2 days ahead of me. The weather out look for the airventure looks good. I will be looking for a site in Camp Scholler Saturday evening after I drive up in the rental from Milwaukee airport. At this point, I suppose any site will be a good one, as I am committed to going.

See you there!

Rob W.