Trouble in Camp Scholler

Woke up this morning to discover that someone stole the generator from my friends camper. I wonder if it was related to the drunken idiots who decided to start yelling around 1:00 AM...........
I've been camping here for nearly 20 years or so, and I've always felt comfortable about the safety of my stuff. Looks like I may need to reconsider securing my stuff. It seems that a growing number of folks here seem to think that this event is an excuse to drink and party. I've noticed more and more of this behavior over the past several years.
Some people are idiots...........

:( :( :(

That really sucks, airplane people have always been the best to get along with. It may be time to add some security !!! Had a friend years ago that kept missing gas from his car, (before locking gas caps and computers). He was an electrician and wired his car to 110 volts, the next day he found an empty gas can beside his car. Never had anymore problems !
Bob

There was some guy trying to start a motorbike for almost 45 min at 3am this morning. That was fun. My biggest gripe about Camp Scholler is the absolute free for all when it comes to people on bikes/scooters. People weaving in and out of the roads without even looking,tailgating behind vehicles in their blind spots,and no lights at night. It's only a matter of time before someone gets seriously injured or killed out here unfortunately


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Originally Posted by robert l

That really sucks, airplane people have always been the best to get along with.
Bob

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Don't you believe for one moment that every camper here is "airplane people". Many are itinerant RVers and campers who travel in caravans during the summer from one big event to another to settle in with each other regardless the attraction.

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Originally Posted by Floatsflyer

Don't you believe for one moment that every camper here is "airplane people". Many are itinerant RVers and campers who travel in caravans during the summer from one big event to another to settle in with each other regardless the attraction.

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Was kind of wondering that myself,pretty sure I saw several people that never left base camp all week


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My problem ever year is that the Cirrus camp leaves their alcohol out after they are done partying and I have seen teens go and 'borrow" some of it. Have been told "not a problem", but when I hear kids racing scooters, yelling and tearing through the campground at all hours of the early morning, I wonder.

We camped this year near Cottonwood and 27th, basically against the west tree line of the big field. My beef this year, and the ONLY negative thing about my Oshkosh experience this year, were the damned generators. People bring incredibly loud, 4kW contractor-grade cheapo generators that could wake the dead.

The guy to the north of me would run his all day long, whether they were there or not. No pets in the unit. Instead of putting the generators in such a way as to have the noise somewhat blocked by his camper, he set them in direct line of one of our site. To top that off, gramps and his kiddos always stayed to watch the nightly movies, meaning he never got back any earlier that 11:15 or 11:30... an hour after generator cut-off time.

The folks to our west brought the loudest most foul-smelling Champion brand generator. And they started it either just before or just after the morning Mustang flight. It was nearly impossible to have a normal conversation on our site because the thing was so freaking loud. As luck would have it, the prevailing morning breezes wafted the putrid-smelling exhaust into our site while we were trying to have breakfast.

The fella to the south of me was nice enough. He had two of the quieter Honda generators. Most of the time they weren't too noticeable unless he had his A/C going. Then they got awfully loud, which sucks when you are trying to wind down from a long day and enjoy a brew by the campfire. He also lamented about the relocation of the 24 hour generator section to be closer to 41. I thought that move was a good thing, as most people with generators (at least by my observation) spent little time outside of their unit, and often had means of transport (ie, cart, motorbike) to get to the field.

It would be pretty fantastic if Scholler had a "generator-free" zone (and no... since I tent, I'm not getting a water/elec site). I'd figure out a way to get a spot early in a place that was free of generators and gladly pay for the extra days.

An after hours generator actually provided some... interesting entertainment on Friday night. I could hear it running in the distance at 11:30pm. It was annoying, but several rows over, so not the worst. Until, that is, his neighbor got upset and yelled out, "TURN OFF YOUR DAMNED GENERATOR."

A few minutes later, let's just say things boiled over and some very family unfriendly exchanges were had (with threats of shoving flashlights into places flashlights are normally not found), followed by one of the campers quite loudly packing everything up (ATV, scooter, etc.) and getting out of dodge. It was pretty quiet after that. :D

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Originally Posted by Floatsflyer

Don't you believe for one moment that every camper here is "airplane people". Many are itinerant RVers and campers who travel in caravans during the summer from one big event to another to settle in with each other regardless the attraction.

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You must be an EAA member to camp in Scholler the last time I checked.

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Originally Posted by krw920

You must be an EAA member to camp in Scholler the last time I checked.

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What's your point? You don't have to be an aircraft owner or a pilot or an airplane person or enthusiast of any kind to be an EAA member. Lots of RVer and camper types happily pay the very cheap $40 for the privilege of being eligible to camp in Scholler

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Originally Posted by Floatsflyer

What's your point? You don't have to be an aircraft owner or a pilot or an airplane person or enthusiast of any kind to be an EAA member. Lots of RVer and camper types happily pay the very cheap $40 for the privilege of being eligible to camp in Scholler

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Perhaps there should be a Test to camp at Scholler...

...spell "aileron"...

My only beef was the place that I pitched my tent for the last 10 years at 12th and Elm was now 24 hour generator, no tents allowed. I know it seems silly, but that was my home base for a long time. Add them all up, that's 3 months at that address. Oh well, new spot on 28th was fine too, too far from the showers to walk, but shady in the morning.

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Originally Posted by SteveCostello

It would be pretty fantastic if Scholler had a "generator-free" zone (and no... since I tent, I'm not getting a water/elec site). I'd figure out a way to get a spot early in a place that was free of generators and gladly pay for the extra days.

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Every year the EAA caters more to the professional campers while screwing over the tenters.

There is a "generator-free" zone by Stitts and Plum. It's so small and right beside an area where generators are allowed that it's completely pointless. That whole section should be made "tent only". I was there and the crap I had to put up with made sure I'll never spend another night at Camp S--thole.

The short list
-generators running 24 hours a day across the road from "Non-generator area"
-kids racing around on rattling minibikes from 7am till dark
-dogs barking outside for hours while the owners (who were there) ignored them, starting at 6am everyday
-people starting up their trailered-in full-bagger Harleys to get around
-coming back to find someone set a tent up with his ropes and pegs surrounding my table and chairs
-someone taking a crap in a shower stall
-people walking like privileged idiots after the night movies/airshow, preventing any movement of traffic
-drunks yelling while stumbling down the road at 1am
-golf carts and atv's (usually driven by one person) blocking access in the bike corrals

Overall, just more of the same from other years.

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Originally Posted by TedK

Perhaps there should be a Test to camp at Scholler...

...spell "aileron"...

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Having to spell "cat" would open up at least 40% of the sites.

The free for all with the pedestrian and bicycle traffic is out of hand. You can't even drive to your campsite without people basically playing chicken along the whole route.


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Originally Posted by mazdaP5

My only beef was the place that I pitched my tent for the last 10 years at 12th and Elm was now 24 hour generator, no tents allowed. I know it seems silly, but that was my home base for a long time. Add them all up, that's 3 months at that address. Oh well, new spot on 28th was fine too, too far from the showers to walk, but shady in the morning.

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We were at 26th and Elm, and found the walk to the shower a nice break from the kids..... :D

My only complaint as far as the campground (other than the 2 stroke mopeds and dirt bikes racing around) is that the one tree near us didn't grow fast enough over the previous years to provide useful shade.

> There is a "generator-free" zone by Stitts and Plum. It's so small and right beside an area where generators are allowed that it's completely pointless. That whole section should be made "tent only". I was there and the crap I had to put up with made sure I'll never spend another night at Camp S--thole.

i'm sorry you had such a poor time. I set up Friday about noon in 101 woods without noticing the next guy over had a cheapo generator. He started it 10 minutes after I sat down to admire my spot for the week. I tore it all down and moved to the area labeled no generators that you mentioned.

True, a long narrow, no generators area running parallel to a generator area was less than great. But I set up next to the fence bordering the car lot used Friday and the weekend. I had a great spot! Sure, I could hear generators in the distance, but they were distant.

It seems hard to believe there were any 24 hour generators nearby. That just isn't tolerated, so I tend to discount your post as some story exaggerated for effect rather than an actual description of your experience.

Are you coming next year so you can post another grouchy post. Maybe just stay home?

I was pleasantly surprised at the relative lack of barking dogs, at least where I was, compared to previous years. The same for the incessant car alarms, although there was an uptick on Saturday and Sunday.

I always try to find a spot that backs up to some natural border, a treeline or ditch, so that I only have traffic on one side. I also bring earplugs to sleep with, that really helps.

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Originally Posted by mazdaP5

I always try to find a spot that backs up to some natural border, a treeline or ditch, so that I only have traffic on one side. I also bring earplugs to sleep with, that really helps.

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Last year we had the very last spot on Stits, to the west was completely void, behind us was Waukau Ave. It was great, except for all the walking until we went to Good Will and bought two very used bikes for $40.00 each, which we gave to our neighbors when we left. The only down side, people walking and talking very loud, riding bicycles and scooters within feet of our tent way into the night. Oh well ! But I shall return !!!
Bob

At least nobody has complained about all the airplane noise! (yet)

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Originally Posted by mc20

> It seems hard to believe there were any 24 hour generators nearby. That just isn't tolerated, so I tend to discount your post as some story exaggerated for effect rather than an actual description of your experience.

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I wish there was any exaggeration in my post.

Ironically, one generator that was running all night was on Hickory, near camper registration. A honda powering a fifth wheel.

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Originally Posted by mc20

> I was pleasantly surprised at the relative lack of barking dogs, at least where I was, compared to previous years.

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The dogs were at the very end of Plum, backing onto the parking lot, just west of your site.

Years ago there were volunteers riding scooters all over the campground helping people and keeping an eye on things. This year I didn't see one. Saw three cop cars though.

There are always things that can be improved upon, and the EAA has been doing a pretty good job of making improvements to camp Scholler and the aircraft camping areas over the past several years. But, we still need to point out where improvements are needed to keep improving the Airventure experience.

Campground rules are a necessity, but are useless if no one enforces them. Unregistered vehicles driven by unlicensed drivers, noise and generators after hours, dumping gray water on your site, and much more. There is no recourse.

The showers in the aircraft areas have been modernized, but camp Scholler has not. I tried several different times of day but found the showers to be packed throughout the middle of the week. More so than I remember from the past 10 or so years.

This year my wife and I brought a large travel trailer and our 3 Dachshunds with us. We paid for a water and electric site so we could keep the dogs closed up in AC when we were on the grounds. To my knowledge the dogs were quiet when we were gone. When we walked the dogs we brought our poop bags (we always do) and we cleaned up after them. We noticed that this was not the case with some other dog owners and we apologize for them.

I would like to see the 24 hr generator area moved to HWY41 where it's noisy anyway. There should be a bigger "no generator area". There should be more gravel roads. There should be more dump stations. There should be more improved (water/electric) sites. BTW our improved site was 25 x 50 feet with 50 amp service. There should be more pedestrian walkways.

All said, Airventure is still an awesome experience with amazing volunteers and I look forward to next year. But I hope the EAA keeps striving to improve.

Malcolm Morrison

I sometimes wonder if anyone from EAA staff that actually attends meetings monitors these posts and makes notes. I have tried to camp in my favorite spot for the past 20 years, by making the trip on "opening day " for the campground, only to find many places already staked out. Is it possible to do this prior to opening day? Every year, I notice the large 5th wheeler's and "land yachts" seem to be taking over the campground and good tent spots are disappearing. Some of the generators being used belong in a museum. I am beginning to wonder when they will be building condos in Scholler. Also, wonder what has happened to security? I too like a previous poster here, came home from "work" to find a teen toying with the lock on my generator chain. We had a few "words" about that. Could go on forever, but will quit for now.

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Originally Posted by skyfixer8

I sometimes wonder if anyone from EAA staff that actually attends meetings monitors these posts and makes notes. I have tried to camp in my favorite spot for the past 20 years, by making the trip on "opening day " for the campground, only to find many places already staked out. Is it possible to do this prior to opening day? Every year, I notice the large 5th wheeler's and "land yachts" seem to be taking over the campground and good tent spots are disappearing. Some of the generators being used belong in a museum. I am beginning to wonder when they will be building condos in Scholler. Also, wonder what has happened to security? I too like a previous poster here, came home from "work" to find a teen toying with the lock on my generator chain. We had a few "words" about that. Could go on forever, but will quit for now.

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We arrived on July 18th and managed to get a decent spot, which turned out to be across the street from the Cirrus group. We saw some security that day, who seemed interested that we did not "stake out" too large an area (we had friends arriving later that day). This was the only time I saw security in our area for the rest of our time there. (We stayed through August 1) In my opinion, it may be time to institute a policy that a campsite can't be purchased and staked out unless the person(s) who are going to occupy the site are present and using the campsite.

The policy both for Scholler and the aircraft areas has been the same. You're free to reserve spots provided you pay for them FROM THE TIME YOU MARK THEM OUT. Has been the written down policy for years. Not sure why that's not "fair."

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Originally Posted by FlyingRon

Not sure why that's not "fair."

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Fairness is like beauty- very much in the eye of the beholder. The current system has been in place for many years, is well understood by everyone, and has been pretty fairly enforced in my experience. I go up every year on opening day to stake out our group campsite, and I can tell you that they are strict about not allowing any early staking out, not even the night before opening day.

Opening day is a land rush. By 9AM half of the prime spots in Paul's Woods are already taken. If you want a good seat to the show, get there early.

Yes, "fairness" is very different depending on your point of view. Great for those who can afford to pay for a camp site weeks ahead of the show, and make the journey to stake out a site. Not so much for some of us who can't afford that kind of thing, or can't make the 900 mile journey to stake a claim ahead of time. But, even reserving a spot wouldn't be such an issue if everyone only staked out the size allowed in the camp rules. Even the security people we talked to admitted that a number of staked out sites were bigger than allowed. Yes, there is no system that will please everyone....................

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Originally Posted by Rod Schneider

Woke up this morning to discover that someone stole the generator from my friends camper. I wonder if it was related to the drunken idiots who decided to start yelling around 1:00 AM...........
I've been camping here for nearly 20 years or so, and I've always felt comfortable about the safety of my stuff. Looks like I may need to reconsider securing my stuff. It seems that a growing number of folks here seem to think that this event is an excuse to drink and party. I've noticed more and more of this behavior over the past several years.
Some people are idiots...........

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Was your friends genset locked up with a cable lock? Every genset I saw was locked up.

This was our first year at Oshkosh and Camp Scholler. We loved the place to tell you the truth!

We camped in a RV right behind the registration huts. It was flat and level and near a wifi hut, tram pickup point, red market and bath house. 98% of the traffic turned right away from our lot which made it very peaceful and not near as much dust and traffic. Plus we had more room and not as cramped as the more popular spots. We are definitely going back there next year.

We did not have any problem with security, as we left our bikes unlocked for the last 6 days we were there. IMO Camp Scholler is the most awesome campground in the whole country. All of our neighbors were respectful and we felt really safe and at home there.

Thank you EAA.

How fair is a mere tent staking out space versus a gas or diesel motor home which already surpasses the campsite size in and of itself?