Wilderness Lakes Campground unveils new RV site
On February 21, 2023, Wilderness Lakes RV Resort held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its new RV campground, which meets a large portion of its energy needs through solar power. This was accomplished by building a huge RV site with over 3,500 solar panels on the roof.
Accommodating RVs is already a great service that this campground offers, but they decided to take it a step further by incorporating solar energy into their infrastructure. Now guests can store their RVs in a safe and enclosed location while enjoying the benefits of clean, renewable energy. Since the panels are located on the roof, they also don’t take up much space in the park.
This is an exciting development that could lead to big changes in the camping and RV industry. As more and more people switch to electric vehicles, they need campgrounds that offer places to charge. The innovations at Wilderness Lakes seem to be a step in the right direction.
The RV site/solar panels.
Although solar panels are becoming more common on the roofs of homes and RVs, you don’t see them too often in campgrounds and parks. The new RV site at Wilderness Lakes combines the functionality of solar panels with the convenience of a separate building.
Thousand Trails (the owner of Wilderness Lakes) worked with established clean energy partners like DSD Renewables and Black Bear Energy. Instead of spreading the panels out across the park, they were consolidated into a single area. This improves the aesthetics of the campground while generating electricity. The storage areas are also quite large and can accommodate vehicles 30-45 feet in length.
They are fully enclosed to protect RVs from weather and temperature fluctuations, and have controlled access and surveillance cameras. These storage containers can be rented on a monthly basis, allowing guests to book longer stays if needed.
As mentioned earlier, there are currently 3,500 solar panels at this park, which are expected to generate approximately 2.4 million kilowatt hours of green energy per year. At this rate, these panels can provide about 50% of the park’s energy consumption. The system is not completely self-sufficient, but it is definitely a big step forward!
This percentage is especially impressive when you consider everything in the park that needs to be powered. This is a first-class campground that has several facilities that require electricity. There is a heated swimming pool, recreation hall, fitness center, laundry facilities and more. That’s not even counting the rental cabins and electric hookups for the 500+ sites!
Campsites and cabins
Providing half the electricity for all these facilities is no easy task. If this initiative proves successful, it’s possible they’ll add more panels to increase the campground’s electrical output. But even if it stays that way, Wildnerness Lakes is already one step ahead of the competition.
The new RV site and solar panels aren’t this park’s only attractions, however. The park has been around since the early 2000s, and it has continued to change and improve over the years. Today it is a large and highly rated park that is part of the Thousand Trails family.
The park has 523 campsites, making it one of the largest in the country. In addition, each of these sites has full hookups for water, sewer and electricity. There are also on-site restrooms and showers for guests to enjoy if they want more elbow room than their RV bathroom can provide.
There are also 19 rental cabins on site, perfect for weekend getaways or long-term stays. If you plan to park your RV during your stay here, consider using one of these cozy little cabins. Each cabin sleeps four to six people and is fully equipped with bedding, kitchen utensils, televisions and beds.
Other amenities of the campsite
When you camp here, you can also enjoy plenty of activities! Wilderness Lakes is located on the outskirts of Los Angeles, so you can easily explore the city and enjoy the many entertainment options. But even if you stay inside the campground, there are plenty of fun things to do.
This facility has a heated swimming pool, hot tubs, a wading pool, and outdoor games like pickleball, tennis, horseshoes, and shuffleboard. There’s even a playground and miniature golf course, so the whole family can have fun together! You can also fish at one of the nearby lakes or visit one of the many great golf courses in the area.
If you prefer to stay indoors, visit the recreation hall. This facility is equipped with a game room and fitness center. Campers can also stock up on necessities at the on-site general store. Here you can stock up on firewood, ice, fishing supplies, RV accessories, pet supplies, and groceries. You can even buy a fishing license here if you don’t have your own!
There’s also a self-serve RV wash station and LP gas, so your RV is always ready for an adventure. The campground really has everything you need for a successful stay. The solar panels are just the latest addition to an amazing destination, so put Wilderness Lakes on your list of places to visit!
The future of solar energy in RV campgrounds.
The idea of an RV park powered by solar energy is still fairly new, and there are certainly some things that will need to be adjusted as these changes take effect. However, Wilderness Lakes has proven that solar energy can be used not only for small sites, but also for large sites.
Many modern RVs are already equipped with solar panels, but this new project could be a sign of the industry’s shift to renewable energy in campgrounds and RV resorts.
Thousand Trails has supported this project at Wilderness Lakes, and it’s possible they will roll out these changes at their other 80-plus parks if it’s successful. A spokesperson for the company stated:
“We already have solar storage at our Thousand Trails campground in Morgan Hill, California, and we plan to launch a project to expand solar storage at that site in the coming months. We have another solar project coming up in early March on property in Fresno, Calif.
Thousand Trails spokesperson
Right now, the idea of a solar RV park seems like a good starting point for future environmentally friendly developments. In the future, each RV park could be equipped with its own solar array. Some of them already exist, with the panels serving as a roof for the site.
Later, we could see a mix of these two ideas, with large buildings that have many panels combined with smaller systems for each site. For now, the future is uncertain, but it seems that many RV manufacturers and RV park owners are beginning to take an interest in solar power as an additional energy source.
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