Pioneers On The Frontier: Valdez KOA
Tim and Laverne Eickman Happily Make The Trip From Texas Each Season To The The Last Frontier To Run The First KOA RV Park In The State
Taking the family on an RV trip usually conjures up visions of going to Yellowstone, or some other park in the lower 48. However, Tim and Laverne Eickman make the drive annually from Texas to Valdez Alaska in their RV to operate the Valdez KOA Campground. “We actually drive up, we have an RV and we make the journey every year up and back. It is such an awesome trip to travel this country and see the vastness and the differences, everything is unique. We travel up from Texas every year, however, this next year we will travel up from Arizona. We used to make it in seven days, but we have learned to take our time and enjoy it as we go”, states Laverne Eickman.
Tim and Laverne have been operating their campground in Valdez for the last ten years. “We started the park in the fall of 2007. We built the RV park, but the cabins were here. My husband had a dream, he’s lived in Alaska now for over 20 years, it’s a state he fell in love with when he came up here in the 80’s. He raised his family up here and always came back every summer. He wanted people to see Alaska the way he did, with just the raw beauty and excitement and joy of what’s here and that’s what we’ve tried to develop into an RV park”, explained Laverne.
While the Eickman’s do not have the only RV park in Valdez, they do have the distinction of becoming the first KOA campground in Alaska. They made the transition last fall from an independent campground to a KOA campground. “We are the first KOA in Alaska, and it means a lot for us. We are also the furthest north and the furthest west in North America”, touted Laverne.
When asked about the differences of operating as an independent vs. through a franchise, Laverne seems to feel there are more advantages to operating as a KOA. “They talked to us last fall and we determined that they were probably the most exciting thing out there in campgrounds. Their knowledge is so valuable, their knowledge of campgrounds and what’s coming up and what needs changing to suit the population is vast. They have brought to us a whole array of looking at things from a different direction. We are able to see what is changing in the market and that is where their knowledge is invaluable”, explained Laverne.
“The most difficult part of the transition, is learning the software, because software is one of those things that once you learn it, you don’t want to give it up, even though there might be better things out there. Learning is a challenge, but knowledge never hurts anyone”, Laverne said. Even with the difficulties of learning new software, Laverne doesn’t regret deciding to make the transition. “KOA is something that Tim and I wish we would have found earlier in our life, because we would have raised a family working in a KOA. When we went to the KOA convention last year, we saw families that have been in KOA for 40 to 50 years. It’s a great way of life.”
According to Laverne, taking an RV adventure in Alaska has become more popular over the years. “There is a growing trend where people fly into Anchorage and rent an RV. If you really want to see the state and see what Alaska is all about, you need to do it on a road trip”, advised Laverne. “To fly out to these various places is not the same. People are amazed when I tell them, when you leave Glennallen, which is about two hours north of us, there is no gas station until you get a mile past me here in Valdez. I tell people that if a sign says there is no gas station for however many miles, that is what it means. Alaska is different, it’s a different way of life and the only way to see that is to travel it.”
There is no typical visitor to the Valdez KOA. “They come from around the world, Australia, New Zealand, all over Europe, some come from South America”, said Laverne. “The typical stay is anywhere from two to five days. It really takes that long to see the area. We are usually not the first place they come to in Alaska, but we are the last place they visit before they leave out. There’s lots of sightseeing, Valdez has a history back to the gold rush days, and there are a lot of museums for people who like history. We have gorgeous mountains and people can take a day cruise out to Prince William Sound, some of the beauty is hard to explain, it’s mind boggling.”
“I tell people it’s kind of unique for someone who always dreamed about Alaska to finally be here and to get to spend as much time as I do here. It’s an astounding beauty, there are no words to explain it. It’s just unbelievable”, stated Laverne.
Jared Langenegger
A graduate of New Mexico State University with B.S. in wildlife and fisheries science, Jared spent 15 years working in fisheries and parks management. He enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, painting, and wood working.
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Valdez KOA is surrounded by 18 acres of wilderness that quietly casts a spell. The lure of the vast land is a 360 degree view of snowcapped mountains, the silence of the land and a crystal clear salmon bearing creek that runs through the park.