On the River Golf and RV Resort was constructed in 1995 and currently resides on 132 acres of land. A combination of pull-through and back-in sites are available for rent among a total of 62 RV spots. Guests can have the opportunity to play golf at the six-hole, three-par golf course on the grounds. One of the owners' main goals of the property is to give guests a memorable experience during their stay. Visitors may be directed to some of the local events that occur during the summer. Some of which include Graffiti Weekend or the Blackberry Festival. Additionally, for visitors hoping to participate in outdoor recreation, several hiking trails lead from near On the River Golf and RV Resort to the higher mountain ranges.
Situated on approximately 132 acres of land, On the River Golf and RV Resort features 62 RV sites, all of which include full hookups. Some RV spots are 30 amps, while others are 30 and 50 amps. Twenty of the spots are located along the Umpqua River, with the majority of them being pull-through sites. Many of the back-in sites can be found near the golf course area. The property itself occupies land near the deeper expanse of the river. Those who stay at the RV resort can swim off the property's docks or swim at the county-owned side of the river. Though there may not be a fire pit at every site, the owners offer guests portable firepits to people who would like one.
A six-hole, three par golf course resides on the premises. The longest hole is about 85 yards. with the shortest expanding to about 45 yards. Additionally, a building that is known as the "clubhouse", typically used for recreational purposes, is featured on the property, including a pool table, board games, and a complimentary ice machine, as well as a kitchen with a microwave and water. A laundry facility, restrooms, and showers are available to guests in a separate building in the same vicinity of the clubhouse. The owners also provide a free RV or car wash for their occupants.
On the establishment's grounds, there is a place for the RV resort guests to set up BBQs. Scattered around the acreage are various seating areas as well, especially near the river. There are several places near the river during the spring with flat terrain that can allow visitors to arrange tables and chairs to lounge on.
Throughout the golf course, koi ponds dot the area for décor purposes. Frequently, the Resort hosts charity events, school events, and other similar occasions. There have also been visitors who use the golf course for the purpose of advertisement.
Flatland covers about 14-15 acres of the property down in the valley, and the rest of the land is mostly mountain ranges that incline into the higher part of the country. There are also several hiking trails up the mountains. A maintained loop road that stretches to about two and a half miles is nearby for guests' use, and golf carts are allowed on this particular trail. Some trails lead to various parts of the river. The owner mentions that a fair amount of visitors in the past have brought their mountain bikes to experience the trails.
A distance down the road from the property is the Wildlife Safari in Winston. Many people come for this attraction in addition to the many wineries and microbreweries within the area near Douglas County. On the River Golf and RV Resort is relatively close to the coast, where people go to visit for the area's contrasting climate, which tends to be warmer.
The owner recommends three particular restaurants to his patrons. The first one is called Carlos's, which is a restaurant located in Winston about five miles from the property that serves Mexican cuisine. Abbey's Pizza Parlor is another dining option visitors may be directed to, and lastly, the owner mentions several steakhouses nearby in Roseberg, including Rodeo Steakhouse.
The owner remarks that word-of-mouth has been a major drive for the business and has aided in the success of the property. The summer season is typically the busiest time of year for the RV resort as the weather is generally warmer, though August is when the property receives the most visitors. The majority of guests who have stayed at On the River Golf and RV Resort consist of a variety of people, such as single individuals or patrons with new trucks and trailers that they hope to try out. Still, the owner makes an effort to welcome anyone to the property.
One of the owner's favorite aspects of running the RV resort is meeting new people and seeing repeat guests. One previous patron who stayed at On the River Golf and RV Resort commented, "The man who checked us in was just a hoot. Offered to cut down a few branches, so we didn't scratch our trailer while trying to get in. He accompanied our large boat and accommodated us while we stayed."
The Sumners, the owners of the property, strive to give their guests memories that they can look back on for years to come. To aid in achieving this goal, they interact with their patrons based solely on whether they prefer to interact with the owners. The RV resort implements a quiet hour from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM in an attempt to help visitors be courteous to the other guests. Additionally, pets are allowed on the property.
Throughout the summer season, there are several local events. In July, there's an event called Graffiti Weekend where vintage cars from off the West Coast come to compete for prizes and they drive around the Main Street area. A couple of other notable occasions are the Blackberry Festival and the Douglas County fair, which typically draw in a number of tourists. Many visitors additionally stay at the property due to the location's close proximity to the coast.
On the River Golf and RV Resort is a family-owned business that first began in the early 90s when the Sumner family purchased the property. Currently, the main operators of the property amongst the Sumner family are the parents, their son, and his wife. Before the father had first bought the land, his son was living in Alaska working for an electrical wholesaling outfit. After acquiring the grounds In 1995, they started creating the acreage into an RV resort, and by the end of that same year, they had about 25 RV spots available for rent, and the property continued to develop from there. Additionally, 1995 was the first year they hosted guests. One particular day when the father was on the establishment grounds spending time with his friends, he decided that a golf course would be an enjoyable amenity for the RV resort, and he set out to create the course that still remains today.
The owner mentions that the southern area of the Umpqua River occasionally floods. In the 1920s and 1930s, near the far corner of On the River Golf and RV Resort, there was a dance platform with a concrete slab and a concession stand area that, at the time, was a popular place to visit in Douglas County. It featured live music, including relatively famous performers. In 1964, the dance platform area was washed out by a flood. The owners have pictures of the incident. Hunks of concrete and residue still linger down by the river.
When the father first bought the property, his first mission was to subdivide the acreage, but because the grounds were in the flood plain, the county refused to allow the owner to do this. After further thoughts on the matter, the owner decided to create the land into an RV park, which the county approved. In the winter of 1996 and 1997, it flooded three times. This caused the Sumners to worry that floods would continue to occur in the area, but since then, the owner says it has only flooded twice.
Over the course of a few years, the Sumners had been transitioning from having permanent residents to becoming a full-time RV resort. For years, they ran a hybrid type park where two-thirds of patrons at On the River Golf RV Resort were permanent residents, while the remaining one-third consisted of short-term guests. Now the owners currently want to focus on short-term or mid-term guests rather than long-term.
111 Whitson Ln
Myrtle Creek, Oregon 97457
United States
Campground
The Sumners
