TOWER CAMPGROUND, 4609 W. 12TH ST., SIOUX FALLS, SD 57106
As a full-time motorhome dweller and solo snowbird traveler, Tower Campground became my home base as a new resident to Sioux Falls South Dakota in January 2018, and its office staff became my adopted family.
During the last seven years I have noticed office staff and ground crew has changed. But welcoming spirits, smiles, and desires to provide safe havens for short and long-term travelers (Solo or families) by office staff and ground crew remains the same. As a result, this campground has always been home, which is often confirmed every time I return home and need an emergency place to stay with full hookup which occurred recently upon my return to Sioux Falls on April 12, 2024, to April 30, 2024.
Location is everything: I found Tower Campground to be centrally located with easy access to highways, area hospitals, sightseeing, shopping malls, beautifully maintained public parks, local fairground, ballparks, stadiums, concert venues, performing arts theater and sculpture walk. Therefore, as a returnee to this campground and based on its location, I always expect to hear traffic noise produced by ambulance, engines, exhaust, firetrucks, horns, motorcycles, and vehicle tires from nearby highways and 12th street where Tower Campground is located.
As a result, I never complain about traffic noises because it’s not the owner, manager, or property fault; it’s caused by happenings near and/or around the campgrounds location. I take one Benadryl and get good sleep every night.
Amenities: Accessible dumpsters, bathrooms and showers, choice of back-in and pull-through campsites, fire pit/ring at a few camp spaces, full hookup, laundry room, large shade trees in designated areas, small dog park, paved and gravel camp spaces. Reasonable day, weekly and monthly prices. As a result, I will return to Tower Campground as needed in the future. I am aware internet service is available, but I have never used it because I have mobile Wi-Fi service in my motorhome which operates office equipment, conference, and cell phones wherever I homestead. When I am at campgrounds, I use electricity and never have an internet problem.
The campground is spacious, covered by several types and sizes of rocks scattered on top of packed dirt. Further, the campground is surrounded by animal corral type fencing to keep free range cows at bay. I had no idea cows were in the area until day four. I heard constant mooing and thought I might be losing my mind, because I had never seen or heard cows in this area before. Also, my dog had never seen a cow. He was so confused he didn’t know if he should bark or howl. Therefore, he did both.
Carlsbad, New MexicoCarlsbad, New Mexico
This is my first visit to Chosa Campground, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Although, I had not formed any expectations regarding the area; good or bad. However, I determined after getting lost in a cow pasture and negotiating a one-lane gravel dirt road, covered by cow-dung. My GPS no longer worked; I was on my own until finally stumbling upon a paved country road leading to Chosa Campground. I made a left turn into a corral fenced area where twelve other campers in diverse types of camper trailers, motorhomes, popups, primitive tent, buses, cars, and truck campers parked around the enter fence perimeter. As a result, I joined the only camper trailer parked in the center of the campground. Enjoyed constant changing sky.
COW PASTURELOST IN COW PATURE
Two days after my arrival a high wind alert was issued for high profile vehicle travelers. At this time everybody on this campground hunkered down hoping winds would die down soon. Some travelers tried to make a run for it but returned shortly after leaving. Me on the other hand, knew from past experience and seeing motorhomes and 18-wheeler rollovers on the highway and in median strips; that 30-mile and higher winds can be extremely dangerous. For instance, in September 2019, I left Quartzsite Arizona heading for Conchas Lake State Park in New Mexico on I-40 East.
It was a clear sunny no clouds in the sky day. No high wind alerts were issued, and I was driving 60 miles an hour. There were no vehicles on this two-lane highway other than me. I was listening to music and enjoying the ride when the driver side of my motorhome was hit by a strong gust of wind which spent my motorhome around and onto the empty left highway lane heading West where I briefly remained until I cleared a left shoulder drop-off; then I made a U-turn on the highway to travel 1-40 East again. The thought of what could have occurred if this had been a busy highway never escaped me, because this could have been a serious disaster for me, and other travelers. As a result, I am so grateful that God and Angles cleared the highway of all travelers on this day. Therefore, when alerts are issued, I stay put. If winds begin and I am on the highway, I look for safe places to pull off and hibernate for as long as it takes for wind, dust, rain, sleet, hail, or snowstorms to end, because I am never in a hurry to get anywhere.
Meanwhile, because wind alerts for high-profile vehicles were ongoing from the date of my arrival at 2:00pm on 20 March to 02 April which was my 14-day stay limit. I left the campground driving 30-miles an hour heading to Wal-Mart where I restocked my motorhome with food, jugs of water, and other necessities. Then spent the night on Wal-Mart’s parking lot; leaving the next morning at 7:00am driving 50-miles an hour until I reached1-80-E and was able to drive 55-60 miles an hour from time-to-time until I cleared Yankton South Dakota.
My Review for Chosa Campground, Carlsbad New Mexico is as follows:
(1) I would not recommend this campground for seniors with joint issues, osteoporosis or physically disabilities because rock covered dirt ground limits mobility; making it difficult to safely access the large trash dumpster or just take a simple walk around the campground. I noticed some adults takes walks on the shoulder of the paved highway. As well as ride bicycles with children in tow on the highway when traffic is scarce. (2) This campground is very remote for this reason; I consider it unsafe for solo traveling females if other campers are not present. (3) I spent 14-days at this campground and never saw a ranger or local cop, drive onto this ground to observe campers, ensure everyone is abiding by the 14-day stay limits or project the appearance to campers that this is a safe place to stay because (rangers and/or local cops) patrol this area. However, since this is not the case, solo campers could be targets and disappear with their belongings. (4) As more people left between high-wind breaks, I felt lest safe. As a result, I won’t stay here again.
