Steckel Park will be the first KOA in Ventura County. Its buyer plans to call the site “Ventura Ranch KOA at Steckel Park.”The closest KOA campground now is in Acton, off Highway 114 in Antelope Valley. Steckel is KOA’s only location along the California coast, from San Diego all the way to Templeton in San Luis Obispo County.Ownership by a KOA franchisee will bring wider exposure to Steckel Park and Santa Paula: the site will be included in the more than a million directories distributed by the company every year. In addition, KOA parks across the county will refer travelers to the Steckel Park location.It is expected that more amenities will be added to the park, which would likely bring a price increase that would not require county approval.
Supervisors approve Kampgrounds of America lease of Steckel Park
September 18, 2009
Santa Paula News
With its wondrous display of birds, Steckel Park, located off Highway 150 north of Santa Paula, is already a favorite RV stop.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesWith its wondrous display of birds, Steckel Park, located off Highway 150 north of Santa Paula, is already a favorite RV stop. Now a local franchise of Kampgrounds of America has leased the park in a deal approved Tuesday by the Board of Supervisors.With about 460 Kampgrounds of America across the nation - 32 already in California - the lease agreement with a franchisee followed a protracted disagreement between the county and Far West Resorts that centered on upkeep and lengths of stay by park guests. As a county-owned park, Far West Resorts required final approval from Supervisors for the sale of the lease for the 72-site RV campground to Ventura Ranch KOA.The Kampgrounds of America will officially take over the park once its negotiations with Far West are finalized. The Kampgrounds franchise is expected to pay Far West about $500,000 for the lease takeover, which runs through 2024 and can be extended a total of 25 more years.The county is expected to get about 10 percent of the sale price. The KOA franchise will also pay the county a share of its revenues, starting with its minimum rent of $45,000 annually. In addition, Ventura Ranch KOA agreed to spend at least $1.5 million over the life of the lease on improvements to the park, another issue in the rift between the county and Far West.
