More RV camping spots coming to Tri-Cities. KOA is expanding

Five more acres of RV camping sites are being added in Pasco.

The KOA in the Tri-Cities are converting its boat and RV storage lots to 55 new camping spots — some with their own fenced dog yard and propane fire pit.

“The big part of the expansion is that we were too small for many people, said campground manager Travis Lundquist.

“The RV industry has changed,” he said. “The RVs are bigger and longer and trucks are bigger and longer.”

And that means they need bigger camping spots.

The Pasco/Tri-Cities KOA off Broodmoor Boulevard near Tri-Cities Prep Catholic High School offers short-term and long-term spaces.

About 70 percent of the park’s 185 sites are designated for those who are staying a month or longer — often Hanford contractors and construction workers.

The KOA also owns adjacent mini storage units and a motor home and boat storage area that will be emptied by the end of August to prep for building more camping sites.

Bigger, longer RVs

Lundquist, who manages the KOA with his wife Tricia, says that the park was built about 20 years ago to accommodate RVs that were typically 35 feet with a few slide-outs. The KOA spaces were built to hold a max of 55 feet.

“The rigs now have toy haulers and can be up to 45 feet long. They are being pulled with a larger truck, and require bigger spots. We were unable to accommodate them,” he said.

Construction is set to start in October and finish in the spring, adding 55 more RV sites — 30 percent more than they have now.

The spaces will be 75- to 91-feet long and 33- to 55-feet wide. Sites also will have nicer seating areas, propane fire pits and a barbecue area.

“Sites will be good for dog guests,” he added. “Some will have a fully fenced-in yard and will have their own mini dog park.”

Lundquist was hired two years ago to renovate and upgrade the entire park. He and his wife previously managed the KOA in Pendleton for five years.

“She’s my Joanna Gaines of decorating,” he said.

Tricia Lundquist is the brain behind the decorations, paint colors and hand-painted murals.

In addition to the new RV site project, the Lundquists have overseen basic upgrades like new paint, fences, bathroom floors, an electric gate for the storage units and extra security cameras.

They’ve also added amenities such as full-size gazebos, a renovated play park, a RC track for remote control cars, a giant chess game set and they have plans for miniature golf.

“Being right next to the freeway, we need to do things to distract people,” Travis Lundquist said. “We’ve added more things that are geared toward family and having a good time.”

This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 2:03 PM.