From Zero to RV Park: Our Journey in Western North Dakota

How We Became RV Park Owners

If you had told us a few years ago that we’d end up owning an RV park in western North Dakota, we probably would’ve laughed and asked what was all included with "RV hookups." But here we are, living the dream!

Let’s rewind a bit.

The Big Decision

Back in 2023, my husband and I decided to take advantage of the insane post-COVID real estate market in western Montana. We sold the 10 acres we owned, along with the venue we had invested so much time and money in, for four times what we paid for it. Not a bad day at the office, right?

With cash in hand and one of us feeling adventurous (and maybe a little insane), we bought an RV, signed the paperwork for the house, and packed up to head east in search of cheaper land.

A House with Character

Our search led us to an old house built in 1903 in very eastern Montana. Now, this house is something else. It has character, a ton of issues, and a rather disturbing past. We paid cash for it and found ourselves as homeowners again, with money still in the bank.

But there was just one small problem.

We had a 44-foot toy hauler and absolutely nowhere to park it. It didn't fit in the alley near our garage, nor could we just leave it parked on the street in front. So naturally, we started looking for land. Again.

The Perfect Lot

The closest available lot we could find happened to be in western North Dakota, about 40 miles past the Montana border, just outside of Dickinson. The listing price was just $20,000. Perfect!

While scrolling through the listing, I noticed something interesting: it looked like there were RV hookups already on the property. Like… a lot of them. Maybe ten? It was literally the size of one city lot in a very small town.

Now, keep in mind — at this point, we knew absolutely nothing about RV parks, hookups, or North Dakota regulations. But curiosity got the better of me, so I called city hall.

A Surprising Revelation

They told me the property used to be an RV park, and if someone wanted to turn it back into one, that would be totally fine. Totally fine? Really? Just anybody? Like us? I was like, "Okay!"

I hung up the phone and immediately called Jason at work.

“Hey… random question,” I said. “Do you want to own an RV park?”

He didn't respond instantly. Then: “Um… I guess?”

And just like that, we bought an RV park. Well, sort of.

Discovering the Potential

The property actually had 10 full hookups already in place — water, power, and sewer — with 2 partial connections. We couldn’t believe our luck. However, loving small towns and having lived most of my life in them, I know that not all people welcome outsiders. At that point, the only thing we had going for us was that we weren't from anywhere farther west or the east coast.

But what really caught our attention was the beautiful property right next door, which was already nicely set up and owned by someone else... but not for sale.

The Determined Approach

So I did what any determined person would do: I listened and took notes as my husband started asking locals questions. I Googled the owner, found his contact information, and texted him. This wasn't a month or two later; that was within minutes of getting the name.

After a few conversations, a phone call, and some negotiating, we agreed on a price and were thrilled to add that property to what would become American RV Park. The guy could have kept it, as he said his wife invested more money into it than what we were offering, but I almost feel like he wanted to see something happen to it.

The Learning Curve

At this point, it’s important to remind you: we still knew absolutely nothing about running an RV park. Nothing.

So we started researching what we actually needed to operate legally. That’s when we discovered the permitting process.

Because of some… let’s call it “character building” experiences with permits where we had previously lived, we assumed this process would be a nightmare, especially being in another small town. However, we felt welcome already, and we were honored that the town Mayor at the time was kind of looking out for us and helping us along the way. Our original plan was to just do the bare minimum and run the property as an Airbnb-style RV stay without dealing with the drama and process of permitting.

Embracing the Challenge

But then the state reached out, talked through everything with us, and encouraged us to move forward with the full permitting process. So we did. And we were approved!

After a lot of learning, cleaning, fixing, planning, and probably Googling things, we officially opened American RV Park to the public in May of 2025.

A Surprising Success

Honestly, the first season blew us away. Our little park has welcomed travelers from all over the country and Canada, and the response was so incredible that we were honored with Best in State by Hipcamp during our very first year. We definitely didn’t see that coming!

Today, American RV Park is proudly Marine Corps veteran-owned and operated (thank you for your service, Jason), after doing two tours in Iraq back in the early 2000s. We’re excited to offer something pretty unique for guests: we officially have a permanent on-site RV service technician and inspector available at the park. Pretty cool, right?

The Ongoing Adventure

We’re still learning the ins and outs of RV park ownership every single day. We love meeting our guests and hearing their travel stories as they pass through. Even though our park is small and basic, it is still a full-fledged RV park, and running it has been an adventure in itself that we never expected.

The Best Part of the Journey

But the absolute best part of this journey has been meeting the incredible people who choose to stay with us. Your stories, travels, and conversations around the park are what make this place so incredibly special to us, not to mention the community support.

So thank you for being part of the American RV Park story. We can’t wait to see you again.

And remember, whether you're a seasoned traveler or a newbie, there's always a place for you here at American RV Park. Come share your adventures with us!