Another Season Ends - 04/15/19

Monday – April 15, 2019
Another Snowbird Season Ends
Imperial Dam LTVA
Yuma, Arizona

Attention all Snowbirds! The Imperial Dam Long Term Visitor Area (LTVA) is officially closed. Hope to see you all back here when it reopens for the winter season on September 15, 2019.

This winter season we arrived at the Imperial Dam LTVA on November 11, 2018. As we did during our last winter season visit here (2015 / 2016), we will join several other snowbirds who adhere to the philosophy of stay-till-it-closes, and depart in the morning on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.

We spent 156 days at the Imperial Dam LTVA. The flat-rate camping fee of $180.00 covers the period September 15 through April 15. Therefore, our cost to camp here was $1.15 per day. With amenities that include flush toilet restrooms, pay showers, water spigots, dump stations and trash dumpsters it is no wonder that thousands of snowbirds flock to this area in the winter.

We prefer to stay at the Imperial Dam LTVA, for the amenities offered here and its close proxcimity to Yuma (about 25 miles). Of course mild, sunny, rain-free weather is definitely a deciding factor in selecting this location in the southwest region of the U.S.

It is always interesting to see the many different types of camping units used by other campers to accommodate their mobile lifestyle. As in our past visits, we observed self-made utility trailer units, pickup truck campers, camper vans, pop-up campers, travel trailers, 5th wheel trailers and motorhomes. Once again, there were the more unusual campers:

1970’s Vintage GM Motorhome
Conventional Semi-Truck Motorhome
Semi-Truck with Attached Living Unit
Fire Truck Converted into a Camper

During this visit there was a large contingent of ham radio operators that set up their campsites in the Hermans Horse Path section at Imperial Dam LTVA. It was interesting to watch them as they set up their radio antennas (probably 30 to 40 foot high). We subsequently learned there is a ham radio convention that takes place in Quartzsite, AZ in January that quite a few of them attend.

When we arrived in early November 2018, there were a lot of open campsites to choose from. By late December and early January a majority of the campsites were occupied.

According to local weather reports, this was the coldest winter season recorded in Yuma in the past 100 years. We can attest to that report! It was cold, with nighttime temperatures dipping into the 30s, but compared to the frigid weather back home in Illinois, we were'nt about to complain. The wind became another factor. We experienced several days each month with wind gusts of 20 plus miles per hour. With low daytime temperatures plus the windy days, we spent more days inside than we did during our last stay here. Such is life in the desert... just go with the flow!

We made new friends and enjoyed visiting with friends from our previous visits. Sadly, we had two campers that passed, but we reside in the belief their spirit lives on with those that knew them.

We depart this desert environment with a feeling of nostalgia. Save us a spot... we wil be back!

Tomorrow another adventure begins.