By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Creek Side RV Resort in Hays is entering its second phase of construction this summer.
The facility, which is about a mile off Interstate 70 on the bypass, recently finished a playground and small dog park.
A pond, cabins, a large dog park and a walk-in movie theater are in the works for phase two of the resort.
Aaron Dreher, owner, said the park has 36 sites and will add nine more sites during phase 2. Eventually, he hopes to have 50 sites at the facility.
All of Creek Side's current sites are pull-through with full water and electric hookups.
Phase one included the office, store, bathhouse, laundry, propane station, dump station and horseshoe pit. Wifi is also available at the park.
The RV park opened in the fall and was having some full nights until COVID-19 halted travel temporarily.
Now that states are reopening, he said business is starting to pick up again. He said he anticipates a busy travel season as people opt to travel by RV rather than plane or or other mass transportation.
Three cabins will be completed by mid- to late summer with 10 more cabins planned for later phases of the park.
The cabins will have two queen-size loft beds, fireplace and bathroom. They will be fully furnished, including fridge, microwave, sink, TV, DVD player, dishes and sheets. They will also have their own outdoor fire pits, charcoal grills and picnic tables.
Dreher said traveling nurses use the facility and like to have something furnished they can rent month to month. Short and nightly stays will also be offered. Dreher has yet to set the rates for cabins.
RV spots run $35 per night for nightly rentals.
Although the resort is fairly self-contained, Uber provides service to the resort, as do food delivery services, Dreher said.
Dreher said he hopes he can make the walk-in theater available to the public. The theater would show second run or classic movies. Movie goers would be encouraged to bring their lawn chairs or blankets and snacks.
Admission would be free for resort guests. He said he hoped to begin work on that project this fall.
The pond for the park has been dug, and Dreher hopes to stock it with fish, as well as build a dock.
"What people really like about us is that we are off the interstate," Dreher said. "They don't want to be right off the interstate because it's loud."
Creek Side is surrounded on two sides by large, mature trees, which serve as a sound and wind break.
Dreher also will soon offer used RV sales. He will start small with six or seven campers at a time.
This fall and winter, the resort is going to offer mobile or pull-through RV winterizing. You can come to the resort and have your RV winterized while you wait or make an appointment for the staff to come to your location.
During phase three, the park will add five premium sites, that will have larger concrete pads with their own fire pits, picnic tables, larger grass areas and mature trees. Dreher said he hopes to start on phase three next year.
Dreher also has plans for an archery range and RC car track.