“RV Unfriendly” Truck Stop Changes Hands–Any Different Now?
Posted June 10th 2009 by Russ and Tiña De MarisDuring the last Quartzsite snowbird season, a thread began on the Escapees discussion forum about the seemingly rude response an RVer received at the Park Place (Exit 19) Truck Stop in Quartzsite. The original poster mentioned that he’d pulled in, pumped 180 gallons of fuel into his monster fifth-wheel towing rig, then moved out to the far end of the truck lot to ‘cash it in’ for the night. At 4:00 am, the story goes, he was roused from sleep by a truck stop security gaurd who told him to move it along, no ifs, ands, or buts.
The RVers cry of complaint brought mixed reactions: Some suggested a boycott of the stop was in order, others chided the RVer for not seeking permission before he dropped anchor. Maybe the driver should have just parked it in some free space around the area. Handy, of course, if you know your way around Quartzsite in the dark.
Interestingly, a notice went up on the Internet, advertising the availability for purchase of that same truck stop. While the advert is still running today, the Park Place Truck Stop changed hands a few weeks ago. An apparent truck stop “insider” soon started up a blog, listing alleged complaints about the new management of the outfit. Rumors of tricky handling of overtime pay, late paychecks, and sundry issues of possible license violations are all posted at this site.
One interesting issue that was raised in mid-May was that of a sanitation issues. This one caught our eye: The blog poster said a huge pile of garbage was accumulating outside the c-store. We trotted by for a look, and sure enough, on May 20th, a large pile of stuffed garbage bags was lying in the parking lot a few feet from the store. We thought this a bit odd, as several days before it was said the county health department had paid a visit to the stop.
RVing Quartzsite called the LaPaz County Health Department and asked about the situation. Freddy Carmona, the staffer who took our call assured us that it just seemed highly unlikely that there was a pile of trash by the store; they had already been there regarding a licensing issue, and they hadn’t seen any trash. And, we were told, the outfit had several big commerical dumpsters on site, so why would they pile trash on the ground? A few minutes later we returned to the truck stop to look for dumpsters. Total dumpsters? ZERO. When we called Carmona back–just minutes after our initial conversation, he’d already phoned the manager at the truck stop, and implored them to take care of the mess. Carmona also told us he’d personally go out to the truck stop in a couple of days to make sure it had been done.
Several days later, the pile of rotting trash–replete with pecking ravens–was still there. Eventually dumpsters did appear, and the trash pile vanished. But the whole thing does make you wonder. The prices on the fuel sold at the Exit 19 Truck Stop are certainly higher than those of the other area truck stops. Is the bacterial count in their deli higher too?
June 13th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Almost sounds as tho someone needed a tax write-off and could care less about working!It will become completely trashed and they will sell it or walk away making the bank pull double duty to clean it up.
June 13th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Typical government pukes!!! Sit in an airconditioned office, drawing the taxes you and I pay, with benefits and retrement. Not our retirement obviously.
So why if he did not believe that trash was piled there and there was 2 dumpsters on hand did he make the call to the management of the truck stop??? Duh–can you spell L-A-Z-Y?? If he were my employee I would fire him on the spot. Oh–I forgot–it’s a GUVORERNMENT job. (mispelled in jest!)
Why don’t we as retired and RVer’s buy this place and share the wealth and make it the jewel it should be for an example for all America in the power of the RETIRED who can manage and make a profit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What do you think gang?? It’s time for GREY POWER!!!
Lee
June 13th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
In my previous comment–I suggested we establish “GREY POWER”!! We have the power, the $$, (no matter how small to contribute) and the desire to rectify a wrong that is done to all RVer’s no matter if they are “grey or retired”. This is a terrible wrong that is spreading like a cancer across the country–Look @ what the state of Maine is trying to do–I rest my case–
Many of us are corporate executives and many of us are retired and almost homeless working folks–Right???
Why don’t we get together on the internet and ask if there is interest in a corporation that is owned wholly and run wholly and exclusively by US!!!! The forgotten retired, the spit on retired, the un-respected retired, the retired that brought us out of the covered wagons and on to the MOON!! My father actually crossed Kansas in a covered wagon because his family was so poor! His children helped put America on the moon. Why can’t we “kick some butt” and show America what we are made of???
Thanks for reading this–I feel better– l live by my own saying–”If I do it now what are the rewards?–If I don’t do it now what are the consequences”?
Sorry about the misspellings and sloppy grammar in the first comment but I was angry. This should read better. “)
Lee
June 13th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
As a full time resident in Quartzsite I have enjoyed dining in the deli at the Park Place truck stop, many times. The employees at the deli end of the store always observe all the sanitary precautions.
Just like a doctor going into surgery they ’scrub up’ before doning their plastic gloves.
And, unlike some sub shops that I have visited, they do not handle cash and then go on to make more sandwiches unless they out on fresh sanitary gloves.
Everything behind the counter always appears spotless. And the employees in the deli appear to be very proud of the food they serve and the way they make it.
I will make a recon of the deli ASAP (cuz I’m hooked on their Mesquite broiled chicken breast subs) and see if there has been any change in employee moral under the new owners.
Vic DeHaven
Quartzsite, Aridzone