Photo courtesy of Laramie BoomerangThe following is an excerpt from the Laramie Boomerang.
The Phillips family has owned, managed and operated Phillips RV Park for 90 years, and it has been a vital part of the Evanston business community. The physical face of the business has changed over those 90 years; however, the dedication and hard work of the Phillips family have made a lasting impression on residents and visitors alike.
Phillips RV Park is one of the two oldest RV parks in the nation that have been owned and operated by the same family with no outside employees.
The members of the Phillips family now involved with the business are second-generation owner Joyce Phillips, 92; Joyce’s daughter Darla Phillips; and Darla’s two children, Brian and Courtney. When the Herald asked the family what they were doing to celebrate the RV park’s 90th anniversary, Darla Phillips responded.
“We have gift bags at the office to give customers when they check in. The bags contain bookmarks and pens with our business information on them. We give them tokens that they can bring when they return for a second visit. At that time, they can flip the token and receive either a 5% or 15% discount,” Darla said. “We also have a punch card we give to the 90th customer who can use it for a free fourth visit. Also, every 90th customer this summer gets 90% off the fee for the space.”
Visitors who stay at Phillips RV Park receive a handout with instructions on where to park and terms of service. Also on the handout is a brief history of the RV park property written by the Phillips family.
In the spring of 1936, Bona Elbert Phillips and his wife, Maggie, established the Phillips Camp, a Sinclair service station and the family home on the property where the RV park sits in Evanston today.
Bona died that same year, leaving Maggie with five children to raise and a business to run.
At that time, gas cost 19 cents per gallon and ethyl cost 21 cents per gallon. Besides gas, the business offered seven trailer spaces, tent camping and 11 cabins with adjacent garages open to customers traveling the Lincoln Highway.
Customers shared a community bath and shower house with running well water.
In 1945, the gas station was removed, and the business was renamed Phillips Cabins.
At that time, cabins rented for $1.25 per night, or $1.50 with linens. The cabins were heated with coal stoves, and because there was no running water, water had to be carried to the rooms. Trailer spaces rented for 25 cents per night.
Click here for the rest of this story from the Laramie Boomerang.
