Town Park camping

[RockyMtnGuy]

Greetings fellow Festivarians,

  This year will be my 7th consecutive TBF and I'm considering entering the Town Park Lottery for a shot at camping on site (past years have either camped in Ouray or gotten a condo in Mtn Village or Ridgway).  My question is, how 'crowded' are the sites in Town Park?  Is it akin to the accommodations at Warner Field (a sea of tents and tarps)?  Or, is there some 'breathing room', so to speak?  Also, will there be space available for a pop-up camper or Class C or similar remaining on Wednesday night (if vehicle pass is attained).
  Thanks in advance for any positive (and negative, if you must) replies; and good luck to everyone entering this years lottery.

Respectfully,
  Kevin

 Listening to: Spring Creek Bluegrass Band -- Mockingbird

[Auntie Hope]

Breathing is never an issue in Town Park, even deeply. 

Good Luck!

Auntie Hope 

[Hot Sugar]

I can kind of relate to this. This summer will be my fifth TBF in a row. The first two years, I spent in Illium (not quite condo-ing, but no where near Town Park), then we finally made it to Town Park for my third year, but we got there just in time for the music to start, so we didn't really get to be a part of Town Park. After camping in Town Park from land rush until Monday morning this past summer, there is no other way I would want to spend my festival. In short, you really should try it out.
 

[TellurideTom]

If you don't plan on getting there before Wednesday I wouldn't bother putting in for a vehicle pass. It could be near to impossible to find a spot that late in the game.
Plan on tent camping. It won't be quite like Warner Field but it still could be tight by Wednesday.
Good Luck.

[Skubes]

Entered the Town Park lottery for the first time and dying with anticipation.  Anyone know how long it usually takes to find out if you're among the luckiest of festivarians??  Thank you! 

[FestiTrey]

Entered the Town Park lottery for the first time and dying with anticipation.  Anyone know how long it usually takes to find out if you're among the luckiest of festivarians??  Thank you! 

I just checked and I got the email last year at 12:55 in the afternoon.  You can keep an eye on your credit card activity as well because you will likely see the transaction on there before you get the email if you were chosen.  That said, I haven't seen or heard from anybody yet that has seen a transaction go through or that has received an email so they might not be processing them as quickly this year.  Soon enough... 

[Goody]

I did Town Park  for the first time last year. A little indefferent on it all.

I showed up Sunday and there was little room left for my small group of four. We had to set up right smack dab in the middle of a field of rocks in the blazing sun. Luckily I spend most of the day taking in music. There wasn't really a ton of people around just a bunch of spots that were claimed with tarps held down by rocks and what not. Many people left these sites "claimed" until Wed-Thursday when they finally showed up. Feel I should have the right to a spot if I'm there and other perosn was just there to lay a tarp down three days prior. Anywho...........

Tha being said I had a blast and will hopefully be back this year.

Here is to hoping I get drawn today.

 Listening to: Toubab Krewe 11-10-2011

[FestiTrey]

Entered the Town Park lottery for the first time and dying with anticipation.  Anyone know how long it usually takes to find out if you're among the luckiest of festivarians??  Thank you! 

I just checked and I got the email last year at 12:55 in the afternoon.  You can keep an eye on your credit card activity as well because you will likely see the transaction on there before you get the email if you were chosen.  That said, I haven't seen or heard from anybody yet that has seen a transaction go through or that has received an email so they might not be processing them as quickly this year.  Soon enough... 

I know people are starting to see transactions on their credit cards so you might want to check with your bank. 

As for camping in TP, I've done it for three years straight now.  The first year we showed up around 11:30 on Wednesday night and walked around for over an hour trying to find a place to put our one tent.  It was overwhelming in the dark.  We were about to setup our tent by the port-o-potties but ended up just squeezing in some extra room by one of the more established camps.  I wouldn't recommend doing that.  The last two years, we've been there on Saturday morning when TP is opened up to festivarians and stayed the whole week.  It's the only way to experience TP!

[Skubes]

Will we be SOL if we show up Monday or Tuesday afternoon?  Or should we start saving our vacation banks for June?

[FestiTrey]

Will we be SOL if we show up Monday or Tuesday afternoon?  Or should we start saving our vacation banks for June?

I would say, it depends.  However, if you are going to come on Monday, why not just take the extra day off?  It is worth it...I promise you.  There are activities and parties going all week long in that park and you get to meet people who've been coming for years.  The people who go to TP each year are truly family.  While I love the festival itself, nothing beats that prefest time. 

If you just can't swing it to come all week, you should probably be fine with a small group/camp on Monday or Tuesday but you may have to be a little bit creative on where you put your tents and you will definitely be limited on where you could setup.  People are very friendly, which is good because you will be right next to your neighbors. 

[Skubes]

Will we be SOL if we show up Monday or Tuesday afternoon?  Or should we start saving our vacation banks for June?

I would say, it depends.  However, if you are going to come on Monday, why not just take the extra day off?  It is worth it...I promise you.  There are activities and parties going all week long in that park and you get to meet people who've been coming for years.  The people who go to TP each year are truly family.  While I love the festival itself, nothing beats that prefest time. 

If you just can't swing it to come all week, you should probably be fine with a small group/camp on Monday or Tuesday but you may have to be a little bit creative on where you put your tents and you will definitely be limited on where you could setup.  People are very friendly, which is good because you will be right next to your neighbors. 

Thanks for all the good info, FestiTrey.  The ticket gods hath smiled upon us, and we will be there Satuday afternoon.  See you then!

 Listening to: Chloe dog snoring away