Town Park virgin? Get your answers here!

[Pass Port]

Welcome Scrogan Family 

As a TP newbie I would opt for Tuesday morning. It will appear that there are no spots left, but you need to walk around and talk with people. You'll meet some great people and often you'll get invited to camp with others. IMO, that's harder to do in the dark, and more stressful not knowing the lay of the land. The primitive area on the other side of Bear Creek often has spots after Saturday, but again, befriending those around you yields good results, especially if have something to offer! 

Hope that helps!
 

Wow that is so disheartening...I can't believe there will be no spots by Tuesday morning and we have to "have something to offer" to get one. Seems like that should be better organized? We don't play music and in general don't have anything to offer  Where is Bear Creek anyway? It's not on that map and does that mean we have to cross a river each time!? Ugh, I was excited to be in Town Park but now thinking Mary E. Illium would be better...

Naw, you're missing my point.

First, Town Park opens to us at 8am on Saturday. Within a short period of time, the place will fill up with tarps. A lot of people like you can't be there by then. The bigger camps throw tarps for the people they know are coming, same with the smaller camps. Just because it seems there are no spots, doesn't mean that people's tents will take up the same foot print. Trust me, I was in your shoes just a few years ago. I showed up on Monday morning and thought, what did I get myself into.   But I did what others on this forum said, talk to campers around where things seem like your speed. Most likely you will find new awesome friends and a good place to pitch your tent. Things switched 180 once I stepped out and introduced myself. At this point no one can say for certain where you can find a spot. There could be open ground.

The offerings I mentioned isn't some type of payment to get a spot, but rather a good ice breaker to talk to someone who may be your neighbor. It's just being hospitable, just like the Bloody Marys on Monday. Many of us enjoy making new friends by offering them a cocktail or beer! Oh, speaking of beer. I forgot to include on that post on the other thread, to you, that on Tuesday there will be a beer sharing event in TP at 12 noon. People are bringing different craft beer from their local area. Should be fun!

The primitive area on the other side of the creek is really nice. There is a bridge in the main part of the campground that crosses Bear Creek. It is some people's favorite spot! It would be at the top of the map and the bridge is almost straight up from where Camp Wander In is labeled. It got cut off from this version of the map.

Mary E has more room to spread out, that's true. But I love TP and I bet you will also. It's close and lots of fun events throughout the week. 

Don't be disheartened! Bring your favorite beer, if you like beer, to the event on Tuesday at noon. You'll meet plenty of us that will help you find a place! It's a very supportive community!!

[Pass Port]

Yes! You will be able to drive into the main campground and drop off your stuff. The volunteers will give you 30 mins or so to unload. Then they will direct you to where you can park. Many of us have wagons to help get the heavier items to your spot.

A fun road trip sounds like fun, but of course I'm going to tell you to skip all that and spend more time in Telluride! It is truly a beautiful place. One of my camp leaders like to say, "If you're not here by 8am on Saturday you're late!" Each day more people show up, especially Tuesday and Wednesday. They all find spots ... so don't stress too much.

[ScroganFamily]

Thanks everyone, just not what I had expected. I didn't know there was a tarp run...seems wrong to me like, first come, first served, no spot saving for days...it screws people like us. It will all be fine and I'm sure we'll find a place that is ok but I'd be lying if I said I was as excited as I was...now seems stressful. We get 30 minutes to scout for a spot, make friends, get invited to put camp there and then fully unload; that's nuts.

[Hot Sugar]

The best way to deal with unloading is to to drive in, unload your gear, then go park before you find a suitable camp site. If you can, you could even send someone to park while the rest of the family finds a nice looking spot.

You'll be able to find a spot. Like Pass Port said, just ask around and people will help you find a spot that will work for you.

Make sure to come up to Run a Muck Tuesday at Sunset. The Good Time Travelers will be playing on our solar powered stage!

[Maple Al]

Rule number one is that every thing works if you let it. You are going to have a great time unless you let stress get in the way. The one hour rule to find and set up camp is a generalization setup to keep things moving as others will be coming in as well, but if it takes a bit longer no one is going to throw you out or anything. But the faster you get setup and you vehicle parked the sooner you can start having fun. Once you get there you will enjoy town park... and probably end up like most of our festivarian family with the conclusion that the week coming up is the best week of the year...
See you soon...

 Listening to: Packing for Telluride

[troutbum]

Thanks everyone, just not what I had expected. I didn't know there was a tarp run...seems wrong to me like, first come, first served, no spot saving for days...it screws people like us. It will all be fine and I'm sure we'll find a place that is ok but I'd be lying if I said I was as excited as I was...now seems stressful. We get 30 minutes to scout for a spot, make friends, get invited to put camp there and then fully unload; that's nuts.

Hey Scrogans! Last year was my first year in TP. We got in about 4 on Tuesday. We had no problem finding a spot and actually were pumped at camping by the river. I admit I had some anxiety when we first got there about having come too late and what not. That went away immediately after we got set up. Like Al says, everything works. I've been looking forward to getting back since June last year when we left. It really was one of the best times I've ever had because of all the great people in TP. As a result I'm bringing my son and daughter with so they can have the same experience.

I'd say enjoy the journey for what it's worth. You're in a fortunate group that is lucky enough to be in TP for this great festival.

[SparkyGrass]

I am really pleased that you guys can put us Newbies minds to rest on the arrival chaos. I think I am as pumped about the camping "social" as attending the music. Don't get me wrong, I have some must see bands, but I also see some great opportunities to chill, and jam with other campers at TP. My preference would to NOT be next to some all night loud party bunch...like I used to be....
I plan to get checked in and set up early enough Monday to start joining the pre-festival functions and absolutely bring some great craft beer from Texas to partake in the beer party. T minus 72 hours until departure!!
Cheers everyone 

 Listening to: what we recorded last night at our local jam

[ScroganFamily]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I'm now convinced we'll find a spot but my husband isn't and wants to get there by Saturday to ensure it...that means scrapping our road trip I was excited about. Oh well...it will all be fun no matter what.

[casey.bennett90]

Hey!! Another newbie here! We scored TP passes, but a bunch of our friends will be camping elsewhere. Will they be able to come and hang out in Town park with us?

[Hooch]

Hey!! Another newbie here! We scored TP passes, but a bunch of our friends will be camping elsewhere. Will they be able to come and hang out in Town park with us?

Yes, until Thursday.  After that, only those with Town Park Camping or Warner Field wristbands will be allowed in.

[Hot Sugar]

I am really pleased that you guys can put us Newbies minds to rest on the arrival chaos. I think I am as pumped about the camping "social" as attending the music. Don't get me wrong, I have some must see bands, but I also see some great opportunities to chill, and jam with other campers at TP. My preference would to NOT be next to some all night loud party bunch...like I used to be....
I plan to get checked in and set up early enough Monday to start joining the pre-festival functions and absolutely bring some great craft beer from Texas to partake in the beer party. T minus 72 hours until departure!!
Cheers everyone 

Sounds like you'll want to check out primitive camping in Town Park. It's a little less rowdy back there. As long as you check in with your neighbors about what they have planned (i.e. Nightgrass shows at Run a Muck or late night picks at Howdy), you'll be able to find a space.

[Hot Sugar]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I'm now convinced we'll find a spot but my husband isn't and wants to get there by Saturday to ensure it...that means scrapping our road trip I was excited about. Oh well...it will all be fun no matter what.

Road trips are great, but nothing is better than the full prefest experience at Telluride. You'll have a great time! Be sure to come visit the historic camps and allow us to properly welcome you to Telluride.

[alrghtgy]

So, I'm still trying to get my brain around the load-in process for TP.  No stress, but I just wanna be sure I know enough to give the wife the impression I have a handle on it ...we plan to arrive Saturday early afternoon and I have no idea which way to head once we enter TP. 
If I understand correctly, if I could find somewhere to park in town, it sounds like the thing to do would be to enter one of the TP camping gates and have tarp(s) in hand.  Then just start walking, looking, asking campers about the prospective spots I come across.  Once I find the spot, plant the tarp and then return to my vehicle...At this point, would I then get in a vehicle line at whatever entrance is nearest to where my tarp is?
As far as getting the equipment from my vehicle to the campsite...are folks driving up to a gate and dropping all equipment there?  Or, are they able to drive their vehicle IN to the campground (before it fills in) and loading out at their campsite?   
Last question at the risk of sounding like a Jack@ss and received a sound Smiting *yike*...I love kids.  I really do.  I raised 4 and I have 3 grandkids.  But I'd prefer not to camp next to a small army of them for 1.5 weeks.       I know its an open campground of course, but do families tend to migrate to any certain area or is it totally random?

 Listening to: seconds ticking on the clock till departure for FESTIVALLLL!!!

[Skubes]

The load in process is much easier than you'd expect! There's one road you can drive along the perimeter of the camping area. That's as close as you'll get to your future spot. You can park at either of of the road to grab a tarp and start scoping. Then you can unload at a spot closest to your camp site and unload there. Each year, we unload all our gear in one spot. Then I start hauling and setting up while my husband drives the truck to get parked for the week. Seems to be the most efficient order of operations for us, and you'll probably find some helpful folks to assist.

There are some kid friendly areas and not so kid friendly areas, and you'll be able to find your vibe. The primitive area and closer to the camp host trend to attract families. Don't be afraid to ask around. Lots of us want a similar experience, if you catch my drift.

[Pass Port]

So, I'm still trying to get my brain around the load-in process for TP.  No stress, but I just wanna be sure I know enough to give the wife the impression I have a handle on it ...we plan to arrive Saturday early afternoon and I have no idea which way to head once we enter TP. 
If I understand correctly, if I could find somewhere to park in town, it sounds like the thing to do would be to enter one of the TP camping gates and have tarp(s) in hand.  Then just start walking, looking, asking campers about the prospective spots I come across.  Once I find the spot, plant the tarp and then return to my vehicle...At this point, would I then get in a vehicle line at whatever entrance is nearest to where my tarp is?
As far as getting the equipment from my vehicle to the campsite...are folks driving up to a gate and dropping all equipment there?  Or, are they able to drive their vehicle IN to the campground (before it fills in) and loading out at their campsite?   
Last question at the risk of sounding like a Jack@ss and received a sound Smiting *yike*...I love kids.  I really do.  I raised 4 and I have 3 grandkids.  But I'd prefer not to camp next to a small army of them for 1.5 weeks.       I know its an open campground of course, but do families tend to migrate to any certain area or is it totally random?

Skubes is right on my friend! The first time is filled with unknowns, hence many of us (me), try to help and give too much info making it seem harder than it is. It is really a fun experience. Deciding on a spot will be the crux, after that it all flows down into the beer cup!

See you in 2 days!