meadowpark questions

[poster72]

Hey all, long time TBF goer, and day shows at rockygrass but never camped.  Sounds like the campground opens Monday?  is that right? 

We have a vehicle pass also.  Does this mean we could use the truck to sleep in, or do cars have to be moved out of the area?  if so, whats the vehicle pass really for?

Would it be a huge advantage to go set up a tent before thursday?  We are bringing our 9 month old boy and would like this to work well. 

I read some posts about the line for getting in to the festival.  Random numbers and all.  If you get in line by 5am and really would like some shade for the day from the left side, is it feasible?

Thanks all!  cant wait to get there!!!

[poster72]

now i see that there is onsite camping, and then meadowpark camping.  didnt know that.  how far is meadowpark from the festival/line? 

[BluegrassDustin]

Hey all, long time TBF goer, and day shows at Rockygrass but never camped.  Sounds like the campground opens Monday?  is that right? 

We have a vehicle pass also.  Does this mean we could use the truck to sleep in, or do cars have to be moved out of the area?  if so, whats the vehicle pass really for?

Would it be a huge advantage to go set up a tent before Thursday?  We are bringing our 9 month old boy and would like this to work well. 

I read some posts about the line for getting in to the festival.  Random numbers and all.  If you get in line by 5am and really would like some shade for the day from the left side, is it feasible?

Thanks all!  cant wait to get there!!!

Correct, the campground opens on Monday at 9am.

The vehicle pass is essentially a "camping pass for your car". It will be able to stay with you, at your campsite, all weekend. Therefore it will be available for sleeping, infant discos, or as a storage area for the little one's . Whatever you want/need it for. 

I would think that you would want to set up your tent when you get there...but I'm sure some of the other Meadowparkers can fill you in on the best way to do things of that nature.

The line all depends on the number of people who wait for line numbers...if only 50 people get numbers, and you get in line at 5am...there will be 50 people in front of you, but I would think you could still get a decent spot. I think line positioning is an art unto itself, so I'll again leave that one to the Festivarians here.

Meadow park is about a block away from the main entrance to Planet Bluegrass/the line.

[apollo]

now i see that there is onsite camping, and then meadowpark camping.  didnt know that.  how far is meadowpark from the festival/line? 

Meadowpark is about a 10 minute walk away from the line when it's long, 15 when it's short.
5 minute run if you are in shape.

It's not too far, but far enough you can't go back and fourth without missing some music.

 Listening to: Rye Staw - Todd Phillips

[apollo]

Would it be a huge advantage to go set up a tent before thursday?  We are bringing our 9 month old boy and would like this to work well. 

There will be plenty of room, but it will in the non-shaded field not in the shade by the river.
Unless you get lucky.

 Listening to: Angel - Young Mountain String Band

[poster72]

Great.  Thanks guys.  I read this on the site about meadowpark

"Some changes to the vehicle pass arrangements in Meadow Park - The town of Lyons is in the middle of a restoration project, so vehicles are not allowed by the river in Meadow Park.  All vehicles will be parked in surrounding areas including the ball field.  No need to worry - we have space for all vehicle passes, it just won't be by the river"

it sounded like you wouldnt be able to have your truck by your tent from the sound of it. 

[Bevin]

Meadow Park is basically a huge ball field.  There are shady sites around the edges and by the river, but you can't park a vehicle by the river.  Besides, all the shady sites, or most of them anyway, will be taken on Monday, so if you live nearby and can get over there Monday, you'll have early choice of shady spots. 

There are shady spots at the back of the park, though, that might not fill up right away.  The middle of the field is flat and grassy, but out in the sun, so think about bringing a shade structure for your camp. 

MP is an easy walk to the Ranch, but I agree that it's too far to run back to camp w/out missing something.  Round trip from stage to camp and back could amount to 20 minutes or more, if you're moving quickly.  Pack your day's worth of supplies before heading in.

If you're worried about shade in the Fest b/c of a little one, there's lots and lots of shade all over the Bluegrass Ranch, beside the river, in the river, in the children's area, back of the fest, etc.  It's the shady spots with a view of the stage that go first, but keeping a child in the shade isn't too hard if you're willing to sit where you can hear but not necessarily see very well. 

Hope that helps!
Bevin

[poster72]

thanks so much, again.  i may head up there early and set up a tent i guess, its only a half hour drive or so.

[Bevin]

Cool, set one up for me, too!     I like that nice flat spot, in the shade, right by the river! 

Just kidding.  I've got a vehicle pass and will have my large, white refrigerator (a Eurovan camper) set up on the grassy, field, right out in the sun.  We'll be well lit at night (as we're merging the Town Park camps Kamp Duk Tape and Camp Totally Lit for Rocky Grass).  Drop by and say howdy. 

[poster72]

well, i went up and laid down a tent and a sun shade, but it was not a pleasant experience.   

after being yelled at a couple times as soon as i pulled in by what i understand to be the guy in charge of the park, not with planet bluegrass, it only got worse.  I dont know what expectations are, never camped there.  but from these replies above and what i was told and read, i really assumed your truck could "stay with you, at your campsite, all weekend".  but not really.  you have to park it in the parking lot outside of the ballfield.  and the planet bluegrass guy kind of mentioned that its possible that might fill up so i should leave my car once i get it there.  do they sell more vehicle passes than will fit?

anyway, it was 9am on the nose today  (monday) and at least a hundred, probably more, tents already set up.  when i asked about the 9am opening he tells me "well thats the official time".  apparently people set up tents for a week beforehand? so after several attempts and being told, no you cant camp there, no you cant camp here, i saw some trucks on the other side of the field next to their tents.  Well perfect we'll set up here, nope, got a have a Camper pass not just a vehicle pass.  I assume thats the RV pass?  These were trucks with campers, not RVs.  ahhh well. 

we just set up in the ballfield in the sun.  waste of going up there today to be honest.  could of done that thursday. 

someone told me there was a new lady in charge of the bluegrass fest this year.  i dont know what the case is but several contradicting things were told to me between the people who run the park and the planet bluegrass folks.  seems they need to have a little sit down and work some things out.

[poster72]

"Some changes to the vehicle pass arrangements in Meadow Park - The town of Lyons is in the middle of a restoration project, so vehicles are not allowed by the river in Meadow Park.  All vehicles will be parked in surrounding areas including the ball field.  No need to worry - we have space for all vehicle passes, it just won't be by the river. "

hehe, is there enough spaces?  hmmmm

[Bevin]

Darn inconsistent.  Bluegrass Dustin?  Any thoughts?  It sounds like a vehicle pass will allow your vehicle to park on the ball field, and the RV pass is for large RVs (anything larger than a regular car/truck) but I bought a vehicle pass and need to know if I can camp in my vehicle, 'cause if not, I'm screwed...

Dustin?  Help?

[poster72]

ill tell ya right now there's no parking on the ballfield.  just in the gravel lot next to it, which has very limited spots. 

were you able to park on the field in the past?

[BluegrassDustin]

Ok...I just rode down there and got a tour from the camp host...and here's the deal:

Let me start by saying that 98% of the limitations as to where people can and can not go are dictated by the town, not Planet Bluegrass. It's their park, so an restoration projects, etc..are up to them. All we get to do is enforce their rules.

That being said, poster72 is correct, there are no vehicles on the baseball field. If you are planning to camp in your vehicle, let the host know. They do have some spots available closer to the actual tent camping area that are available for those wishing to use their vehicles to camp. There is a sprinkler system, that may or may not be new ( I haven't confirmed), installed on the baseball field. hence the reason for no cars....

The gravel lot next to the field is the place for a good number of the cars.

I hope this helps for now.

D.

[poster72]

well, that was certainly what i wanted to do is car camp for our 9 month old.  no one mentioned any special spaces for such, even as much as i complained   

seems like there was definitely a gap there in the info. 

ahhh well, hope the masses arent too upset by this.  is there enough room for all the passes is the question.