High Plains Camping in Oakley, Kansas: A Great Plains Destination

RV travelers will soon be able to savor a slice of pizza and sip a tall cool one as they watch a killer Kansas sunset at High Plains Camping RV Park in Oakley. Under new management since 2011, the Good Sam Park is adding a pub and pizzeria to its growing menu of amenities, giving travelers lots of reasons to extend their stay at the homey Midwestern RV park.

Owners Jim and Jessie DesRoches live onsite and have transformed High Plains into a year-round destination, making it the ideal for snowbirds traveling north or south on U.S. 85 or motoring east and west along I-70. All of the park’s 52 full-hookup sites are open throughout the year. Big rig sites, pull-through sites and 50-amp sites are available for folks who need more space and power. Cable TV was added to all sites in 2012.

The pool is open during the warm weather months and the hot tub is open year round. An enclosed pool deck gives bathers a place to dry off between dips. Kids can also frolic in the Spray Zone, which provides a safe play space for youngsters who want to cool off.

A dog run allows pets to stretch their legs. The area is home to Buffalo Bill and other legendary Western figures. Other options in the park include turning the little ones loose at the playground, playing a round of horseshoes, 18 hole mini golf, or logging on to the campground’s Wi-Fi.

Guests will soon be able to visit Cap’n Jack’s Pub, a large barn that was recently converted by the new owners. “Campers would ask, ‘where can we get an adult beverage? “ explains Jim. “We’ve had this nice, huge barn that was barely used. Now it’s Cap’n Jack’s Pub.”

High Plains has also contracted with Hunt Brothers Pizza to provide equipment and ingredients for park staff to make fresh, hot pizzas in less than 10 minutes. The pub’s menu will include burgers, seafood and other pub fare. The park gives guests lots of opportunities to socialize, including the recently added centrally located gas fire pit.

Also in the works is a fishing pond for guests who want to hone their angling skills. RVers eager to explore the local area will find amazing geological exhibits at the Fick Fossil and History Museum. Other nearby natural wonders include Monument Rocks and the Chalk Pyramids. Seeking local color? The town’s quaint shops and restaurants reflect the area’s Wild West heritage.

Travelers who are new to the region will be pleasantly surprised by its temperate weather, even during winter. With 300 days of sunshine per year and very little snow, Oakley is an ideal stopover for the all-weather RVers. The park also welcomes large groups for chapter meetings or events.

Visitors also enjoy the region’s spectacular sunsets, which bathe the prairie in golden hues as the sun dips below the seemingly endless horizon.

“Kansas wins awards for their sunsets,” says Jim.

Traveling with RVers who aren’t Good Sam members? Remind them that they can purchase memberships at High Plains, and the club’s 10 percent campground discount applies to their stay.