This will be our first OTSP. We are planning on renting an RV. We’re trying to decide where to camp for the week. Onsite vs Black Mesa State Park. What would be the pros and cons of each? Does Camp Billy Joe have RV hookups?
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Hey Matt! Good questions!
RV camping on the field at Camp Billy Joe is completely boondocking. While there is electricity on the field, it is strictly to run astronomy gear and you cannot run your RV on those lines. They’re just not rated for that amount of current. Gas generators can only be run during limited daylight hours to charge your batteries. Solar panels are great for recharging batteries and don’t make noise to keep your neighbors awake when they’ve been up all night viewing. (If you need electricity for medical reasons, please contact the camp management on the OTSP web page to make those arrangements.)
There are no dump stations at Camp Billy Joe. There is a hose you could use for water, but you’d have to move your RV to get to it, and it’s in a very poor location for RVs or trailers to fill up. Plus it’s very low volume. We don’t recommend folks use it to fill your RV tanks, but as far as I know, it’s not forbidden.
I don’t believe Black Mesa State Park will allow you to dump there unless you’re renting a comping spot in the park. That may have changed, but they stopped allowing non-campers to dump there last I know. You’ll need to check RV camping sites around the area to see what they charge for just dumping. I’m guessing $10-15. If you use your RV toilet much at all, from experience, you’ll probably need to dump at least once midweek, if you’re there all week. I recommend using the portapotties that are stationed mulitiple places around the field as much as possible. They’re kept very clean and stocked. Plus there are modern flush toilets in the buildings you can use, but they’re a much longer walk, depending on where you camp.
BMSP has some RV spots with water and power. Only one dump site for the camp. If you plan to camp there, get your reservation in as early as you can. It will most likely be full the week of OTSP, if it’s not full already.
One thing to think of if you’re renting is to get blackout curtains and/or red tail light repair tape to mask any white light in your RV. No white light is allowed after 9pm.
If you camp off site, you’ll need to park your vehicle at the gate, facing north, so you can leave after 9pm and before dawn. Many folks who stay offsite set up their scopes on the field and cover them up when not in use. While we don’t guarentee they’ll be safe, I believe there’s only been one case of theft at OTSP in the 40+ we’ve been running it.
Other than boondocking at Camp Billy Joe or modern sites at BMSP, the nearest RV camping available is either in Boise City, OK, or Clayton, NM. I don’t know what campgrounds are there, but you should be able to find them easily on the Web.
More info at: Okie-Tex Star Party - Accomodations
Been boondocking at Camp Billy Joe for several years. I top off the fresh water tank and gas tank at Love’s in Boise City. Love’s has Potable water at the pumps for autos and RVs. Also, fill the ice chest. By using the portable toilets, as stated above they are kept clean, not like what one usually find them else where. By using the camp showers I dont have to put much load on the fresh water use. I used the fresh water in the RV for cooking and internal toliet used. I can strech the 40 gallons the trailer holds for a week. If I do run out I use a gallon water jug to replenish so of the fresh water tank supply. Rearely have ever had to do that. Solar panels are great for recharging the trailer battery. Don’t have a generator. If you use a generator look at the Star Party rules for the times. I second everything Mitche said. Remember you are sharing the space with lots of others so stay calm and enjoy the outdoors. You will find everyone very helpful. Hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip.
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Black Mesa updated the dump station last year and I do not believe restricts dumping to those staying there anymore but you should check with the ranger at the campground.
I wasn’t sure. That’s for the update, Gerald!
I used Black Mesa 2 years ago to dump my takes with a small fee, I’m planning to do this same again this year .
Depends on what direction you are coming in from but as mentioned before the Loves in Boise City has water there you can fill up your fresh water tank at. That wasn’t enough to get me through the week, but I have a 5 gallon jug I carry from the main building to top off my tank, I think I did that twice last time. I only use the toilet in my camper at night while I’m sleeping, I use either the porta units or the main building while I’m awake, doing that I didn’t come close to filling up my black tank. I was told many years ago that it was OK to dump greay water on the field as long as it was far away from anyone’s site, I asked about this more recently but never got a solid answer.
As long as you can stand the heat during the day without AC, I recommend staying at Okie-Tex if at all possible, to me one of the joys of a star party is being able to throw a cover over your scope and go straight to bed when you are tired. A 200 watt solar panel is usually plenty to keep your RV battery charged for running the pump, refrigerator (on propane) etc. If you need help with any of the specifics there are many of us that have done this for many years that would be happy to help.