Commercial aviation offers a strong analogy: major airliners employ multiple independent backup systems so that a failure in one won't bring the entire machine down. When you operate an RV park, it makes sense to adopt the same mindset—having at least three fallback options for each major element of your business.
Things will deviate from plan
No matter how well you prepare, unexpected events happen: storms arrive earlier than forecast, a pool pump dies on opening day, or your card-processor crashes during check-in. If you accept that these disruptions are inevitable, the next step is clear: plan ahead for them rather than scrambling when they strike.
Planning after the fact is too late
When a line of check-ins backs up and guests are waiting, you cannot afford to improvise. The founder of Wendy's, Dave Thomas, described this as "riding the wave" — meaning you must be ready to handle issues smoothly and invisibly to the guest experience. Waiting until the pressure is on means you're already losing control of your operations.
Management contingencies
Consider: what happens if you become incapacitated, or your manager suffers an emergency? These scenarios are real and you should factor them into your operating plan now.
- Identify someone (a nearby family member, trusted employee, or local stand-in) who can step in temporarily.
- Document their authority, duties, pay (if applicable), and the handoff mechanics.
Have this contingency plan in place before anything happens.
System contingencies
Your Park relies on many physical and operational systems: water/sewer lines, pool filters, HVAC, guest Wi-Fi, reservations software, credit-card processing, etc. For each critical system think: what happens if it fails? How many backup layers do I have?
Here are three levels of backup you should aim for:
- Primary system (your ideal full-function solution).
- Secondary fallback (e.g., a temporary substitute equipment or manual workaround).
- Tertiary option (a short-term stop-gap so your business can continue until full restoration).
Having these will reduce stress because you know you have "Plan A, B and C".
Turn your contingency plans into a manual
Create an "Emergency Operations Manual" (a ring binder or digital version) and include:
- An index of systems/roles with backups.
- Clear steps for each scenario (who does what, where are spare parts, who is your alternate manager, how do you notify staff or guests).
- Contact lists, spare keys or cards, temporary vendor info, etc.
Keep this manual easily accessible (on your desk, in a cloud folder, both) so any member of your team can consult it in a crisis and act without delay.
Final thoughts
For RV park owners, applying the discipline of multiple backup plans puts you in a more secure position. Rather than reacting when things go wrong, you'll be pre-positioned to respond calmly and effectively. Ask yourself: do you currently have an "Emergency Operations Manual" that covers your management team and systems? If not, scheduling time today to build one will pay dividends down the road.