Complaint Review: Colorado River Adventures - Julian California

We bought our membership in CRA second hand about 10 years ago.  We enjoyed the Parks for the first 5 years, but rarely use them now.  When we went to Emerald Cove to transfer the membership we bought for $900, they charged us $1100 transfer fee and were told that IF we did  not upgrade, we could not sell our membership and our dues could go up by as much as $10 (of maybe %) a year.  We were told that the only way out of our contract was to turn our membership back to CRA.  This was fine with us, since we did not want to go through the hastle of selling it.   After about 5 years, while at Emerald cove, we were invited to an upgrade sales pitch adn for attending they would give us $100 store credit.  Why not!.  While in the sales room we were told that we could only sell our membership and it was dead ended so nobody would buy it and that we could not simply turn it in.  When I questioned this as being different from what we were originally told, the sales woman retrueved our original contract which was changed in red ink after we had signed it?  She said this was because it was not written correctly in the first place, so they changed it?  How in the Heck can this be legal?  Several threats went back and forth and we walked out.

Earlier this month, we went back to Emerald Cove, only since we had not used our membership for awhile, and were once again invited for the sales pitch fro $100 check this time or $200 in gas credit (which we were told by other members was a pain to collect, so we took the check).  The Sales person Immediately jumped down our throats about how we could NEVER cancel our contract unless we paid the $3300 to upgrade and then it would be 10 years before we could cancell it.  She  then produces a computer image of our contract that was missing all the red ink that was on the one we saw a few years back.  She said our dues would sky-rocket 10^ a year for the rest of our lives.  Even if I died my wife would be forced to pay until her death!  CRA woudl not allopw us to cancell our contract because they needed the money.  IF it went to Court, we were responsible for their attorney fees as well as our own.  I told her I did not appriciate being threatened, she told me she was not threatening me, just stating the facts.  

The Parks overall are great, the members who run the activities are very nice people in general.  The management sucks, the Sales people are high pressure and rude when you do not agree to their upgrades.

Another thing I thought was wrong, is with their YUMA Lakes resort, which is a high demand Park.  They removed 50+ spaces and sold them to members for $50,000 to stay there full time.  This removed these spaces from the travelers.  A friend of ours bought one of these spaces.  Later they attempted to sell it and CRA demanded a $15,000 transfer fee.  Since the resale value is only $30,000 at best, once they pay CRA $15,000 they are out alot on $$.  It is unfortunate the CRA management has choosen to operate in such an un-ethical manner.  

On a Footnote, I also own a RV park in Northern CA.  there are many reputable people in the RV Park industry, CRA is misleading and borderline criminal in their sales practices.

   All anyone has to do is read the fine print on their contract , My statement stands , I didn't print the contract that I and many of my friends signed . If it is a lie as they claim , then the are welcome to take an action in a court of law for defamation of their 5 star Resorts name.   

Also as I have said their false and misleading advertizement along Hwy. 10 in Cherry Valley, California , $10.00 per night , full hookups in 15 inch letters    ( must take tour in 3 inch letters ,not readable from 60 + feet off the ground)  try getting this price on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday no sales staff avaliable on those days .   The facts don't lie! 

This statement is not true. Every park in the CRA system is owned by the company. The exceptions are Emerald Cove which is on BLM land under a lease until the year 2040 and Northshore which is under a marketing agreement until the same year. All of this is disclosed in ALL membership paperwork the member signs. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: It is one thing to complain. and another thing to lie!

Since 2006 we have made many changes to the CRA membership. We have added privileges and also parks. Every once in a while we offer the ability to our members to come in and listen to what is new that their membership doesnt include.


I am so sorry that these members feel that they were misled. Sometimes the information is confusing and overwhelming in its content. I would like to think that this is the case here. 


Our members may cancel their membership any time that the membership is paid in full and their dues are current for the year. Our dues may or may not increase annually. Our last increase was $10.00 in 2012. Yes part of the upgrade is that your dues will freeze. If a member is younger this might be a benefit because otherwise they wont freeze until the member is 65. I think the lifetime payments that are referred to is the annual dues payment that every member pays, every year for the lifetime of the membership (until cancelled) or transferred. 


I would hope that this member would contact the business office for a clearer picture of their membership. (760) 663-4941. All of our members, having attended one of these update meetings are asked to sign that they understand they dont have these new privileges. I am sorry if you were intimidated by our asking. 

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   Something else that sales person "PAM"? and others sales persons forgot to tell you and me( even as an employee)  is that C R A  does not "OWN" the campgrounds they are forcing you to commit to life long payments,  when in reality they have a lease that expires in 2018 for KQ Ranch  in Julian , CA, and 2040 for Cherry Valley Lakes Resort in Beaumont, CA.

Ask your self an important question before you sign on the dotted line!!   how can you be sure they will in fact be able to continue their lease with the real owners of these RV campgrounds in the future.  things have a way of changing from year to year with no guarantees, this sounds like a good campground to stay away from if you have long term plans.