Just found out why the Wal-Mart in Newport, Oregon, prohibits overnight stops by RVer (or anyone else, e.g. sleepy truckers) -- via one of the town's City Council members.

Seems that they have an ordinance that requires that ANY business that allows ANYone to stay overnight, must collect a "room" tax.
They could have limited the ordinance to accomodations-related businesses. But they didn't. Understandably, Wal-Mart isn't interested in performing that hotel/motel/RV-park function.

Of course, the local RV parks are undoubtedly perfectly happy with this deal -- and its functional repression of any overnight alternatives for tired/sleepy RVers.

Now ... Newport depends HEAVILY, on tourism.

Personally, I will make it a POINT to NOT purchase ANYthing in Newport; will certainly NOT stay in any of their RV parks, and will tell as many RVers as possible about this arrogantly abusive greedy-town policy.

For a MUCH more RV-friendly town, try Coos Bay, a coupla hours south of too-elite too-effete Newport.

Spread the word!

jmw