Bus Bonanza 2024 - March 15-24th

[SeekingDiscovery]

We are excited to be hosting Bus Bonanza again this year in Danville, GA March 15-24, 2024.

This event is focused on education and workshops. We have daily talks and hands-on workshops related to everything about building a conversion.

You can boondock, rent a tiny house, camp, or just get a day ticket if you are nearby. This is a great event for folks already on the road looking to share their knowledge and hang out. It is perfect for folks who just bought a bus, or are thinking about a bus and want to learn about safe building practices.

Use Code: skoolienet2024 before Feb. 16th to save $5 off per night.

https://busbonanza.com/

Drop your questions below.

 

[brokedown-SKO]

I'll be there!

 

[Malevolence4845]

I'm a North Ga. resident and not 100% familiar with that area, new to the skoolie scene but I have mine and I'm gutting it currently. If I get everything together I would love to attend, what is the area like? I assume there would be room if I brought my bus so I can have hands on talks about things for it? This sounds like a great thing and I'll more than likely attend bus or not. Thanks in advance!

 

[SeekingDiscovery]

@Malevolence4845 Welcome to the skoolie community!

The event is hosted on a 10.5-acre farm in Central, GA, about two hours southeast of Atlanta. We will have access to a screened-in outdoor kitchen, bathrooms, showers, dump station, water fill, high-speed wifi, laundry, and more.

Each day there is a mid-morning talk followed by a break and then a 2-3 hour hands-on workshop in the afternoon inside of the 6000sqft shop on the property.

If your rig isn't camping-worthy by the time the event happens, there are multiple tiny houses available for rent. If you decide to rent a tiny house your event registration is included in the pricing on Airbnb.

We hope to see you there!

 

[DeMac]

Accommodations, Ammenities, Recreation

We are excited to be hosting Bus Bonanza again this year in Danville, GA March 15-24, 2024.

Drop your questions below.

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Hey Hooker, I understand that folks who haven't attended skoolie gatherings on the east coast may be surprised by the prices of events. Our pricing is in line with most other events that are put on.

Skoolie Swarm is $40/night
Nomads Unite is $40/night
Skoolie Up is $35-$45/night
(.......)

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Questions pasted from a parallel thread, Hi-Skoolie-Family

Does the daily rate include an exclusive parking space/ campsite? Please specify if concrete pad, limerock/gravel or grass/dirt?

Does each payee or campsite include standard accomodations, ie 30A/50A power pedestal, potable water spigot, picnic table, fire ring, trash barrel, etc?

Additional amenities? Hiking, swimming, fishing, canoeing, equestrian, hunting, skeet, archery, horseshoes, driving range... Proximity to restaurants/groceries/attractions?

Do you own the aforementioned land or are you subletting for the event?

Please post a few photos of your camping area, so we have an idea of the value you're offering.
Photobomb us with pix from last year's event!

 

[Diverdude0075]

I may have to check it out. I'm only one state up.

 

[EastCoastCB]

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Questions pasted from a parallel thread, Hi-Skoolie-Family

Does the daily rate include an exclusive parking space/ campsite? Please specify if concrete pad, limerock/gravel or grass/dirt?

Does each payee or campsite include standard accomodations, ie 30A/50A power pedestal, potable water spigot, picnic table, fire ring, trash barrel, etc?

Additional amenities? Hiking, swimming, fishing, canoeing, equestrian, hunting, skeet, archery, horseshoes, driving range... Proximity to restaurants/groceries/attractions?

Do you own the aforementioned land or are you subletting for the event?

Please post a few photos of your camping area, so we have an idea of the value you're offering.
Photobomb us with pix from last year's event!

Important questions once skoolie get-togethers become monetized.

 

[gregbowers]

Thanks for sharing

 

[SeekingDiscovery]

The venue is a farm, not a campground so camping will be Boondocking in mostly sunny grassy areas. There is potable water at multiple spigots around the property that you can fill tanks and have access to during the event. There is also a dump station connected to the tiny houses' septic system.

There are picnic tables and fire rings around the property in multiple locations that are available for use during the event. There is a dumpster for trash during the event.

On the property, there is a 6000 sqft shop where workshops will be held, bathrooms and showers, high-speed wifi, access to the community kitchen, koi pond, and pasture with horses and donkeys.

The closest full town is Dublin, GA about 30 minutes away with a Walmart, TSC, HF, Homedepot, restaurants, etc. There is a grocery store, Dollar General, few restaurants within about 15 minutes of the property in some small-town areas.

I do not own the property, it will be rented for the event.

I have attached photos from last year and a screenshot from google earth of the property.

 

[-TC-]

What the.... What?

Important questions once skoolie get-togethers become monetized.

Don't hold back Charlie, tell us how ya really feel.

Hey Hooker, I understand that folks who haven't attended skoolie gatherings on the east coast may be surprised by the prices of events. Our pricing is in line with most other events that are put on.

Skoolie Swarm is $40/night
Nomads Unite is $40/night
Skoolie Up is $35-$45/night

SeekingDiscovery,
I notice that you are quick to recite "the going rate". That's also known as pricing the customer, instead of the product or service.

I attended the 2019_Skoolie_Swarm at the Florida_Sand_Music_Ranch, formerly the Sertoma Youth Ranch. We only paid $25 and our private campsite had power, water, fire ring, picnic table, BBQ grill, refuse collection....

The Ranch's 2024 rates for electrified
sites have increased only five bucks since, (now $30) yet they offer a lot more value in exchange for our dollars.

Restrooms with hot showers (*Handicapped accessible)
Over 200 campsites with water and electric hookups ($30 per night)
Primitive Sites $15 per night)
Fire Rings throughout many campsites.
70+ picnic tables
RV dump station
Playground
Large grass field for sports activities
Hundred of acres of wooded paths
Spring fed creek

This venue has live performances and attractions inside their 7500sf pavillion with stage: The Celtic Jamboree, Blues Bash, Spring Bluegrass, Americana Music, Sunshine Get-Down, Rock-n-Roll Revival.

There's is a lot of value in a tent, for $15, but we are RVers. We prefer keep our perishables refrigerated, cook our own meals and sleeping under HVAC

$45!? Why the concert ticket prices to rough-it on a 10 acre farm? There are no proper camp sites. No available RV hookups. No waterways for swimming, fishing, canoeing. No trails for hiking, biking, atvs.

Agrotourism is not recreational lodging. The chosen venue is a pasture, the cheapest land in the country. To me, it seems like profiteering by inexperienced promoters who have not invested in the proper infrastructure, permits, zoning, licensing, bonding, insurance, fire safety apparatuses nor event security.

(See Skooliepallooza permitting fiasco)

Folks with opinions are like a$$holes. I'm known to be both.

 

[SeekingDiscovery]

TC,

I have also attended multiple Skoolie Swarms and since 2019 they have not returned to that venue. This isn't a "Campground event" because it's focused on workshops and getting projects done. The biggest draw is the 6000 sqft workshop with access to tools and knowledge. I realize not everyone is interested in attending a workshop-style event like this and that is perfectly fine.

This is simply another opportunity for folks looking to learn about building, get projects done, and support each other.

Have a great day.

 

[Meathead]

C’mon man! This sounds like a great event for a person to show up in his/her gutted bus with cot, sleeping bag, Coleman stove and 5gal bucket to learn something. Prolly not for those interested in hiking, fishing, and local shopping.

Dave

 

[cadillackid]

C’mon man! This sounds like a great event for a person to show up in his/her gutted bus with cot, sleeping bag, Coleman stove and 5gal bucket to learn something. Prolly not for those interested in hiking, fishing, and local shopping.

Dave

if i go im just bringing busses with seats and some mods.. (im a Bus enthusiast..camping for me is an air mattress squeezed in the aisle between the seats and the bus running for heat or A/C

 

[brokedown-SKO]

if i go im just bringing busses with seats and some mods.. (im a Bus enthusiast..camping for me is an air mattress squeezed in the aisle between the seats and the bus running for heat or A/C

Would love to see you if you can make it!

 

[La Camioneta]

TC,

I have also attended multiple Skoolie Swarms and since 2019 they have not returned to that venue. This isn't a "Campground event" because it's focused on workshops and getting projects done. The biggest draw is the 6000 sqft workshop with access to tools and knowledge. I realize not everyone is interested in attending a workshop-style event like this and that is perfectly fine.

This is simply another opportunity for folks looking to learn about building, get projects done, and support each other.

Have a great day.

Not for nothing, this is not clearly explained at all in your literature.

If the intention is for attendees to work on their buses they'd need to bring whatever parts and sundries to do the work onsite? How close is the nearest hardware store?

What's the point of getting the parts together to drive to the boonies where you aren't familiar with the area and may need extra parts to finish the project at someone else's property?

Can you clarify this?

 

[DeMac]

Skoolie.Net Offers Knowledge (for free)

TC,

I have also attended multiple Skoolie Swarms and since 2019 they have not returned to that venue. This isn't a "Campground event" because it's focused on workshops and getting projects done. The biggest draw is the 6000 sqft workshop with access to tools and knowledge. I realize not everyone is interested in attending a workshop-style event like this and that is perfectly fine.

This is simply another opportunity for folks looking to learn about building, get projects done, and support each other.

Have a great day.

------------------------

SeekingDiscovery,

You are selling Knowledge, yet you haven't/won't provide answers to the most basic questions. Please be open and honest about the value of our investment. What does Ryan do to increase the value of our stay. What investments have you, the promoter, made?

I read, per the link you provided, that Hummingbird Tiny Home Rentals(addt'l fee) will be offering primitive lodging and hosting seminars in exchange for our $45/day. There are no details regarding tool rental nor the on-hand quanties required to equip the invited number of converters.

☺ You wrote that the main draw is the workshop with access to tools....

How many buses will be allowed to park inside of the building?

To what type of tools will we have access?
-Engine/drivtrain. Sheetmetal. Carpentry. Plumbing. HVAC?

What are the rules of the tool rental program?
-additional fee or included in daily rate?
-tool time limits?

How many drills/impact drivers are available for us to share?
-Handtools: Should we bring our own tape measures or you have 100 of those?

Multiple table saws?
-how many 10 ton jacks
-air tank limits, hose size, number of hoses
-pneumatic tools available
-number of welders

All battery tools or do you have a bunch of power cords stretched back to the shop? (no RV pedestals)

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Hey Brokedown, you were at last year's event.
-Did you rent/borrow tools?
-What'd ya "get done"?
-Please tell us more about "the main draw".

--------------------------

Here's what I believe:

The skoolies are the main draw. The hotel owner hopes to rent out his nine tiny homes throughout the entire event. Each of us & our skoolies are the main attraction, not the horse, donkey, fish or pig. It's us and our buses.

The owners are hoping to attract hopeful dreamers to his tiny home workshop. Rent or buy, dollars are the goal. The buses are the sucker-fish in the Koi pond. Our faces will be in his youtube videos for years.

👁

 

[brokedown-SKO]

What an exhausting thread. Y'all don't like the event format or price or whatever, I encourage you to not attend. I was there last year and do plan to attend, and look forward to making more new friends, sharing my experience and learning from others.

Maybe people who already decided they're not going should leave some space for folks who may actually be interested in going and have actual questions? Save the diarrhea for one of the toilet threads.

 

[La Camioneta]

What an exhausting thread. Y'all don't like the event format or price or whatever, I encourage you to not attend. I was there last year and do plan to attend, and look forward to making more new friends, sharing my experience and learning from others.

Maybe people who already decided they're not going should leave some space for folks who may actually be interested in going and have actual questions? Save the diarrhea for one of the toilet threads.

Nice attitude from one of the presenters, huh?

No explanation of what to expect, tool availability or anything relevant to the event, just a "f-your questions and f-you for having any."

I'm a shameless checkbook builder and your guy Ryan would rather fleamarket junk on FB marketplace than answer a few questions to get a consulting gig.

Nice business model, stupid.

 

[SeekingDiscovery]

Additional Question in FB Group

I am not active on skoolie.net on a regular basis

If you have additional questions about bus bonanza feel free to join our Facebook Group to chat with other folks who have attended and get their input on the event as well.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/busbonanza

 

[brokedown-SKO]

Thanks for your input.