Residents in American Fork Campground told they must move on
Feb 19, 2018, 7:19 PM | Updated: 8:43 pm
AMERICAN FORK— For years, the question has been, is the American Campground near the 500 East exit in American Fork, a campground or an RV park?
Now, the residents who live in the travel trailers, many of them who have been there for years, have been told they have to be gone by the end of the month.
Residents of American Campground received eviction notices last week
“Two weeks is all that we were given and where are we going to go in two weeks?” said Cindy Bowie, who has been living in her fifth-wheel trailer in the campground since October.
People who live there said they started getting the notices on Monday, Feb. 12, telling them they have to be gone, along with their travel trailers, by Feb. 28.
Residents said everyone who lives in American Campground is on a fixed income, including many elderly residents who pay, on average, $375 each month, plus utilities.
Most said they can’t move to a new park, because their trailers are too old to be accepted by another campground, or they can’t afford the rent at other parks.
Debbie Smelley has lived at American Campground for the past 18 years.
“I think we are all in the same boat, the ones that are still here. There have been a few go, but basically we are here because we have nowhere else to go,” said Smelley.
Some residents of American Campground say their trailers are not road worthy
Smalley is hoping to be able to stay with family. She said she has been on a waiting list for subsidized housing for more than two years.
Other residents said the city is cracking down on the owners of the campground, because they haven’t maintained the property, and utility hookups are not up to code.
Residents believe they should have been given much more than 16 days notice to be out.
A manager declined to answer questions about the reason for the evictions.
The City of American Fork released the following statement Monday night:
The city’s intent is to make sure that anyone staying in American Fork City is doing so in safe and adequate conditions. With regard to American Campground, the City has been working, and will continue to work with the property owner to satisfy safety and zoning requirements. American Fork strives to protect individuals and private property rights.
