RVs left in disrepair, residents in disbelief after NHSFR

After what many considered a successful week of hosting the National High School Finals Rodeo, several Sweetwater County residents received quite a shock. At least two locals found the campers and RVs they had rented out to rodeo contestants and their families in disrepair, and several others struggled to obtain full payment.

It has long been the practice of many local residents to rent out their campers and RVs to rodeo families as thousands flock to the event and are often hoping to stay on site.

It's even became a tradition for some who have rented to several generations of the same family. Rock Springs resident Rylee Phelps has rented her RV out on several occasions and never had any issues until now.

"We let our South Dakota renters come in a day earlier than we were told, and last minute at that, left a welcome and 'incase you forgot kit,' I picked up a Walmart order for them and put it away, let them use our camp chef, even filled the propane for them, tables, keurig and more," Phelps explained. "Only to have to get the national director involved to get final payment, which they didn't want to pay. I did get final payment, but it was a fight."

Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of the problems for the Phelps family.

"When we went to check on the trailer after they left, water was just steady dripping out of the back, the whole back end and bathroom was flooded, heat register full of water, twisted tea cans everywhere, bloody sheets and bloody clothing laying on the floor, camp chef left covered in oil, and an all-around huge mess to clean up," Phelps said. "Before they left, they closed the black and grey tanks so it couldn't drain and blew all the water lines by turning the water up to maximum pressure."

Phelps cautions anyone considering renting out their RVs in the future to make sure they have an ironclad contract and a large enough security deposit to cover any and all damages. Not having a contract is something they deeply regret.

"Be very cautious next year about who you rent to and make sure the security deposit is adequate in case there are damages, and I highly suggest a contract," Phelps said. "We have never had issues in the past, so we didn't even think about having a contract."

Phelps said that National High School Finals Rodeo Association is aware of the situation and would be passing on the information to the executive director, but as of the time of this publication she had not received any response.