Water man takes over campground store
Adam Damm said it was a natural fit
– his family business’ contract to oversee the Pinnacles
National Monument’s store and campground – because he’s an eagle
scout, loves the outdoors and felt it aligned with his laid-back
personality.
Water man takes over campground store
Adam Damm said it was a natural fit – his family business’ contract to oversee the Pinnacles National Monument’s store and campground – because he’s an eagle scout, loves the outdoors and felt it aligned with his laid-back personality.
Plus, as he put it, the agreement is a “sweet deal.”
“You’re not buying anything, for one,” he pointed out, noting that Damm Water leases the store and campground from the federal government, so the base costs are minimal.
It gets sweeter.
Damm Water has agreed to a 10-year extension to manage the site over the original one-year tryout of sorts that started in January 2008.
While the Hollister business took over the Pinnacles store 15 months ago, it also has picked up management of the campground to coincide with the extension agreement.
The National Park Service bought the store and campground a few years back from a private owner as part of a larger acquisition, while the federal government requires that a private vendor manage them under certain guidelines, leading to the deal with Damm Water.
Damm described the shop, the first building on Hwy. 146 when entering the park, as a combination convenience and camping store. He also noted how the store has an area just for local products from area growers.
In the meantime, it has served as an opportunity for Damm Water – known most for its water and softener services – to find a new revenue source.
Damm acknowledged that water consumption had dropped some in the down economy, primarily because larger businesses in the county have downsized, he said. On the flip side, he also pointed out that the people who did consume the water drank quite a bit this winter with the warmer weather.
“It’s about putting your eggs in different baskets,” he said.
Pinnacles store and campground hours
The campground at Pinnacles is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with a self-checkout system. The store is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, to coincide with visitors’ bureau hours.
