Update: A Harvest Host rep reached out and provided further clarification:
Regarding Staffing changes
Following the June 2024 acquisition, Harvest Hosts hired all Escapees employees. In November, we made company-wide staffing reductions across multiple Harvest Hosts brands. These decisions were not targeted specifically at Escapees. We discussed these changes publicly in the Xscapers Facebook Group and on our page, and members were invited to speak directly with Chris Smith, Senior Director of Escapees. Chris has spent significant time speaking one-on-one with members and remains available. This post is one example of our public communication:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/xscapers/posts/26142182152037996/
Regarding Facebook moderation
Comments and posts were hidden or removed only when they violated our Code of Conduct, which all members agree to. This included personal attacks, calls for staff to be fired, or threatening language. Members who were removed received multiple warnings. Our priority is maintaining a safe and respectful environment for members and staff.
Xscapers Convergence Thanksgiving event
We have publicly acknowledged that we mishandled the cancellation timing of the Xscapers Convergence Thanksgiving event and regret that decision. Due to staffing limitations over the holiday, the event could not continue as an official Escapees or Xscapers event. However, we provided eight days of free camping, covered the Thanksgiving meal, and provided all paid entertainment and activities as promised. The gathering continued, and many attendees reported a positive experience. We have been clear that we could have handled the situation better.
In July 2024, Harvest Hosts took over management of the membership, events, and education programs of the Escapees RV Club, a group founded in 1978. Public announcements said Escapees Mail Service and Escapees RV Parks were not part of the deal and would continue operating separately.
Soon after the announcement, discussion began across RV forums as members tried to understand what the change would mean for the club.
One early thread on iRV2 drew dozens of responses from members reacting to the news and raising questions about how Escapees would operate under new management.
Staff and event changes reported by members
After the takeover, some Escapees members began posting claims that longtime Escapees and Xscapers staff members were let go. These claims appear in public posts on Reddit and other community discussion boards.
Members in the same threads also say several Xscapers convergences and meetups were canceled or removed from event calendars. Some posters say these events had already been scheduled and paid for.
One widely discussed example involves a Thanksgiving Xscapers gathering. According to members’ public postings, the gathering was disrupted or effectively canceled just days before the holiday, after some attendees had already begun traveling. Posters say they were told parking would still be available, but the event would no longer be hosted or branded as an Xscapers gathering.
Membership options and communication concerns
Harvest Hosts has stated publicly that the price of a standalone Escapees membership did not change after the transition. At the same time, Escapees’ benefits were presented as part of a higher-priced Harvest Hosts all-access membership bundle.
Members posting online say the way these options were presented caused confusion. Some say it was difficult to find or renew the Escapees-only membership, and unclear which benefits were tied to the bundle versus the lower-cost option. These concerns are based on member experiences shared publicly.
One confirmed detail of the transition is that Escapees Mail Service and Escapees RV Parks are now managed separately from the membership side. Members say this has made the overall setup harder to navigate.
According to forum posts, issues involving mail service or park access require contacting a different company than the one managing club membership. Some members say this split has contributed to slower support and frustration, though no public explanation has addressed this directly.
Moderation complaints surface online
Some members also claim that posts critical of the takeover were deleted from official Escapees Facebook groups and that users were removed after raising concerns. These claims have not been independently verified.
Longtime members say that open discussion was a core part of the club’s culture, and concerns about moderation have added to the backlash.
Where things stand now
Harvest Hosts has acknowledged the Escapees transition but has not issued a detailed public response addressing specific claims about staff changes, Xscapers event cancellations, or moderation practices.
Discussion continues across RV forums and social media. Some members say they plan to keep the mail service but let their club membership lapse. Others say they are watching how future Xscapers events are handled before deciding.
For now, the situation remains unresolved, and member criticism continues to surface in public discussion spaces.
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