American Gam

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.” ~ Douglas Adams

Joke: What rock group has four guys who can’t sing or play instruments?

Answer: …is in this blog.

When Treva and I had our first date some fifteen years ago we talked about getting a camper, traveling around North America, and perhaps even work- camping at different locations in these United States.

Well, getting the camper and traveling around the country came to fruition thanks to some hard work on our part. Now, the work-camping part of that dream has manifested itself…

We signed up to the Work Camper organization by submitting our online application and resumés. We were hoping to find a work-camper job somewhere in America that gave us an opportunity to explore a beautiful section of the country while generating income to maintain our nomadic lifestyle and get us away from the stifling summer heat of Florida. Personally, my first choice would have been to work somewhere in the western half of South Dakota. I love that part of the country. There’s so much natural beauty and wildlife in the Black Hills and the Badlands.

Five minutes! Literally…five minutes after Treva pushed the button and submitted our applications to the Work Camper organization we got a phone call from someone interested in possibly hiring us! Not exaggerating! Five minutes! It was the manager of the KOA near Mount Rushmore! In the Black Hills of South Dakota! 💥 What are the odds?!

So, we had a phone interview and by the end of the call…she hired us! That’s right! She hired us on the spot! (Figuratively.) So… next year we will be working/living at the Mount Rushmore KOA in western South Dakota! 💥 What are the odds?!

If you’ve been following American Gam from the beginning you might remember that I actually stayed at that very KOA on my first solo Great American Road Trip back in 2014. I rented a cabin there, did some laundry, swam in the heated pool, and ate some amazing Bison Meatloaf in one of their restaurants. You can go back and read that blog titled: Mount Rushmore. Having the opportunity to live/work there is a dream come true for me, but we’re both excited to explore that region on our days off. There are so many natural treasures just an hour or two away from Mount Rushmore. (Answer.)

Places like Devil’s Tower, Custer State Park, the Crazy Horse monument, the Hot Springs Mammoth site, and the Tatanka Museum in the historic town of Deadwood are all less than two hours away.

It’s a five month deployment that will get us away from the Florida summer heat. Before we go there we’ll spend two months in sunny San Diego. After South Dakota we will head up to New England for a spell before going back to Florida. All in all, a nine month adventure for us in 2026!

Standby for some awesome photos and stories as we explore that part of the country in 2026! And if you’re a camper/traveler, stop on by and say hello when you’re in the Black Hills area! “We’ll leave the light on for ya’!” 💡

Happy New Year! 🎉

I hope you continue to follow American Gam in 2026! It’s gonna’ be a good one!

The gam continues…