TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Luxury motor coaches and humble camping trailers come and go year-round through Tinker Air Force Base’s FAM Camp - except for the 36-foot Carriage Cameo owned by Linda and Mike McLarty.
The 36-footer parked next to potted flowers, a green outdoor table and a small red grill has been a fixture there for six and a half years. That’s how long Linda McLarty has hosted the 29 RV camping sites on Patrol Road about three-quarters of a mile west of Runway 18/36.
Recreational vehicles and tent campers are required to be in the spots by 9 p.m., but McLarty’s job is “24/7, 365,” she says. Besides checking campers in and out and taking fees, she cleans up the RV site and cleans the laundry and bathroom/shower buildings.
“I take care of everything that goes on out here,” she said. “Any problems like the water this morning, electrical, or other problems. Everything that gets done, gets done by me.”
The campers range from regulars to first-timers. They can stay up to two weeks in the peak season, but are allowed to stay up to a month in winter. Eldon Ponder and his wife stay here twice a year to visit family. The retired 20-year Navy veteran has enjoyed visiting Linda for about the last 17 years.
“I adopted her. She’s one of ours,” he teased standing beside her.
McLarty was already pitching in to help the last camp hosts take care of family medical problems when she was hired after they left the job in 2011. She’s paid for the work, but still has to pay rent for the trailer site.
The retired military wife and her husband began RVing when he retired from the Air Force in 1998. They traveled “all over,” she said, as Mike accepted contract and civil service jobs.
Her favorite part of the job is meeting and helping people, she said.
“I did hair for 45 years, so I love being around people. I like to talk,” she said with a smile. “You get everybody. You get grandparents with grandkids. You get parents with their kids. You get people who don’t have any kids. We get lots of dogs. Sometimes you’ll have people who will walk their cats.”
Her least favorite chore is off-hours arrivals.
“I’ll make sure they get hooked up, but I don’t want to be out working at 2 or 6 o’clock in the morning,” she said. “I’m always up early, but not that early.”
Camping on a military base means the security is excellent, and the campers generally behave well.
“I have lots of good memories,” she said. “Everyone’s nice and helpful. If they see someone who is new at RV’ing, especially younger people, they’ll introduce themselves and help them out. We have a lot of people who live in town and work here, and they’ll come out and stay here. They say it’s just like going on vacation.”
Outdoor Recreation Director Kevin Lawson said McLarty treats every customer like family coming home for a visit.
“She lets people know about things to see in Oklahoma City and where the good places are to eat,” he said. “During severe weather season, she makes sure people unfamiliar with our weather know what to do and where to go if it gets gnarly. She is really good at her job. Going above and beyond is just normal for her.”
The usually busy camp operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Would-be campers can call McLarty, 734-2847, and she’ll let them know how many spots are open. Getting a spot, though, can come down to a matter of seconds.
“I had one couple calling me for two weeks, asking how’s it looking,” she said. “They got right outside the gates out here and called, and I said I’ve got one site. I didn’t know there was someone who pulled in right in front of them, so they lost it.”