‘We’re practically full’: Data center workers fill Eastern Iowa campgrounds
Thousands of out-of-state workers building data centers in Eastern Iowa are filling local campgrounds to capacity due to a lack of affordable housing options. This surge in long-term camping is straining campground availability for traditional vacationers and creating a waiting list for spots.
Eastern Iowa campgrounds are experiencing unprecedented demand, becoming long-term residences for thousands of out-of-state workers engaged in data center construction throughout the region. This influx has led to campgrounds, which historically saw low winter occupancy, becoming nearly 100 percent full year-round, according to managers like Stephanie Chrisman of Unhitched Sleepy Hollow and Lazy Acres RV parks.
Workers, including union lineman Josh Burt who is contributing to a QTS project in Cedar Rapids, report that hotel prices ranging from $100 to $500 per night make camping a more affordable option at $26 per night. Burt, who stays at Pleasant Creek Campground in Palo, highlighted the difficulty of finding affordable accommodation, with some resorting to sleeping in cars. The Amana RV Park & Event Center has also noted its highest-ever long-term camping occupancy due to data center construction, receiving multiple daily calls from individuals seeking spots.
The high occupancy creates waiting lists, currently around 20 people for Chrisman's parks, and frustrates long-time campers who are accustomed to regular summer spots. Some workers plan to stay for years, with the "Fairfax project" potentially extending Burt's campground stay for another year, indicating a sustained impact on local housing and recreational resources.