I can almost guarantee that AMA dues are not included and why should/would they be?!?

You want a field out in the boonies, so the neighbors are not always angry about the giant balsa muskeetos flying around!

A hobby shop/snack bar? Now your talking dues of several thousand dollars a year, as who would have to pay for the inventory and pay a staff to run?

It certainly is within your rights to find out what the dues are paying for. Does the club own the property, are they buying it, or is a land purchase a prospect for their future.

If you have investigated all the local club venues and this is your only choice, you may be faced with this being the best you can hope for.

My local club uses the corner of a center pivot irrigated field from a local farmer. It is a grass strip, which I prefer anyway. We have a shelter with picnic tables and work benches, a lawn mower storage shed and outhouse. I'm in hog heaven for $50.00 for the first year and $25.00 thereafter.

You will be safer in the future, if you see something first, before you let your imagination run wild! I think what you have described is very typical of club fields. There are some which are far better and some which are far worse.

Bring the tools and possibles you might need for minor repairs, a cooler of beer, pop or Perrier water and enjoy a day at the flying field like the rest of us do and the flying field will turn into being one of your favorite place on this Earth. However, you might be asked to mow on occasions (another one of my favorite pastimes).