A Rising Second-Residence Market? Luxurious RV Resorts
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Overlooking the New River in Fort Lauderdale not removed from million-dollar properties located throughout the waterway lies a well-kept secret: a luxurious RV resort. It presents what many consider once they go to South Florida: attractive waterfront views, lush greenery and million-dollar yachts floating by, however with a twist.
As a substitute of condos or sky-high condominium buildings, Yacht Haven Park and Marina options greater than 220 heaps that visitors can lease to park their RVs.
“I name it reasonably priced luxurious,” stated Christine Schaub, 33, who rents loads overlooking the New River together with her husband, Joel, 40.
Dubbing themselves “younger snowbirds,” the Chicago couple first bought their RV within the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing the RV as an choice that may allow them to escape the tough Chicago winters and trip at a time when worldwide journey wasn’t actually an choice.
Virtually three years later, the couple has traveled from coast to coast of their RV, visiting Arizona, New Orleans, Texas, the Florida Keys – and now Yacht Haven Park and Marina.
They began staying on the resort in November 2022, liking the waterfront views it provided and the fast proximity to Fort Lauderdale’s downtown life.
“We are able to work remotely now,” added Joel. “We personal a house in Chicago. We purchased the RV and go to resorts like this the place you will get out and keep away from the snow.”
They aren’t the one ones opting out of a second house and into an RV. One in 5 leisure vacationers has labored from an RV over the previous 24 months, and one in 4 contemplate doing it within the subsequent yr, in accordance with information from the RV Trade Affiliation.
The rise in reputation of RVs
Leisure autos, or RVs, noticed a surge in reputation when the pandemic hit in 2020.
Whereas the marketplace for them was robust main as much as the pandemic, COVID lockdowns introduced out droves of individuals searching for a way to nonetheless be capable of trip, whereas being socially distant.
“The pandemic supercharged it,” stated Monika Geraci, spokesperson for the Leisure Automobile Trade Affiliation.
In 2021, over 600,000 RVs had been constructed, a 20% improve from the earlier report excessive in 2017, when over 500,000 RVs had been constructed.
And because the pandemic waned on, RV reputation grew as extra folks started to prioritize the outside. It additionally grew to become a extra reasonably priced choice for individuals who had been seeking to escape elevated housing prices and even discover a extra reasonably priced trip house.
“When the housing market went completely loopy, some owners jumped on the bandwagon, offered their properties and bought RVs full time to attend till the market got here again down,” stated Gigi Stetler, founding father of Planet RV, an RV dealership, in Dania Seashore.
A luxurious RV resort by the water
Yacht Haven Park and Marina has been capable of capitalize on the rising reputation of RVs. It’s been round for about 30 years, however solely lately up to date to a luxurious resort. They’re catering to all segments of the market: snowbirds from the northeast and Canada, younger households who can work and faculty remotely, and touring nurses.
On a Thursday afternoon, the resort appeared like a trip spot, with palm timber paving the street all through the location and RVs lined up solely yards other than one another. Company may very well be discovered mendacity by the pool or enjoying with their canine within the canine park to benefit from the cooler climate. Some {couples} lounged exterior on their patios, having fun with glasses of white wine.
Once in a while, a yacht would go by and passengers aboard would wave to any resort visitors they noticed.
A number of the extra upscale RVs, which might value upward of 1,000,000 {dollars}, had been like stepping right into a miniature luxurious house, full with leather-based seats for enjoyable, stainless-steel home equipment, closet area and ample kitchen area.
Managing sponsor Gary Cioffi and associate Christopher Hein acquired the 20-acre website final yr, investing about $26 million within the property to create an environment the place resort visitors can park their motorcoaches and benefit from the tranquility.
“Once we first purchased it, there was truly a growth within the RV facet and yachts had been being offered at report highs,” Cioffi stated. “There may be definitely excessive demand and low provide for locations like ours with the placement being so near the downtown.”
The park is positioned on West State Highway 84 in Fort Lauderdale, simply off the freeway and about 5 miles from the favored stretch of Las Olas Boulevard, within the downtown. One of many distinguishing factors of the Yacht Haven Park and Marina is the truth that it not solely has docks for folks to park their yachts and boats if want be, however can also be so near the downtown.
Different luxurious campgrounds throughout the area embrace the Aztec RV Resort in Margate and the Pelican Lake Motorcoach Resort in Naples.
The Yacht Haven Park and Marina presents visitors six completely different lot sorts for visitors to select from, equivalent to Royal Level Waterfront, Backyard View and Waterfront Premium. Every lot has artificial grass, new driveway areas and a patio for visitors to loosen up on.
Day by day charges vary relying on the season, however sometimes begin at $105 an evening for the summer time season, and $145 an evening for the winter season.
“To be by the water and the boats is gorgeous,” added Christine Schaub.
Facilities on the resort embrace a canine park, a playground for these with children, a health heart, a pool and laundry and showers. They’re within the means of getting permits to construct a 6,000-square-foot clubhouse with a rooftop lounge, a health heart, a revamped pool and sundeck space, together with pickle ball and basketball courts.
“What now we have seen throughout the board for campgrounds is that folks need extra facilities interval,” stated Geraci. “We have now seen campgrounds including the kind of facilities that you’d discover at resorts.”
The resort welcomes motor coaches of all kinds, so long as they’re in good situation.
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