Excessive-end RV resorts develop fashionable amid the housing crunch. Some deem it ‘reasonably priced luxurious.’ – Solar Sentinel

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 provides 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 hire to park their RVs.

“I name it reasonably priced luxurious,” mentioned Christine Schaub, 33, who rents rather a lot overlooking the New River along with her husband, Joel, 40.

Dubbing themselves “younger snowbirds,” the Chicago couple first bought their RV within the early levels of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing the RV as an possibility that might allow them to escape the cruel Chicago winters and trip at a time when worldwide journey wasn’t actually an possibility.

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 may get out and keep away from the snow.”

They aren’t the one ones opting out of a second residence and into an RV. One in 5 leisure vacationers has labored from an RV over the previous 24 months, and one in 4 take into account doing it within the subsequent yr, based on knowledge from the RV Business Affiliation.

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,” mentioned Monika Geraci, spokesperson for the Leisure Car Business Affiliation.

In 2021, over 600,00 RVs have been constructed, a 20% improve from the earlier document excessive in 2017, when over 500,000 RVs have 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 possibility for individuals who have been seeking to escape elevated housing prices and even discover a extra reasonably priced trip residence.

“When the housing market went completely loopy, some householders jumped on the bandwagon, bought their properties and bought RVs full time to attend till the market got here again down,” mentioned Gigi Stetler, founding father of Planet RV, an RV dealership, in Dania Seashore.

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 college remotely, and touring nurses.

On a Thursday afternoon, the resort seemed like a trip spot, with palm bushes paving the highway all through the location and RVs lined up solely yards other than one another.

Visitors might be discovered laying by the pool or taking part in with their canines within the canine park to benefit from the cooler climate. Some {couples} lounged exterior on their patios, having fun with glasses of white wine.

Now and again, a yacht would go by and passengers aboard would wave to any resort visitors they noticed.

Among the extra upscale RVs, which might value upward of one million {dollars}, have been like stepping right into a miniature luxurious residence, full with leather-based seats for enjoyable, stainless-steel home equipment, closet house and ample kitchen house.

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.

“After we first purchased it, there was truly a growth within the RV aspect and yachts have been being bought at document highs,” Cioffi mentioned. “There may be actually excessive demand and low provide for locations like ours with the placement being so near the downtown.”

The park is situated on West State Street 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 provides visitors six totally different lot sorts for visitors to select from, comparable to Royal Level Waterfront, Backyard View and Waterfront Premium. Every lot has artificial grass, new driveway areas and a patio for visitors to chill out on.

Every day charges vary relying on the season, however sometimes begin at $105 an evening for the summer season season, and $145 an evening for the winter season.

“To be by the water and the boats is beautiful,” added Christine Schaub.

Facilities on the resort embrace a canine park, a playground for these with youngsters, a health heart, a pool and laundry and showers. They’re within the technique 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 we have now seen throughout the board for campgrounds is that folks need extra facilities interval,” mentioned Geraci. “We’ve 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.