A Growing Second-Home Market? Luxury RV Resorts

A Growing Second-Home Market? Luxury RV Resorts

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Overlooking the New River in Fort Lauderdale not far from million-dollar residences situated throughout the waterway lies a well-retained magic formula: a luxurious RV vacation resort. It provides what lots of imagine of when they go to South Florida: attractive waterfront views, lush greenery and million-dollar yachts floating by, but with a twist.

Alternatively of condos or sky-large apartment properties, Yacht Haven Park and Marina characteristics additional than 220 plenty that attendees can lease to park their RVs.

“I simply call it inexpensive luxury,” mentioned Christine Schaub, 33, who rents a great deal overlooking the New River with her husband, Joel, 40.

Dubbing them selves “young snowbirds,” the Chicago few initially purchased their RV in the early levels of the COVID-19 pandemic, looking at the RV as an possibility that would enable them escape the severe Chicago winters and holiday vacation at a time when global journey was not actually an choice.

Just about 3 years later, the pair has traveled from coast to coastline in their RV, browsing Arizona, New Orleans, Texas, the Florida Keys – and now Yacht Haven Park and Marina.

They commenced staying at the vacation resort in November 2022, liking the waterfront views it offered and the brief proximity to Fort Lauderdale’s downtown lifestyle.

“We can do the job remotely now,” additional Joel. “We own a property in Chicago. We acquired the RV and go to resorts like this where you can get out and steer clear of the snow.”

They are not the only kinds opting out of a next house and into an RV. One in 5 leisure tourists has worked from an RV around the past 24 months, and a person in 4 take into account undertaking it in the upcoming 12 months, according to data from the RV Industry Affiliation.

The rise in level of popularity of RVs

Recreational vehicles, or RVs, noticed a surge in acceptance when the pandemic hit in 2020.

Though the marketplace for them was strong foremost up to the pandemic, COVID lockdowns brought out droves of persons hunting for a suggests to even now be in a position to holiday, even though becoming socially distant.

“The pandemic supercharged it,” stated Monika Geraci, spokesperson for the Recreational Auto Market Affiliation.

In 2021, above 600,000 RVs were built, a 20{3ad958c56c0e590d654b93674c26d25962f6afed4cc4b42be9279a39dd5a6531} improve from the past record higher in 2017, when more than 500,000 RVs were crafted.

And as the pandemic waned on, RV attractiveness grew as more individuals began to prioritize the outdoors. It also became a a lot more inexpensive choice for people today who were seeking to escape amplified housing prices or even discover a extra cost-effective trip dwelling.

“When the housing sector went totally nuts, some property owners jumped on the bandwagon, offered their homes and obtained RVs total time to hold out until finally the market arrived back down,” stated Gigi Stetler, founder of World RV, an RV dealership, in Dania Beach.

A luxurious RV vacation resort by the drinking water

Yacht Haven Park and Marina has been equipped to capitalize on the increasing recognition of RVs. It is been about for about 30 a long time, but only not long ago up-to-date to a luxury vacation resort. They are catering to all segments of the market: snowbirds from the northeast and Canada, younger family members who can perform and university remotely, and touring nurses.

On a Thursday afternoon, the resort appeared like a holiday location, with palm trees paving the road through the website and RVs lined up only yards aside from each and every other. Company could be found lying by the pool or actively playing with their canines in the pet park to get pleasure from the cooler climate. Some couples lounged outdoors on their patios, having fun with glasses of white wine.

Each now and then, a yacht would go by and travellers aboard would wave to any vacation resort friends they noticed.

Some of the additional upscale RVs, which can value upward of a million bucks, have been like stepping into a miniature luxury house, full with leather seats for relaxing, stainless-metal appliances, closet space and ample kitchen area space.

Taking care of sponsor Gary Cioffi and spouse Christopher Hein obtained the 20-acre web-site past year, investing about $26 million in the property to produce an environment where by resort company can park their motorcoaches and enjoy the tranquility.

“When we very first bought it, there was truly a boom in the RV side and yachts had been getting offered at report highs,” Cioffi stated. “There is definitely higher desire and lower supply for areas like ours with the locale being so close to the downtown.”

The park is positioned on West State Road 84 in Fort Lauderdale, just off the highway and about 5 miles from the well known extend of Las Olas Boulevard, in the downtown. One particular of the distinguishing points of the Yacht Haven Park and Marina is the actuality that it not only has docks for people today to park their yachts and boats if require be, but is also so close to the downtown.

Other luxurious campgrounds across the area incorporate the Aztec RV Resort in Margate and the Pelican Lake Motorcoach Resort in Naples.

The Yacht Haven Park and Marina offers attendees 6 distinctive large amount forms for guests to select from, this kind of as Royal Position Waterfront, Garden See and Waterfront Quality. Every single good deal has synthetic grass, new driveway locations and a patio for friends to rest on.

Each day costs variety depending on the period, but usually begin at $105 a evening for the summer months year, and $145 a evening for the winter season.

“To be by the h2o and the boats is pretty,” additional Christine Schaub.

Facilities at the vacation resort include a canine park, a playground for all those with young ones, a exercise heart, a pool and laundry and showers. They are in the course of action of obtaining permits to make a 6,000-square-foot clubhouse with a rooftop lounge, a exercise middle, a revamped pool and sundeck spot, together with pickle ball and basketball courts.

“What we have noticed across the board for campgrounds is that folks want additional facilities period of time,” stated Geraci. “We have witnessed campgrounds including the sort of features that you would come across at resorts.”

The vacation resort welcomes motor coaches of all kinds, as long as they are in great problem.

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