RV Park Model Resort Living May be Your Cup of Tea
RV resort parks are all over North America but they are not all the same. Today I want to introduce you to the lifestyle of the 55+ generation RVers who take advantage of park models.
A park model is a small mobile home (not to be confused with a full sized double wide mobile home you see in trailer parks) that is usually parked in a resort park and occupied during the winter months. Below is a model home in one of these parks. 
The majority of these parks are located in the south western United States and Florida. Many full time RVers use these parks for a home base in the winter. Some are skinny and some are wider - they come in several sizes and many different floor plans.
RVers “rent” or “lease” a space in these parks on a yearly basis. These rents run anywhere from three to eight thousand a year depending on the quality and location of the park. Utilities are not included in your rent. These park models can be purchased new or used. If you purchase a used model it will be cheaper and most of the stuff you want is already included.
A couple of our friends purchased used models for less than six thousand dollars and they had a carport, laundry room and storage unit already built on.
You don’t have to have a park model to use these parks. Many RVers rent a site on which to park their motorhomes or 5th wheels so it’s not unusual to see a motorhome parked next to a park model. 
Full time RVers use these park models as a storage unit while they are off gallivanting around the country during the warmer months, then return in the winter. These parks also have RV storage areas so RVers can store their RV while they occupy the park model. The lifestyle in these parks includes many “activities” for the occupants including shopping trips, entertainment, games, computer club, wood shop, card tournaments, pot-lucks and church services. They usually have a “cruise director” that coordinates all the events. So if you’re the kind of person who likes this kind of lifestyle you should seriously look into buying a park model in one of these parks. Jim
A park model is a small mobile home (not to be confused with a full sized double wide mobile home you see in trailer parks) that is usually parked in a resort park and occupied during the winter months. Below is a model home in one of these parks. The majority of these parks are located in the south western United States and Florida. Many full time RVers use these parks for a home base in the winter. Some are skinny and some are wider - they come in several sizes and many different floor plans.RVers “rent” or “lease” a space in these parks on a yearly basis. These rents run anywhere from three to eight thousand a year depending on the quality and location of the park. Utilities are not included in your rent. These park models can be purchased new or used. If you purchase a used model it will be cheaper and most of the stuff you want is already included.A couple of our friends purchased used models for less than six thousand dollars and they had a carport, laundry room and storage unit already built on. You don’t have to have a park model to use these parks. Many RVers rent a site on which to park their motorhomes or 5th wheels so it’s not unusual to see a motorhome parked next to a park model. Full time RVers use these park models as a storage unit while they are off gallivanting around the country during the warmer months, then return in the winter. These parks also have RV storage areas so RVers can store their RV while they occupy the park model. The lifestyle in these parks includes many “activities” for the occupants including shopping trips, entertainment, games, computer club, wood shop, card tournaments, pot-lucks and church services. They usually have a “cruise director” that coordinates all the events. So if you’re the kind of person who likes this kind of lifestyle you should seriously look into buying a park model in one of these parks. JimLabels: RV Lifestyle, RV Parks
posted by Jim Twamley at
7/09/2007 11:31:00 PM
5 Comments:
Jim, great post. We have been researching park models in Washington state. There are RV resorts with deeded lots, rather than leased, that allow and have park models on display to buy. Some are run like condominiums, there is a month association fee, quite reasonable.
By
Marcia (MeeAugraphie), at July 9, 2007 8:16:00 AM PDT
It has been our observation that the people who own park models are at the mercy of the park as far as their yearly lease is concerned. When the parks raise the amount to a point that it is unreasonable, they can't just pick up & move. When the lease gets too high it is even hard to sell your park model.
Fran
By
Anonymous, at July 14, 2007 6:08:00 AM PDT
our first winter of full time rving last year was spent in Florida.Most Florida rv parks are 50% travelers and 50% permanent residence.Before we started we had to decide between full time traveling or buy a park model in Florida.We saw many on a web site seniormoblehomes.com.They looked nice and reasonably priced.We chose to travel for a few years and then decide what we wanted to do next.When we came into the Florida parks we found established park models over $40,000.Anything under 20 was pretty rough.And parks that we liked now want you to buy the land or at the very least pay a $5,000 entry to park fee!It is not cheap anymore.
By
Tracey B, at July 14, 2007 6:48:00 AM PDT
Several years ago an RV 'Resort' opened in our small city, and sold and set up park models as well as renting (by the month or longer only) RV spaces. After a few years, the owning corportion decided to convert the land to site-built homes, leaving the people with park models the choice of moving their homes or having them torn down, (I think this was their ultimate goal in order to circumvent local laws and codes). Moral of the story is; make sure the facility will be permanent before you invest.
By
Anonymous, at July 15, 2007 7:02:00 AM PDT
We have had a similar exprience to Anonymous. Please look at our blog at http://parkmodels.wordpress.com/ Any suggestions will be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance.
By
Anonymous, at September 8, 2007 2:05:00 PM PDT
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