Park Models Extend RV Lifestyle

After 30 years of RVing across North America, Wayne Davidson and his wife were ready to give up travel, but not the RV lifestyle, and they found a way to do that at Golden Village Palms RV Resort in Hemet, California. The Davidsons, from Alberta, Canada, purchased a 400-square-foot park model and placed it on a leased site at the resort so that they could continue enjoying the resort’s amenities, even though they no longer have an RV.

Greg Sidoroff, who oversees Golden Village Palms for its owner, Sunland RV Resorts, said park models now account for more than a fourth of the resort’s campsites.  “We’re actually trying to reach out to more snowbirds who are non-RVers, but want to enjoy the resort amenities and activities we provide,” he said. The resort offers a state-of-the-art exercise center, swimming pools, library and computer room, shuffleboard tournaments, discounts at nearby golf courses and a full schedule of activities and classes.

William Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association, said Golden Village Palms is one of a growing number of RV parks and resorts that are making campsites available to park model buyers as a way for resorts to diversify their business base. Park models are factory-built cottages that are small enough to be technically classified as recreational vehicles, but are not easily moved. They can be placed at RV parks and resorts for vacation use.

Nikki

Nikki is a writer and editor for Do It Yourself RV, RV LIFE, and Camper Report. She is based on the Oregon Coast and has traveled all over the Pacific Northwest.