As some of you know, my parents own a RV lot inside an RV condominium park. We got in it very early on and it has served us very well. Unlike a timeshare situation, you buy the lot here, you can improve it under certain guidelines, and use it as much (or little) as you'd like between May 1st and October 31st. The park is broken down into two types of lots, an all back-in section for Class A's, C's, fifth wheels, and travel trailers and now two class A only sections.
Everything started out great and went well until around 2005. At that time with only one Class A exclusive loop though, word got around among the full time, older retirees who were staying in the similar ownership parks in Florida and would often venture north for the summer months. Being the first park of this type in the north, they flocked in. At first, we had mostly people with the Monacos, Newmars, Fleetwoods, and the like. These people seemed to have a serious problem with other RVers who didn't have a similar unit to them and started a force within the park to start banning travel trailers. They struggled as half the park could still accept them and some still have TTs. Even though the 10 year old or newer unless pre-approved rule has always been in effect, these people singled out TT owners as being trouble makers and being more on the rude and messy side, when I've now realized sometimes this is the case, but just as often it's the other way around. Nothing ever happened with a ban though because they couldn't get a majority vote.
The park began to sell out. I think around 2005 IIRC, they started building a new loop that was supposed to be Class A and fifth wheel. The old A only loop had a few people with the more expensive motorhomes, meaning like anything Prevost chassis based, but not many. By the time the new loop was finished and ready for occupancy, more of that crowd heard about the new loop/sites. The new loop opened for the first time over 4th of July week, which they ended up hosting a Marathon Coach rally in the new section on all the new sites. They were everywhere, factory reps too. They sold a few lots in the new section out of them. The first three people to sign, all Marathon owners, convinced the developers that the fifth wheel people are scumbags and they just simply can't co-exist with them in the same area. So with that early strong pressure to some high dollar customers, the loop is now class A only and only about 40% sold, all this time later.
Shortly after all that took place, the developers suddenly sold out to a local investor trying to give his son something to do since he failed in the restaurant industry. Between his interest in change and his shared views with that other crowd, they quickly and easily banned travel trailers in early 2009. They allowed some people who already had trailers to use them through the end of the 2009 season. I last had the Sunline there in September 2009. One lady still has hers there to this day, because it's custom equipped with a wheelchair lift, and they know if they fight her, she will sue.
In the last couple years, things have gone down hill. While fortunately everyone owns their lots so it's not like a membership would go up, but they keep raising the dues and adding mysterious fees that can't be explained. No one is happy now and it's a pretty hostile environment, compared to the very fun, friendly environment it started as.
We used to go to all the parties they had and knew a lot of people. In the last few years, the park has changed. We don't know really anyone at these parties now. In fact, we stopped going a few years ago and haven't complained. I make the exception for a free one, but most require you to pay a few bucks.
We've got our group of neighbors that we go out and do things with, so we just use it as a place to stay and do our own thing at, and it works fine for that purpose. I'm sure we'd all like to get out, but with over 25% of the park clearly for sale on the website and probably more like 40-50%+ really for sale and/or for sale privately, it shows that no one wants to be there. My mom was on the website tonight and the prices of the lots as a whole have dropped even more. The new developer has set a price floor for his advertising purposes and all the lots are now listed at or very close to it. That says something.
Due to this low interest, they've even had trouble filling rental sites too. What's considered the nicest park in the US appearance wise and used to have just about every weekend full, now they struggle to fill it even on holiday weekends. They raise the rental rate and with fewer rentals, they have to make up for the losses by increasing the dues and usage fees (even if you don't use it).
It's sad to see what started as a great idea and blossomed into a successful park turned into such a disaster. But at least as of now, we're able to use it for what we want and we try not to bother anyone (even though we may with laughter sometimes...) and try not to be bothered by anyone.
And here the rumor keeps going around over and over that they'll vote out Class C's and fifth wheels. Heck, they may as well do C's since they don't allow the Super C's (that cost more than many A's and usually have similar paint jobs) to co-exist with the A's in their loops. I think that would just be the beginning of the end if they did that.
They've got a reputation around the web now and via word of mouth with all these retirees of being a nasty place, so they just don't come anymore, especially to buy. I think 4 lots sold this year, three of which were resales and one of which went under the table really cheap.
Somewhere on here recently I remember reading about someone starting a discussion on RV.net about camping vs. RVing. I buy it, and in fact, for these old, cranky, full time retirees, they don't fit into either category. They, and their lifestyle, have their own category. It's defined by being extremely lonely, bitter, dog-hating, and in the end, concerned yet not concerned about the costs of anything.
Boy, I sure hope I don't get there some day. Sure isn't a glorious lifestyle.
Oh, don't get me started on the dog issue... I'm tempted to pull up and burn every "Please no dogs" sign I walk by, and I'll tell you, with a 217 lot park and sometimes up to 3 or 4 said signs per lot, I'll need an awfully big wagon.
Sorry for my little rant...
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