Excessive-end RV resorts develop well-liked amid the housing crunch. Some deem it ‘affordable luxury.’

Overlooking the New River in Fort Lauderdale not removed from million-dollar houses located throughout the waterway lies a well-kept secret: a luxurious RV resort.

It presents what many consider once they go to South Florida: beautiful waterfront views, lush greenery and million-dollar yachts floating by, however with a twist.

As a substitute of condos or sky-high house buildings, Yacht Haven Park and Marina options greater than 220 tons that visitors can hire to park their RVs.

“I call it affordable luxury,” stated Christine Schaub, 33, who rents lots overlooking the New River along with her husband, Joel, 40.

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

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 supplied and the short proximity to Fort Lauderdale’s downtown life.

“We can work remotely now,” added Joel. “We own a home in Chicago. We bought the RV and go to resorts like this where you can get out and avoid the snow.”

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

Leisure autos, or RVs, noticed a surge in reputation when the pandemic hit in 2020.

Whereas the marketplace for them was sturdy main as much as the pandemic, COVID lockdowns introduced out droves of individuals on the lookout for a way to nonetheless have the ability to trip, whereas being socially distant.

“The pandemic supercharged it,” stated Monika Geraci, spokesperson for the Leisure Automobile Trade Affiliation.

In 2021, over 600,00 RVs had been constructed, a 20% improve from the earlier document excessive in 2017, when over 500,000 RVs had been constructed.

And because the pandemic waned on, RV reputation grew as extra individuals started to prioritize the outside. It additionally turned a extra inexpensive choice for individuals who had been trying to escape elevated housing prices and even discover a extra inexpensive trip house.

“When the housing market went absolutely crazy, some homeowners jumped on the bandwagon, sold their homes and purchased RVs full time to wait until the market came back down,” stated Gigi Stetler, founding father of Planet RV, an RV dealership, in Dania Seaside.

Yacht Haven Park and Marina has been in a position to capitalize on the rising reputation of RVs. It’s been round for about 30 years, however solely not too long ago 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 regarded like a trip spot, with palm timber paving the street all through the positioning and RVs lined up solely yards aside from one another.

Friends may very well be discovered laying by the pool or enjoying with their canine within the canine park to benefit from the cooler climate. Some {couples} lounged exterior on their patios, having fun with glasses of white wine.

Every so often, a yacht would cross by and passengers aboard would wave to any resort visitors they noticed.

Among the extra upscale RVs, which may value upward of 1,000,000 {dollars}, had been like stepping right into a miniature luxurious house, full with leather-based seats for stress-free, 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.

“When we first bought it, there was actually a boom in the RV side and yachts were being sold at record highs,” Cioffi stated. “There is certainly high demand and low supply for places like ours with the location being so close to the downtown.”

The park is positioned 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 individuals 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 presents visitors six completely different lot sorts for visitors to select from, similar to Royal Level Waterfront, Backyard View and Waterfront Premium. Every lot has artificial grass, new driveway areas and a patio for visitors to calm down on.

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

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

Facilities on the resort embrace a canine park, a playground for these with children, a health middle, 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 middle, a revamped pool and sundeck space, together with pickle ball and basketball courts.

“What we have seen across the board for campgrounds is that people want more amenities period,” stated Geraci. “We have seen campgrounds adding the type of amenities that you would find at resorts.”

The resort welcomes motor coaches of all kinds, so long as they’re in good situation.