Forbes: Record RV Sales Spur Demand For New, Rehabbed RV Parks

Think for a minute of the scenarios prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic. First, there was the move away from cities in a quest for wide-open spaces. About the same time, many Americans realized they could work from anywhere. Next came a desire to vacation safely without ever getting too close to the public. Over the months following, there dawned a sense that life is finite, and it’s never too early to live your dreams.

When contemplating each and every one of these influences, is it difficult to understand why sales of recreational vehicles have skyrocketed over the past 14 months? When Covid hit, the RV quickly came to be regarded as the safest way to travel. That’s one way the virus added additional fuel to an already-booming demand for the RV lifestyle.

The RV Industry Association (RVIA) reports RV shipments grew 4.5% in 2020, despite a Covid-induced industry shutdown of almost two months. The RVIA is forecasting an increase of 19.5% RVs shipped this year. The projected 507,200 units would represent an annual record, surpassing the 504,600 units shipped four years ago.

“Demand for RVs and the RV lifestyle is at record levels,” Bobby Cornwell, executive director and CEO of the Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, was heard to say recently. “Even before the pandemic, we were seeing growing numbers of people in their 50s and 60s working from their RVs and enjoying the snowbird lifestyle.

"Now, with the pandemic, even families are realizing they can take the kids and enjoy the RV lifestyle more. All of this is fueling demand for more RVs, and more RV sites, in Florida and across the country.”

More Parks, Perks

When it comes to naming the hot spot for new RV parks, Florida easily captures the number one ranking, with Texas coming in a strong runner-up.

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds estimates more than 53,000 new RV sites will be constructed across the nation in 2021. The Sunshine State has recently seen the addition of 19 new RV resorts, along with more than 20 park expansions. That has brought to a total of 2,500 the number of RV sites coming online.

Citing even a fraction of the new RV properties is beyond the scope of this article. But here’s a tiny sampling of the best new Florida parks, and their crowd-pleasing features.

Check out the rest of the article from Forbes here.