High-end RV resorts grow popular amid the housing crunch

Overlooking the New River in Fort Lauderdale not far from million-dollar homes situated across the waterway lies a well-kept secret: a luxury RV resort.

It offers what many think of when they visit South Florida: gorgeous waterfront views, lush greenery and million-dollar yachts floating by, but with a twist.

Instead of condos or skyhigh apartment buildings, Yacht Haven Park and Marina features more than 220 lots that guests can rent to park their RVs.

“I call it affordable luxury,” said Christine Schaub, 33, who rents a lot overlooking the New River with her husband, Joel, 40.

Dubbing themselves “young snowbirds,” the Chicago couple first purchased their RV in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing the RV as an option that would let them escape the harsh Chicago winters and vacation at a time when international travel wasn’t really an option.

Almost three years later, the couple has traveled from coast to coast in their RV, visiting Arizona, New Orleans, Texas, the Florida Keys — and now Yacht Haven Park and Marina.

They started staying at the resort in November 2022, liking the waterfront views it offered and the quick 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 only ones opting out of a second home and into an RV. One in five leisure travelers has worked from an RV over the past 24 months, and one in four consider doing it in the next year, according to data from the RV Industry Association.

Recreational vehicles, or RVs, saw a surge in popularity when the pandemic hit in 2020.

While the market for them was strong leading up to the pandemic, COVID lockdowns brought out droves of people looking for a means to still be able to vacation, while being socially distant.

“The pandemic supercharged it,” said Monika Geraci, spokesperson for the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association.

In 2021, over 600,00 RVs were built, a 20% increase from the previous record high in 2017, when over 500,000 RVs were built.

And as the pandemic waned on, RV popularity grew as more people began to prioritize the outdoors. It also became a more affordable option for people who were looking to escape increased housing costs or even find a more affordable vacation home.

“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,” said Gigi Stetler, founder of Planet RV, an RV dealership, in Dania Beach.

Yacht Haven Park and Marina has been able to capitalize on the growing popularity of RVs. It’s been around for about 30 years, but only recently updated to a luxury resort. They’re catering to all segments of the market: snowbirds from the northeast and Canada, young families who can work and school remotely, and traveling nurses.

On a Thursday afternoon, the resort looked like a vacation spot, with palm trees paving the road throughout the site and RVs lined up only yards apart from each other.

Guests could be found laying by the pool or playing with their dogs in the dog park to enjoy the cooler weather. Some couples lounged outside on their patios, enjoying glasses of white wine.