Florida, Alabama Featuring Expanded, Improved RV Parks – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News

The Tides RV Resort in Palmetto

Snowbirds bound for Florida and Alabama later this year will find both new and expanding RV parks and resorts as well as new amenities at many of the parks they enjoy.

“RV resorts in Florida and Alabama keep getting bigger and better. So new and returning Snowbirds are not only finding new RV resorts, but existing RV resorts with more spaces and more amenities to enhance their stays,” said Bobby Cornwell, president and CEO of the Florida and Alabama RV Park and Campground Association, which hosts CampFlorida.com and CampInAlabama.com, the travel planning websites.

Below are highlights of new, recently expanded and improving RV parks and resorts across Florida and Alabama as well as information on plans for new parks and park expansions expected to take place next year:

New RV Resorts Planned in Florida

— Dreamin’ n’ Driftin’ RV Resort in Lake City: This scenic 100-site park is expected to open Oct. 1. Developed on a 33-acre lot that includes eight acres of century-old live oak trees with Spanish moss, the resort features large, 80-foot by 40-foot RV sites with 30 and 50 amp electric service, a walking and workout trail, a community center and swimming pool, and a one-acre dog park. Fifty of the 100 sites will be long-term sites, with 25 sites being for seasonal and 25 for overnight campers.

— Panhandle RV Resort in Gretna: Groundbreaking is expected during the first quarter of 2024 on this resort 30 miles west of Tallahassee, which is expected to have 217 sites and open by late 2024. The resort will have state-of-the-art amenities, including large, spacious concrete RV sites with full hookups, a fitness center with a pool and hot tub, WiFi enabled laundry services, pickleball courts, clean and private showers and restrooms, as well as an entertainment barn for outdoor entertainment, an indoor venue for indoor activities, and a convenience store.

— Madison Station RV Resort in Madision: Southeastern Resort Development is building this 95-site park, which is scheduled to open this fall.

— Roserush Luxury RV Resort in Brooksville: This park 50 miles north of Tampa expects to open this fall with 50 premium RV sites and 12 luxury glamping tents overlooking a small lake and fountain. This will be a luxury boutique destination resort just in close proximity to I-75 and the Gulf. Nearby activities include golf, biking, hiking, mountain biking, zip lining and ATV-ing.

— Southern Sands RV Resort in Arcadia: Zeman RV Resorts is building this 184-site resort as the latest addition to its Signature RV Resorts series. The resort is expected to open Dec. 1 with an introductory construction rate as the park’s amenities are built out. The amenities are expected to be completed by May.

Florida RV Resorts That Opened Earlier This Year

— Sun Outdoors Islamorada in the Florida Keys: This all-ages 136-site resort in Islamorada opened in May and features RV sites and rental accommodations with ocean views. Amenities include a heated swimming pool, state of the art clubhouse, and poolside cabanas.

Terra Ceia Village RV Resort in Palmetto

Florida RV Resort Expansions

— Bay Bayou RV Resort in Tampa: This park plans to have eight premium RV sites in the Bayou Grande area of the resort by Nov. 1. The rest is along with its first pickleball court, a custom-made Gymtainer with commercial exercise equipment and restroom facilities. A Zen garden is also being added as part of the expansion effort.

— Breezy Oaks RV Park in Bushnell: All 217 sites in this park have been hard wired with high-speed Internet service. Park owner Mike Wood is also planning to expand park with another 181 sites available during the winter of 2023-2024.

— Caladesi RV Park in Palm Harbor: The latest improvements at this park include a new gym and the installation of a new ventilation system in the park’s bathhouses. The park also continues to upgrade its campsites, putting limestone rock over the soft sand.

— Cooper Lake RV Community in Interlachen: New owners have expanded this park with 30 additional lots and finished a clubhouse with bathrooms and showers and a multipurpose room. Other improvements include the asphalting of all roads, the addition of a community park and the provision of WiFi service throughout the park. Park owners are continuing to level the existing lots and add new landscaping.

— Jasmine Breeze RV Park in Old Town: This park is more than doubling in size from 18 to 40 to 45 RV sites.

— Terra Ceia Village RV Resort in Palmetto: This Encore resort has added 180 RV sites with 50 amp, full hookup, back-in and paved options. A new swimming pool, clubhouse, fitness center and four pickleball courts were also included in the expansion.

— The Glades Resort in Moore Haven: Ninety-seven sites are being added to this central Florida park, with completion targeted for early 2024. Amenities include its own championship 9 hole golf course, an onsite restaurant and its own freshwater marina along the Caloosahatchee River just 14 miles west of Lake Okeechobee, 11 miles west of the Moore Haven lock and 4.5 miles east of the Ortona lock.

The Surf RV Resort in Palmetto

Florida RV Resort Improvements

— Coastal River RV Resort in Steinhatchie: This park is updating its electric utilities and WiFi, building a dog park, installing new tiny home rentals and adding gravel to its RV sites.

— Cross City Campground and RV Resort in Cross City: Several improvements are underway at this park, which was acquired by new owners in August. Improvements include the renovation of the swimming pool, clubhouse, office, bathrooms and laundry area and the installation of new fencing and signage. The WiFi system is also being updated and gravel is being added to the campsites. A 40-site expansion is planned for 2024.

— Fisherman’s Cove RV Resort in Palmetto: This resort has added artificial turf to the entire clubhouse area. An artificial turf putting green has also been added as a new amenity. The resort is surrounded by 24,900 contiguous acres of serene aquatic preserve and also county and state parks such as Robinson Preserve, Emerson Point and Terra Ceia State Park.

— Flat Creek Family Campground in Chattahooche: This park, which is just west of Tallahassee, has added new outdoor fitness equipment, created walking trails on the property and made other improvements to promote wildlife viewing.  

— Idlewild Lodge & RV Park in Lake Panasoffkee: Recent improvements to this park include cabin renovations and pavered RV sites, along with several new amenities, including pontoon boat rentals, kayaks, bait & tackle, a concrete boat launch, boat slips, vending, recreational area, laundry machines, an on-site café, pool-side cabanas. Idlewild is also a host to Swamp Fever Airboat Adventures. Swamp Fever guests can sign up for the interactive alligator experience and ride an airboat deep into the shallow waters of the Lake Panasoffkee forest where snakes, turtles, cranes, and alligators are aplenty. Idlewild was founded in 1992 as a fish camp built on three acres with 10 cabins and 10 RV sites. Located on the western perimeter of Lake Panasoffkee, Idlewild sits across a 9,911 acre state park preserving Lake Panasoffkee’s vast floodplain forest, natural springs, pine flat-woods, freshwater marshes and oak scrub forest.

— Indian Mound Fish Camp in Oak Hill: This park is paving the entire campground in addition to updating all of its nightly waterfront sites with paver patios and new fire rings. Indian Mound has 38 RV sites and three cabins.

— Seasons in the Sun RV Resort in Mims: This 55-and-over Zeman active lifestyle resort is upgrading its bathhouse and laundry area higher quality materials as well as new machines and more machines for guest use.

— St. Augustine Beach KOA Holiday in St. Augustine: The latest improvements at this park include a new open air steel pavilion. Other improvements include a new climate-controlled bathhouse with six family style bathrooms, three bathrooms with toilets and sinks, and an indoor 24/7 laundry facility.

Zachary Taylor Waterfront RV Resort in Okeechobee

— Sun Lake RV Resort in Ruskin: This park is upgrading 12 RV sites into super sites with pavers, adding a fenced in dog park and remodeling a double wide for use as an Airbnb rental. An artificial turf putting green is also being added as a new amenity.

— Sunshine Village Resort in Webster: This RV and manufactured housing resort is adding spacious new homes, including 3 bedroom, two bathroom models by Nobility and Champion. New activities are also being added for the upcoming winter season, including dinner murder mysteries, Karaoke, a senior prom event, and catch-and-release fishing at Sunshine Pond, which was stocked last season and is now thriving.

— The Surf RV Resort in Palmetto: This 55-and-over resort has enlarged its pool lounging deck to allow for an additional 120 loungers. New loungers have also been purchased for the pool area. Astro turf has been added along the length of the pool deck by the main lake. The resort, which now offers annual stays, also has fully restricted access with the recent installation of new 6-foot-high black vinyl chain link fencing around three sides of the resort.

— The Tides RV Resort in Palmetto: This 55-and-over Zeman Signature Resort has added a second dog park, with separate sections for little dogs and big dogs. Pool gates have also been upgraded, making them easier to open and close.

— The Waves RV Resort in Naples: This 55-and-over Zeman active lifestyle resort is continuing to upgrade the interiors of its clubhouse and resort office.

— Zachary Taylor Waterfront RV Resort in Okeechobee: This resort has added a new laundry room with all new machines.

Idlewild Lodge & RV Park in Lake Panasoffkee

New Florida and Alabama RV Resorts and Park Expansions Planned for 2024

— Creekside RV Resort in Punta Gorda, Florida: This park plans to begin construction next summer on its third phase, which will include approximately 100 RV sites.

— Cross City Campground and RV Resort in Cross City, Alabama: A 40-site expansion is planned for this park in 2024.

— Homestead RV Community in Theodore, Alaabama: This park is adding a saltwater pool, shuffleboard and pickleball courts and a large pool house complete with an event center large enough to accommodate 100 people. Continuously driving technology, Homestead RV Community has been actively beta testing products for Marine Sync, Wild Energy, and CampLife and will soon be testing state-of-the-art pedestals for Motion Power.

— Birmingham South RV Park in Pelham, Alabama:  The latest improvements at this 99-site park include eight RV sites that have newly poured concrete. Paving improvements have also continued in various sections of the park. Last year, the park made improvements to its front entrance with new paving, landscaping and a stormwater drainage system.

— Island Retreat RV Park in Gulf Shores, Alabama: A brand new Jayco travel trailer has been added to this 173-site park as a new rental RV unit for Snowbirds. Laundry and bathhouse facilities have also been updated while concrete pad replacements continue.

— Luxury RV Resort in Gulf Shores, Alabama:  A brand new Jayco travel trailer has been added to this 97-site park as a new rental RV unit for Snowbirds. The park also replaced its clubhouse deck and purchased new outdoor deck furniture. A new shuffleboard court was also added to the clubhouse.

— Kick Back Ranch in Ramer, Alabama: This park is expanding its general store and adding more farm animals to the property this fall. Other improvements include building more rooms with kitchens. Kick Back Ranch supports agritourism and will provide even more opportunities for all ages to explore agriculture, farming, forestry, conservation, with learning stations throughout the property.

About the Florida and Alabama RV Park and Campground Association

Information about the latest trends involving campgrounds, RV parks and resorts is available from the Florida RV Park and Campground Association, which markets privately owned and operated parks in Florida and Alabama through CampFlorida.com and CampInAlabama.com, the travel planning website. The association also publishes free printed camping guides for Florida and Alabama, which can be ordered though each state association’s website.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/florida-alabama-featuring-expanded-improved-rv-parks/