Park Models - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Park Models

Darrell and Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are considering (as one of our options) buying a park model in a 55+ park once we are ready to settle down. We have friends of ours that have a park model in Michigan where we had a seasonal site last summer. It is very nice and we could certainly live in one in a nice park where we enjoyed the fellowship and social atmosphere. We would also have a small class A or class C motorhome for doing some traveling each year. Anyhow, that is down the road a ways.

Darrell, Judy, and two ragdoll katts

mcw50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've stayed the past several winters in a large 55+ RV park in AZ. More and more park models are being placed on the sites each year. Most have roughly the same size living area as a 40' quad-slide Class A. There are some people here who have bought a "stick" house elsewhere when giving up their RV, then sold the "stick" house, come back, and bought a park model......because they miss the friendships, activities and amenities of the RV park. (RVers are the FRIENDLIEST people, aren't they?) We wouldn't consider one unless we could no longer handle driving the RV. We like the flexibility and adventure of travel and wouldn't want the financial burden or responsibilities of ownership, especially if we don't own the land it sits on (that's why we sold it all and hit the road!) But, if I were suddenly alone for some reason and/or had to give up driving the RV, a park model would work for me.

Mary

wmalefyt · RV-Dreams Family Member

We owned a park model in Door County Wisconsin from 1996 to 2002. It was in a brand new small park in a heavily wooded area just outside of Egg Harbor. We had a large stick built room addition built which almost doubled the size of it. The park model was made by Woodland Park and was very well built.

We sold it after we retired and decided to move to southwest Florida as it was just too far away. In addition, our son moved to Arizona and we wanted to spend some time out there as well.

All in all we really enjoyed our little park model and we may get another one someday to use as a home base.

cc · RV-Dreams Community Member

Door County, Wisconsin, one of the most beautiful places we have been. Peninsula State Park was the first place we ever camped (in an old Army Tent). Brings back great memories. Hope to check it out again soon. Do you know if Sister Bay still has the fall festival?, is Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant still there?
cc

jomago · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Park models look interesting, some I've seen look much nicer than others.

Can anyone offer a general price range for various park models ? ? ?

wmalefyt · RV-Dreams Family Member

cc wrote:
Door County, Wisconsin, one of the most beautiful places we have been. Peninsula State Park was the first place we ever camped (in an old Army Tent). Brings back great memories. Hope to check it out again soon. Do you know if Sister Bay still has the fall festival?, is Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant still there? cc

We miss Door County, but can't be everywhere at least not until we go full-time! We haven't been back there since 2002, but I'm sure Al Johnson's is still there with the goats on the roof eating the grass! The Fall is a great time with all the festivals going on and the trees in brilliant color. I would think that Sister Bay still has their Fall Festival along with Egg Harbor, Baileys Harbor and Sturgeon Bay.

Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Where we were, you could rent them also....first month and security deposit. It depends on the model and what you want in the pk models...some have a patio, some have carports and some have lofts. The ones we looked at ran app $25,000 to $30,000. Also the ones we looked at came completely furnished if you were going to rent them of course A couple we knew there stayed the winter months and then went back to they're home town of Wisconsin. They said next yr they plan to just stay permentaly in they're pk model.

southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Door county has become totally over developed and is almost impossible in the summer time. We did an antique show up there for a number of years in the middle of the summer and stopped because of the traffic jams and inability to find reasonable lodging. Absolutely beautiful in the off seasons though. Did many weekends in the winter.

Great memories.

Fred

Fly Buoy V · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have good friends who live in a beautiful home in Sister Bay and yes Al Johnsons is still there and so is the festival. We were there in our boat, coming up and across Lake Michigan from the Saginaw Bay area of Michigan. It is a beautiful area but whoever wrote that it's congested in the summer is right. It's a traffic nightmare according to our friends.

Ewings · RV-Dreams Community Member

I am a new member to this site. My husband and I are currently workcamping with Howard and Linda. They are a great people and we have enjoyed reading and living their RV Dream.

I have been reading the postings for Park Models and wanted to share some information. We have been full timers since 2004. We are in our mid 50's and we have a Motorhome. Before we went on the road full time we purchased a park model in Casa Grande AZ. That is a wonderful small bedroom community half way between Phoenix and Tucson. For us it was a great place to spend some time in late fall and winter. It is a great park and you can go in any direction to see and do different things. Everyday you can play golf or many other activities. Our unit is on the golf course with a wonderful pond with trees. The view from the front room is beautiful. When we were not using the unit we do rent it out so it pays for itself. The park people help us with renters, cleaning and general management. We are young enough we would like to do some major traveling before settling into one area. We are currently selling the park model. It is a great place to have if you spend the summer in another state with family or friends, then when old man winter comes to call, you can pack up and go to a wonderful winter home. I thought it would be helpful to share this information. If anyone is interested in pictures let me know and I’ll e-mail those.

mcw50 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Ewings from Palm Creek.....glad you are enjoying your work-camping! We've been following Linda and Howard for months and are familiar with the Rio Grande Valley...a great place! We'll be getting our wheels rolling soon - have been fulltimers for 6 1/2 yrs.

Mary