In the age of COVID, camping trips are on the rise as more families search for socially distant vacation options.
Memphis-based RVC Outdoor Destinations — a provider of high-quality outdoor resorts in the U.S. — hopes to capitalize on that trend as more people opt for outside activities.
RVC Outdoor Destinations has eight locations/RV resorts across the country, which include:
- Catherine’s Landing Resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Pine Mountain Resort in Pine Mountain, Georgia
- Live Oak Landing Resort in Destin, Florida
- Mountain Springs Cabin in Asheville, North Carolina
- Garden of the Gods RV Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Lake Raystown Resort in Entriken, Pennsylvania
- Yosemite RV Resort in Coarsegold, California
- Medina Highpoint Resort in Medina, Texas
Lloyd Lauland, president of RVC Outdoor Destinations, said guests have started to return after a decrease in bookings occurred earlier this spring when the pandemic first came on the scene.
“Our Catherine’s Landing Resort, Pine Mountain Resort, and Live Oak Landing Resort are seeing guests return in record numbers,” Lauland said. “RVC resorts in North Carolina, Colorado, and California are in states that have not yet moved into phase two protocols. Yosemite and Garden of the Gods resorts typically have a huge international clientele. But with international travel restrictions, we have been impacted negatively.”
Lauland said — even before the pandemic hit — RVC sites were designed so that guests did not come in close contact with other guests. Lodging accommodations are spaced out and activities take place in a large open-air environment.
He noted some of the COVID protocols that have been implemented at RVC include:
- Remote check-in at campgrounds
- Campground concierge services that allow guests to have food and other items delivered to their campsite
- No gatherings of more than 10 people
“The main differences are we have increased the cleaning and sanitization of common areas and we allow our cabin, cottage, and yurt guests the flexibility to decide when — and if — we provide cleaning and laundry services during their stay,” Lauland said. “Each state has different protocols and we are adhering to the mandated restrictions. Some states are requiring reduced capacity at swimming pools. We also close the pool area and disinfect the pool furniture between each swimming session.”
With more people on the road, the RV industry has benefited. According to the RV Industry Association, RV sales in some areas in the U.S. have soared by as much as 170% over the same period last year. The cost for RVs range from entry RVs priced at about $15,000 to luxury RVs well over $100,000.
While RVC’s resort guests are typically retirees and young families, most of their new bookings are first-time RV purchasers, Lauland said.
“I have personally spoken to many of our guests who had plans to travel internationally,” he said. They are newcomers to camping and purchasers of new RVs. The purchase of new RVs is an investment that guests will enjoy for many years. This new influx of customers will help our business grow in the long run.”
RVC is also in the process of an expansion in Tennessee. Lauland said the Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort is under construction and slated to open next spring. A future destination in Memphis also hasn’t been ruled out.
“Obviously, developing a resort in the greater Memphis area is on our development radar, but we have not yet found a site that we would like to develop on,” he said.
Read the original article as posted in the Memphis Business Journal
