RGV ten year trend

We are in the Western Valley, Palmview, Bentsen Palm Drive, in an ownership park. (you buy and own your lot) We are always full unless someone gets sick or dies. Some residents own multiple lots and rent out the extra lots and they are all usually rented for at least Jan, Feb and March. We are surrounded by rental parks and they all have vacancies all winter. About 20 - 40% vacant. We have been coming down for 17 seasons and in the early years you even needed reservations at the even not so nice parks. Now very few parks get filled and I always suggest to newcomers to just come down and rent a spot for a week while you visit many parks to find what you like. Also ask for first timer deals and incentives, there are many. Please come and give the Valley a try, 99% love it if they find the right park for them. There are nearly 400 parks to choose from.

The entire Palm Springs/Indio California area couldn't shoehorn in another rig during peak season (January thru March) if they tried. My wild guess is the snowbird crowd is migrating more towards areas with many activities and attractions. The Palm Springs area has over 150 golf courses. There are casinos with top shelf concerts and entertainers. You are two hours from either San Diego or LA for professional sports and world class shopping. The weather is reliably spectacular each winter. Many of the same things can be said for the Phoenix/Scottsdale area.
The Rio Grand Valley, not so much. Reputation-wise it is pretty much thought of as the budget snowbird area. It conjures up images of pot luck dinners and shuffleboard. I think that area is finding that their market demographics is getting older because that type of snowbirding is not meeting the demands of the recently retired. And it might be a trend that is impossible to reverse.

I lived outside of Corpus way back when so I ask this question in all honesty:
If you aren't a birder or a beach goer/water sports, what is there to do in south Texas? I guess I seem to rem some golf courses but that has to eventually get even more boring than it sounds.

My issue with RGV is that a lot of the parks are 55+. My family and I winter in warm weather spots but don't go down there due to lack of availability.

The RGV just doesn’t get it. Retirees have traveled the world for their jobs and during their vacations. They EXPECT some style and class for their hard earned retirement dollars. Destination areas are fun areas.

They have no desire to live in a compound setting, surrounded by barbed wire, in a location where English is a second language, yet Medicare is available. If you need to learn a language, go somewhere exotic and travel adventurously.

If you’re the type that never left the farm, then I’m guessing the RGV would seem exotic at an affordable price. Maybe that is the demographic for the area, and should be courted.

I was curious if other parks are finding vacancies where there were none before.

"....what is there to do in south Texas?"

Our Singles group loves the countless dances, all styles. There is the Gulf of Mexico and a few other touristy things. As mentioned, the RGV provides the most Winter degree days for the lowest price. It is cheap, dirty, windy, friendly, and cheap. With more vacancies than ten years ago.

John&Joey wrote:
The RGV just doesn’t get it. Retirees have traveled the world for their jobs and during their vacations. They EXPECT some style and class for their hard earned retirement dollars. Destination areas are fun areas.

They have no desire to live in a compound setting, surrounded by barbed wire, in a location where English is a second language, yet Medicare is available. If you need to learn a language, go somewhere exotic and travel adventurously.

If you’re the type that never left the farm, then I’m guessing the RGV would seem exotic at an affordable price. Maybe that is the demographic for the area, and should be courted.

Do you spend much time in the RGV and the surrounding areas?

South Texas ia a gold mine for art, culture, fishing, golf and close to other destinations that provide all fun areas. San Antonio is just 2.5 hours away, Austin, Corpus Christi, and of course, Mexico. Many snowbirds go to Mexico for quality dental and healthcare. There are some very top drawer rv parks in the RGV as well.

As for speaking Spanish, that is one of the silliest remarks I have ever heard. You mentioned learning a language, what a great opportunity to be in such a diverse area instead of limiting yourself to a majority white community such as Palm Springs (61%). Spanish and English are travel languages as they are good throughout the Americas and most of central Europe.

I would guess that the RGV "does get it" or there wouldn't be over 500 rv parks in such a small area.

ependydad wrote:
My issue with RGV is that a lot of the parks are 55+.

The RV park we're in now dropped its 55+ a few years ago. We're thinking of moving.

joebedford wrote:

ependydad wrote:
My issue with RGV is that a lot of the parks are 55+.

The RV park we're in now dropped its 55+ a few years ago. We're thinking of moving.

Wow, what will be next? Rip out the shuffleboard courts, padlock the bingo hall, and cancel the crochet classes? I'd skedaddle too.

Bert Ackerman wrote:


Wow, what will be next? Rip out the shuffleboard courts, padlock the bingo hall, and cancel the crochet classes? I'd skedaddle too.

Drone flying, Pickleball, Radio control boats and car racing, dancing, and other activities may bring in the younger generation. Not enough that parks provide, "It's something to do" type of events.