East Valley's RV parks, which have been favorite roosts of snowbirds for years, are seeing less and less demand. In fact, more than 25% of RV spaces at five of the East Valley's largest parks are currently vacant or for sale. Just nine of 25 parks surveyed by ASU expect that the number of winter visitors to their parks to be higher this year.
The ASU study found that a growing number of winter visitors, whose estimated economic impact in the Valley is about of $1 billion annually, are increasingly inclined to buy a second home, often looking more at tony digs in a golf course, master-planned community and non-age restricted communities.
A number of winter visitors are being driven out of the Valley by the rising cost of renting a RV space. The annual cost of leasing space has risen during the past few years, and now averages about $3,000 annually. The higher rates and encroachment on the once secluded parks are prompting snowbirds to move to new RV hotspots in Parker, Yuma and Casa Grande. Snowbirds say they are drawn to places other than the Valley because they not only want lower costs, but also lower density and less pollution and crime than are in highly populated areas.
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