A New Breed of Snowbirds

It’s that time of year when RV parks in the warmer climates begin to see arrivals from out of state. In Yuma, Arizona, it’s an annual pilgrimage. Last winter, the city saw 80,000 visitors.

While the typical winter ‘snowbird’ is often a retired blue-collar worker, there is a new breed making itself known. The baby boomers, folks born between 1946 and 1965, are hitting retirement age. The boomers represent 35% of the United States’ population and millions of them reach retirement age each year.

The boomers are a different type of ‘snowbird’. They look for a more active lifestyle, with hobbies that include everything from scuba diving to tai chi. Many of them look for a variety of entertainment choices, but they also look for opportunities to volunteer. RV resorts are looking to fill their calendars with a variety of events including classes, concerts and fitness programs.

Yuma and other cities are striving to attract this new breed of ‘bird’. RV parks are finding it is imperative to have a web presence. Many of the visitors are looking to purchase property, not just rent a lot. A good number of the winter visitors are traveling in style, with RVs costing anywhere from $150,000 to $2 million. Many look specifically for a pet friendly park.

Parks that rise to meet the changing needs are those most likely to capture the interest, the loyalty and the business of the baby boomer ‘birds’.

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