RV snowbird season looking good

Winter bookings at RV parks in metropolitan Phoenix are up after three years of decline, a sign it may be a good year for the industry that caters to winter visitors in recreational vehicles.

"Advance reservations are up" at about a dozen of the state's large RV parks and campgrounds, said Jeff Crider, an industry-association spokesman, "which highlights signs of a stronger snowbird season."

In Mesa, where there are more than 44,000 RV spaces, parks report that bookings are up and cancellations are down. "We are not only better than last year, but we're actually beating numbers from three years ago," said Cheri Dewarrat, manager of East Mesa ViewPoint RV and Golf Resort. "Last year, we had occupancy of about 85 percent. . . . Now, we're looking at 95 percent and maybe better."

Factors adding to the rebound include a stronger Canadian dollar and lower gas prices. Catering to RV snowbirds is a bread-and-butter business in Mesa, Apache Junction and Yuma, which also is looking at a good season. Yuma offers about 24,000 RV spaces and thousands of acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) range where RVers can park for free or about a dollar a day with a permit.