Yuma RV park takes hit, comes up swinging

Early September winds blew in problems for a Yuma, Arizona RV park, but community businesses have pulled together to bring something good from a disaster. On September 9 winds blew so hard through the desert community that 60 power poles fell like dominoes. At the Shangri-La RV Resort out east in Yuma's Foothills neighborhood, the winds were even more merciless.

Owners Jon and Tammy Heidrich must have looked with sad despair. Power lines would have been a "cake walk." The winds tore up landscaping, disturbed plumbing, and other major damage to the mom-and-pop operation. And such timing: September marks the end of the Yuma heat season, and in October begins the trickle of returning snowbirds that turns into a gusher come November.

The Heidrichs knew they needed to get up and running in a hurry. Say the couple, "Our goal is for the residents to come back and not see damage but notice that the park is even better than before." It was a tall order, but in addition to their insurance carrier, the Heidrichs soon had other support folks lined up: Their bank, a horticulturalist, even a personal chef. How will these resources be put to work?

Returning and new guests to Shangri-La will get a special welcome. During the month of November, 2012, guests will find a beautifully landscaped and upgraded park. Plus, they'll be greeted with home-baked cookies and a flower arrangement compliments of the National Bank of Arizona, along with a welcome bag from Yuma Visitors Bureau; a custom Shangri-La RV Resort welcome mat, a Yuma Sun newspaper, and raffle tickets for a chance to win two season passes to the Heritage Festival's series of shows in the Historic Yuma Theatre.

"We want to make lemonade out of the lemons we were dealt and make sure our guests are happy when they arrive," added Tammy Heidrich. "They truly are like family to us and we will always put their needs first."