KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Florida is a destination for many people from the north during the winter and the place of choice for many vacationers during the summer. The newly-opened Keystone Heights RV Resort offers a comfortable homefront for all.

Some visitors move to the sunshine state permanently. Many of the people who arrive are no longer coming by traditional means – driving or flying. They use a different method to better control how long they stay, cut out the middleman of paying for a hotel, and bring more of home with them wherever they go. They are traveling in RVs recreational vehicles and motor homes. The only question is when they arrive, where do they park?

The new resort, located at 1177 SE Keystone Ave, opened on Nov. 1. It provides a place to park and enjoy the time in northeast Florida.

“It’s geared toward long-term or seasonal stays,” said Ken Loyd, general manager. “There’s a lot of people that are living in their RVs all the time now – full-timers. And then there are folks that just come down for the winter and stay, and then they go back up north to their homes up there. We’re trying to give them an attractive place to stay and enjoy the Florida weather.”

After almost a year of construction that was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the resort had a soft opening earlier this month. There is still work to be done before the grand reopening, but some people have already pulled in to get a spot in the new resort.

Just about everything is provided for the renter when they reserve a spot. They come equipped with connections for electricity. There will also be a clubhouse that can be rented out to hold parties and gatherings, including for functions of non-residents, a game room, a fitness room and a small library. There will also be a bath and shower house and a large 87,000-gallon pool.

On completion, the park will hold nearly 400 RVs.

Art Stockwell and his wife Debbie have already reserved a spot and are currently parked at the resort. The Stockwells are originally from Michigan and spent the last 10 years in Tennessee before moving down to Florida. They’ve been at Keystone Heights RV resort since it opened.

“I like this place here,” said Stockwell. “We saw it when there was nothing here, just a bunch of bulldozers. I have a niece that lives here, and she shopped around for us while we were getting ready to physically move down here. I like it because it’s spacious and I think that when they finally get it finished, it’s going to be a really nice park.”

Stockwell likes the size of the concrete slabs as opposed to some other RV parks, as well as the amenities that are on their way.

Scott and Tracy Ranshaw are also from Michigan and now are at the RV park. They arrived about a week ago.

Scott travels for work and is currently in Florida. His family joined him recently.

“I like it; it’s a little more open than a lot of ‘em,” said Renshaw. “A lot of ‘em, you feel like you’re so cramped into a campground or RV park down here. This one just seems a little more open, a little more inviting.

“This particular place, with all the amenities they’re gonna have, it’ll be just a wonderful, for a family, for anybody who’s traveling or whatnot, it’s just luxuries that you don’t normally get from a hotel or things like that. Makes it nice for traveling for sure.”