Some Say The Economy Might Keep Snowbirds Closer To Home

Reservations for seasonal rentals are lagging behind last year, which indicates the strong possibility that fewer snowbirds might come to Highlands County this winter.

Warren Wolfe, five-year owner of Woody's RV Resort, needs almost all his fingers and toes to count the number of prospective vacancies.

Most campers at the 110-site RV park reserve a spot a year in advance. At this time last year, almost every camp site was reserved for the upcoming winter season, which at Woody's, runs from November through the end of April.

Wolfe pointed to a map hanging in the community's office, with about 30 vacant spaces marked in red.

Wolfe is hopeful, but expects few campers to reserve a spot at the "last minute," which could mean a $100,000 loss from last year's revenues.

"Since 1993, and up until the last year, there were no more than two vacancies any year," said Wolfe, about seasonal RV campers. "They're staying closer to home or in their backyards."

The number of properties available for rent by the season is the some as last year, but the number or reservations is down, said Jean Eckman, Realtor with Century 21 Advanced All Service Realty Inc.

Eckman has noticed a trend over the last 20 years. In the past, snowbirds stayed from three to six months. That has changed. The average visit has dropped to one to three months.

Eckman is hoping this year's favorable exchange rate for Canadian dollars and the fact that out-of-country Canadians now have access to their health care coverages longer brings more Canadian visitors.

Ron Wonderling, director of operations at Sun 'N Lake of Sebring, said 99.9 percent of the golf club's retired members were able to weather higher gas and food prices because of adequate "nest eggs."

Sun 'N Lake started marketing at trade shows in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Detroit last year and is headed to Columbus, Ohio and Chicago to attract golfers during what he said was an otherwise "flat year."

"Due to the economy, and how things are getting more expensive, we're looking at other options to gain a bigger piece of the pie," said Wonderling. "And we don't charge as much in Highlands County because of the demographics."

Celia Falk, of RV Park Adelaide Shores RV Resort, told a different story. She said early reservations are the best ever, while June Castellon, manager at Grove RV Park, mentioned another change.

The park can host up to 115 campers, and most sites are already reserved for the season at Sebring Grove. After considering gas costs and the mileage of RVs, several more snowbirds in Sebring left their campers this summer at Grove RV Park, said Falk.

Jean Fairbanks of Just Rentals, LLC. said her firm only handles stays of at least three months until Dec. 1.

"I've gotten a lot fewer calls than I did last year," said Fairbanks. "It's the whole economy. People are saving their money."

Eckman partially blamed the media and newspaper reports for slumping reservations.

"The press is part of the problem," said Eckman. "I got calls this week about the tropical storm, asking, '"How bad is the flooding?"'

Eckman said national news sources often lump Sebring together with the entire Heartland.

While there was no flooding in Sebring, the perception differed for many, said Eckman.

Wolfe, meanwhile, recently lobbied county commissioners on the effects of what he said would be fewer snowbirds, and to act accordingly now.

"Sales and gas taxes will be down and most businesses will hurt," said Wolfe. "These are people who have been coming here for years."