A quotation attributed to Tim Cahill sums up the appeal of the RV lifestyle: “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.”
And that is one of the reasons that many RVing couples are seeking a home base that caters to folks just like them. One of these RV-focused communities is The Gardens RV Village, located in Crossville, Tennessee.
“The RV mindset means embracing the spontaneity of RVing. At the same time, living in a housing development in which all of your 400 or so neighbors share your madness, means you can also develop long-lasting and deep relationships,” explained Sharon Scott Wilson, marketing representative for the development.
“The Gardens is a unique community of like-minded people who share not only the love of travel but who care for one another and build strong, enduring relationships,” Wilson said. “It’s a place where it takes two hours to walk through the roads because you know everyone. And they know you and are interested in your well-being, too. It truly is a ‘village,’ made up of people who share a common interest and who wonderfully jell together to create something really special.”
The Gardens retirement community is not the first or only development to mesh the mobility of the RV lifestyle and a neighborhood connection. Many RV resorts have the same appeal, but few have homes built as permanent residences to house RVs and other toys couples may have acquired.
The over-55 age group accounts for almost 10 percent of the approximately 8 million RVs in the United States. According to a California-based real estate consulting firm, the demand for upscaled RVs that deliver customized details and amenities means that the RV owners are looking for a place to store their high-dollar rigs when not on the road. The housing industry has started to answer that demand by including RV storage in community planning, whether it is offered as a parking pad on an owner’s lot or a garage attached to a home.
Winnebago parked in garage at Hawthorn Loop inside The Gardens RV Community. [Photo/The Gardens RV Villages]
The Gardens, which offers the latter option, appeals to these RV owners, according to Wilson. The development’s focus on quality is an asset that attracts couples who can afford the high standards the Gardens maintains.
“Generally, our residents are retirees with moderate-to-high incomes, most of whom have been avid RVers for many years or at least have a love of travel, understand the healthfulness of the RV lifestyle, and intend to make their RVs a major part of their lifestyle,” Wilson explained.
Don Long and his wife Vicki moved into the Gardens a few years ago. They are featured in resident testimonials on the community’s website.
Don said the appeal of the Gardens was “a place to store our RV, a home and even more than that, a community.” He said his days are always full of things to do, such as playing pickleball or riding motorcycles with the motorcycle club organized by residents.
Approximately 400 residents occupy 200 homes in the community, Wilson reported, with enough acreage for an additional 1,000 homes. Most property owners are retired, well-educated and financially stable. The majority drive Class As, but there are no restrictions on the class of RV property owners can have.
But, the community’s Covenants, Codes and Restrictions require a high standard for quality and appearance, Wilson told The Buzz. “All of the homes are custom-designed and built with the highest quality materials and professional workmanship. Retirees who prefer to custom-design and build their homes can buy a lot and build a luxury home that would be valued in the multi-million-dollar range in most other locations, but start at $380,000, here.”
The Gardens RV Community was spearheaded by the current developer's father, James Wilson, a Crossville resident and resort developer. Himself an RVer since 1976, James “Jim” Wilson talked about creating a development that catered to the lifestyle and mindset of RVers. In 1987 after retiring from developing resorts, Jim began planning the project that became the Gardens RV Village. It wasn’t until 1992 that the Gardens claimed its first residents, according to their YouTube channel.
His son, Tim Wilson, took over in 2002. The development is currently in Phase 8 and adds between 10-20 new homes annually.
“This was developed from the ground up as an RV community,” Tim Wilson explained in an informational video. While the goal is to sell the lots and build homes, Tim said the Gardens strongest selling incentive is the community. Describing the community as friendly and close, he suggested that the friendliness of neighbors and the common interests forage relationships that are important as people age.
Property owners at The Gardens enjoy a combination of freedom and security. [Photo/The Gardens RV Villages]
Vicki Long agreed. She met two women who would become close friends while staying on Homeless Hill, a private RV campsite typically used by people who live in their rigs while waiting for their homes to be built. Stays on Homeless Hill are provided free of charge. It is also open to people who are considering a move to the Gardens.
Vicki said that this community has resulted in many more friendships than the community she and her husband lived in before moving to Crossville. There, in the District of Columbia area, it was more difficult to interact with neighbors.
“We have so many friends here,” Long said in a testimonial for the Gardens. “Every day of the week there is something going on here.”
Crossville’s location is another perk that resonates well with residents.
“The City of Crossville … is located atop the beautiful Cumberland Plateau on Interstate 40, only a short drive to three metropolitan cities,” writes Mayor James Mayberry in his city welcome. “Our 2,000-foot elevation offers a mild, four-season climate year-round. Our rural area offers an abundance of outdoor possibilities, with mountainous wildlife reserves, lakes, streams, and the Cumberland Mountain State Park.”
Crossville is known as the Golf Capital of the state, with nine golf courses. There are also entertainment opportunities at the Cumberland County Playhouse and the Palace Theater.
“We are also the location of the United States Chess Federation headquarters, a restored railroad Depot & Caboose Visitor's Center, and part of the World's Largest Yard Sale on Highway 127 North,” Mayberry said.
The accessibility to these recreational activities allows the development to keep homeowner association fees affordable, Wilson informed.
“Visitors find the landscaping – filled with old-aged trees and carp-filled lagoons and ponds – to be the ideal environment for walking the grounds and to surround their homes. There is a clubhouse where residents can gather for everything from card games to ice cream socials,” Sharon Wilson explained. “In order to keep our homeowner association fees under $450 annually, we rely on nearby facilities for golf, swimming, gym, and other amenities.”
According to the Crossville Chamber of Commerce, Cumberland County was established in 1856 and Crossville was incorporated in 1901. Winter temperatures average in the 40’s and ’50s, summer highs average in the 80's. Easy access to the highway allows residents a less than 90-minute drive to Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
“RVers appreciate the convenience of having a 360-degree radius of travel,” Tim said. “You can get to most vacation destinations from Crossville in a day.”
The economic impact to Cumberland County from the Gardens is measured by steady growth in new home construction and work for those in the associated industries.
“The Gardens has made a recognizable impact on Crossville and Cumberland County by attracting financially stable, law-abiding senior citizens who are not a draw on community services, but quite the contrary – great contributors,” Tim added. “These are the folks who were most typically volunteers at their local PTAs, churches and on Boards of Directors throughout their working lives when they were ‘back home.’ They bring this same focus on social responsibility to serving their neighbors in Crossville.”
For example, residents have helped raise money to fund a stained-glass window at a local church, working with children whose parents are in jail, delivering Meals on Wheels, and volunteering at the public library, the playhouse or other organizations.
Tennessee is #5 in the nation on a list of the best states to retire, according to a report developed by Kiplinger. The reasons for this high ranking include a senior population of 15%, no state income taxes and a cost of living rate that is 12% below the national average.