Up at the far northern end of Tampa Bay, a quiet backwater is home to Bay Bayou RV Resort, ranked among the top 2 percent of privately owned RV parks nationally. Tucked away in the Westchase residential community, Bay Bayou offers a quiet and serene refuge, a world away from the crowds and traffic found in much of Central Florida.
“It’s really an ideal location,” Darla Sinnard, regional manager for the two Jennings RV resorts in Florida, says. “The Gulf Coast beaches are just a half-hour away, and Tarpon Springs [sponge capital - and Greek food hotspot] is right next door. All the attractions of Tampa and St. Petersburg are within an easy drive.”
Bay Bayou is in the heart of baseball’s Spring Training region, as well. Several Grapefruit League teams, including the Yankees, Braves, Phillies, Blue Jays, Pirates and Orioles, rev up for the MLB season at nearby stadiums. Also nearby… golf courses, Busch Gardens, winter thoroughbred horse racing at Tampa Bay Downs, and much more. The park’s management has arranged discounts for guests at a wide variety of local restaurants, from a dockside fish house to a down-home buffet.
Sinnard says the park has been in existence for something like 50 years, but that hardly anyone - except the many regular campers who return every winter - is even aware it’s there. “The Jennings Realty Company bought the park in 2011,” she says. “They’ve made enormous upgrades in the amenities and infrastructure - new electric lines, new sewer, and a new security gate.”
Shuffle board court area steps outside of your RV. [Photo/Renee Wright]
Recently, Bay Bayou expanded with 53 luxury RV sites in the Bayou Grande section, bringing the park’s total to 300 full-service sites, each with electric, water, sewer and cable TV connections. High speed WiFi is complimentary throughout the park. Most of the sites are shaded by the park’s magnificent canopy of live oak trees.
The new Bayou Grande section features extra-long paved sites set at an angle to make backing in easier, and a choice of 30, 50 or 100 amp electric service. Most of the utilities are gathered into an Oriental-styled pedestal topped with a night light. “This way the hookups aren’t sticking out of the ground, waiting to be run over,” Sinnard reports.
Each year, the Jennings company makes new improvements. “You have to keep it fresh,” Sinnard says. “This year we renovated the three bathhouses, adding heating and air conditioning, as well as sensor lights. Next year we plan to renovate the pool area.”
Bay Bayou currently has a heated pool with a jacuzzi area set on a broad patio with umbrella tables and a tiki hut barbecue area. The adjacent large clubhouse is home to a lending library, computer center, exercise equipment, billiard table and large screen TV, plus tables for games and plenty of space for line dance classes. Monday jam sessions, Thursday bingo and Friday night campfires are regular events on the activity schedule, along with ice cream socials, bike rides, and water aerobics.
While many guests come for extended stays, Bay Bayou also offers daily and weekly rentals.
“Something is always going on,” Traci Stouffer, the on-site resort manager tells The Buzz. “Our residents are very active so we have a full schedule of things to do every day. We have a small store here as well, selling snacks and RV supplies, and post office boxes for residents who want to have mail sent here. We even have our own ice machine and sell bags of ice in different sizes.”
The beautifully landscaped grounds are a point of pride for management and residents alike, with butterfly gardens, winding paths and seating areas tucked into private corners. Several ponds are located within the park, and the geese, ducks and wading birds that visit daily keep birdwatchers alert. Picnic areas, bocce ball and shuffleboard courts run down the center of the park.
Canine guests have special facilities of their own. Two dog parks at the back of the property - one for large dogs and one for small - feature hot baths and room to play.
Along the tidal creek, two docks overlook the water. One is strictly for wildlife viewing - and socializing, with manatees and water birds frequently seen. The other, closer to a bridge, is for fishing. “It’s all catch and release, unless you have a Florida fishing license,” Sinnard explains. “The fishing is very good here. We mostly see snook and redfish. One guest pulled out a 50 lb. drum last year.” A canoe and kayak launch is available for those who want to explore the local waters on their own.
Darla Sinnard also oversees the other Jennings property in Florida, the new Sunkissed Village RV Resort, located just north of The Villages in Summerfield. The new luxury resort for guests 55 and over opened this past December, and so far, Sinnard says, business has been booming.
“We’ve been very busy with people coming in to see the park,” she says. “And so far, all our guests have rebooked for next year. We expect to sell out next winter.”
Sinnard says working for Jennings Realty, a 100-year-old, fifth-generation family-owned business based in Illinois, is great. “I can make decisions right on site,” she says. “I don’t have to wait for everything to be approved by corporate.”
Getting the word out on for the new park, as well as Bay Bayou, has been easy, according to Sinnard. “We’ve been using Facebook and Instagram,” she notes. “And some of our best exposure has come from Southeast Publications and MobileRVing. We’ve been very happy with the services they’ve provided. It’s a great relationship.”