Development forcing five-star park out of business on April 1
The Desert Sun
March 25, 2007
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Emerald Desert RV Park and Golf Resort in Palm Desert closes its gates for good April 1, and for the close-knit community at the five-star motor home park, the loss is irreparable.
The 80-acre park was sold last year to Taylor Woodrow Homes, a San Diego-based builder, and is being developed as an upscale residential project called Spanish Walk.
"It's absolutely criminal that they're doing this," said Rick Weiss, 79, of Oceanside, a regular visitor for 18 years. "There's no place like this one. It's absolutely first class."
Weiss was one of more than a 100 park long-timers who gathered for a community dinner Thursday.
The mood was festive, but nostalgic.
"We love all the activities and the people," said Arlene Abbott, 72, of Carmichael, who's been coming to the park with her husband, Orville, and the couple's "fifth wheel" - RV lingo for trailer - for 14 years.
What made Emerald Desert unique was the high quality of the facility and the fact it was a rental-only park, said Marilyn Cavanaugh, the park's concierge.
The park's popularity may have been its downfall, said Palm Desert Mayor Richard S. Kelly.
"It makes the land too valuable to use for that purpose," said Kelly, who used to own an RV. "It's strictly an economic decision."
Construction on Spanish Walk had already closed down about two-thirds of the park this season, Cavanaugh said. Instead of 760, about 230 RV sites were available this year.
Gil Miltenberger, senior vice president for Taylor Woodrow, said he hopes some of the RVers will live at Spanish Walk.
"We've had great dialogue with many of these folks and encourage all of them to visit us and tour the new community," he said in a e-mail statement Friday.
Raymond Mosher, 69, who's been coming to the park for 8 years, said no way. He's going to try out Rancho Casa Blanca, an RV park in Indio, but he said, it won't be the same.
"We're all going to miss a lot of people," he said. "It's like losing someone you really care for."
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