Margaritaville Taps Into $38B-And-Growing RV Industry With New Resorts
Orlando-based Margaritaville Hotels & Resorts' first RV resort opened on 1,600 acres in Lake Lanier in Georgia in 2018 and drew some 350,000 people its first year, according to the Gainesville Times. This summer, another Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Lodge opened in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Both of those were from Tennessee-based Margaritaville licensee Safe Harbor Development, which helped develop the RV concept.
Now comes a third incarnation in the Central Florida city of Auburndale. In this case, RLK Real Estate & Development developed the 66-acre site and opened it this past spring as the Cabana Club, according to the Central Florida Development Council. The revamp as a Margaritaville is expected to open in early 2022, according to an announcement made Friday.
"This resort will feature beautifully appointed Cabana Cabins, over 175 RV and Super Premium RV sites, a resort pool, Tiki Bar, entertainment stage, putting course, playground, dog parks, covered pickleball courts, beach volleyball court, arcade, and much more," the announcement said.
Future locations may also offer treehouses and glamorous camping, or glamping. The announcement said the resorts tap into the $38B RV industry, which is expected to nearly double in value to $64B by 2024.
"We're very excited about Camp Margaritaville and look forward to announcing several new locations in the near future," Margaritaville President of Development Jim Wiseman said.
There are 26 Margaritaville resorts in seven countries, according to the company's website, including one Pebblebrook Hotel Trust bought this summer for $270M. Several more are listed as coming soon.
Jimmy Buffett presided over the opening of one in Times Square this summer.
