Saturday, October 23, 2010

RVC Outdoor bringing high-end amenities to vacationers


Memphis Business Journal - by Michael Sheffield

Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010, 11:26am CDT

RVC Outdoor Destinations is preparing to open a high-end outdoor destination in Hot Springs, Ark., in February, the latest location of a new concept for vacationing in the great outdoors.

Founded by developer Andy Cates five years ago, RVC has invested more than $25 million in acquiring and developing land in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. Cates says the goal is to provide “RVers” and campers with an “outdoor destination” experience that allows them to enjoy nature as well as the comforts of a high-end hotel. RVC’s properties include modern cabins with Wi-Fi, pools and coffee bars.


“People want to enjoy nature, but that doesn’t mean they’re fired up about a tent with no air conditioning or not being able to buy a beer, wine or get Wi-Fi,” Cates says. “We’re going after an industry that is years behind the customers because they want more.”

Cates says the company is investing cash in the projects to eliminate debt and get deals done quicker. A Memphis native, Cates was an associate for Crow Family Holdings in Dallas before helping establish Viceroy Investments LLC, a commercial real estate acquisition and asset management firm in Dallas. Cates returned to Memphis in 1999 to develop the $20 million Soulsville Revitalization Project. He is also a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Cates and his partners launched RVC with a property it acquired in Pine Mountain, Ga., last year. The 50-acre Pine Mountain site, located one hour south of Atlanta, was RVC’s “test kitchen” where the company built cottages, 200 RV slips and heated and air conditioned tents with glass ceilings called yurts.

The Hot Springs location sits on 400 acres and will have 20 cottages, five yurts and 130 RV slips. The company currently is developing a new property in Asheville, N.C., and Cates says it is scouting other locations in East Tennessee and Texas.
RV slips at RVC’s locations range from $39 to $45 per night. Yurts, which include Wi-Fi and hotel-quality beds, run $40 per night; cottages, which include full kitchens, cost $125 to $189 per night.

The amenities include swimming pools, a group lodge with big screen televisions and a Nintendo Wii gameroom.
RVC enlisted Memphis-based Jones + Fleming Architects to design the prototype for Pine Mountain.
John Jones, the firm’s principal, says RVC’s goal was to develop a signature image. “In the past, RV parks were like submarine farms where everyone was packed in like sardines,” Jones says. “RVC gives customers a view and enjoyment without being crammed in next to their neighbors.”

The RV market, according to industry statistics, has grown about 7.5 percent to 8.5 million people in the last few years. While the economy has diminished air travel to tourist destinations, RV owners continue to travel, says Yale Spinna, a principal with RVC and an RV owner who has traveled to more than 27 states.

Spinna says the company is offering a consistency for RV owners that is lacking at the typical RV communities. RVC’s menu includes a la carte offerings ranging from Wi-Fi to coffee and convenience stores that include wine and beer.
Cates says the intent is to have locations around the country.

“We’re not working on this to do six properties. We’re trying to build a killer foundation, which we’ve done quietly for four years,” he says. “We don’t claim to have it all figured out, but we have the capacity for another $25 million plus. We’re a startup that is well capitalized and passionate about what we’re doing.”

RVC Outdoor Destinations President: Andy Cates Address: 429 N. Main St., Suite 100 Phone: (901) 432-4744 Website: http://www.rvcoutdoors.com

msheffield@bizjournals.com | (901) 259-1722

Read more: RVC Outdoor bringing high-end amenities to RV vacationers | Memphis Business Journal 

Monday, October 18, 2010

Brand New Walton County, FL Destination Offering "Buy One, Get One Free" Nights


RVC’s newest destination “Live Oak Landing,” located north of Seaside, Florida and near the Hwy 331 bridge, is opening in just TWO weeks! We can’t believe that after all of this hard work, it’s finally here. The location is surrounded by water and offers boat access to the Choctawhatchee Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Inter Coastal Waterway, and the Choctawhatchee River System. It’s surrounded by water, yet remote in its location. You can say you get the “best of both worlds” by vacationing here. The grand opening is November 1st.

Florida beaches are definitely a huge attraction, but sometimes you don’t want to stay at a busy, tourist filled (and often crowded) beach location. Live Oak is a peaceful alternative to that, yet it’s within minutes from the beach…so you still get that access. Boating and fishing enthusiasts will also find it an unbeatable attraction with the choices of bay, gulf, river and bayou fishing. Guests can fish a wide variety of species including Redfish, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass and Mullet from the edge of the property. Or, they can use a boat from the resort to move a short distance onto the bay, Gulf, and other systems for a wider range of options.

Live Oak Landing offers furnished cottages, RV Sites with full hook-ups, a private boat ramp and dock for guests, charter fishing service access, and free Wi-Fi. In addition, Live Oak is pet friendly and features an activity/meeting pavilion that can be utilized for corporate or recreational outdoor retreats. The strategic location in South Walton County also makes it the ideal weekend escape for those living in the area.

As you may know, an important cornerstone in ALL of RVC’s outdoor destinations is the preservation of the surrounding environment. The property is surrounded by peaceful water reflecting the Spanish moss covered trees, with each site carefully nestled within this natural attraction. The common thread running through all of RVC’s outdoor destinations is the linking of beautiful, well planned environments with exceptional service and amenities, as exhibited in Live Oak Landing.

If that isn’t enough to intrigue you, how about a free night? Now through the end of December you can buy one night and RVC will get the second. Be one of the first to experience this brand new, one of a kind destination.  

Whether you want to get away from it all and enjoy a mind-freeing, secluded vacation, or you want to show your kids the heart of the outdoors, Live Oak Landing can fulfill these plans. Make your reservations now, and get your free night! -
http://www.liveoaklanding.rvcoutdoors.com/specials



Wednesday, October 6, 2010

'Like' us on Facebook...and get a FREE night.

A night FREE is as easy as 1,2,3:

1) "Like" our page on Facebook by clicking the "Like" button. Tell your friends too!



2) Then click the link below and sign-up for our periodic e-newsletters for future saving specials, events and more. - If you've already Liked us, no problem, just fill-out the form and follow the other directions.
3) After your stay, fill-out a short survey.

That's it. 1,2,3...and FREE.

As with most things in life, there are a few restrictions...

  • 1-free night per customer-Reservations are based upon availability.
  • Not to be used in conjunction with other offers
  • Must “Like” the particular property via facebook; fill out a sign-up page (link provided on Facebook page); and fill out a survey after the visit.
  • Must sign up during the month of October. Between October 1st and December 31st , contact property for actual reservation night and mention “October 2010- Facebook Friend Offer”. RVC Outdoor Destinations will confirm the Facebook page against the RVC sign-up prior to final approval.
  • Reservation is good for nights between October 1st 2010 - May 31, 2011

So what are you waiting for? Like us on Facebook:

Pine Mountain
Carrabelle Beach
Live Oak Landing
Catherine's Landing

Friday, October 1, 2010

RVC OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS EXPANDING IN A SHRINKING ECONOMY

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – RVC Outdoor Destinations is planning and preparing for better times despite the economic downturn. While a few other companies may talk about buying properties, or their plans to do so, RVC is actually building, developing and expanding multiple outdoor destinations with a focus on RV, cabins, cottages and yurts.

“We’ve seen that most RV and cabin oriented properties have been unable or unwilling to keep up with customer demands, current technology or even basic maintenance. We are confident that by creating a new hospitality experience, our properties will continue to be successful and our company will expand. In fact, in addition to completing two properties over the next few months, we are actively acquiring land sites and existing RV oriented properties while also working to expand current locations,” said Andy Cates, President of RVC Outdoor Destinations. “We are creating a new product type within the hospitality industry, defining our role as the best owner and operator of outdoor destinations in the United States,” Cates added.

By February RVC will have six of its properties open and operating. Five properties will have been newly built or totally redeveloped and the sixth, Carrabelle Boat Club, is a state-of-the art boating facility within one mile of RVC’s Carrabelle Beach Outdoor Destination. RVC currently has two destination locations open for business in Carrabelle Beach, FL and Pine Mountain, GA. Properties in Freeport, FL (Live Oak Landing) and Hot Springs, AR (Catherine’s Landing) will open in November and February respectively.

The common thread running through RVC’s outdoor destinations is the linking of beautiful, well planned environments with exceptional service and amenities. These unique properties, almost all of which are on water, provide an alternative to hotels, isolated cabins, and worn out campgrounds. By combining design that is sensitive to preserving the natural beauty of their environments with high quality accommodations, amenities and service, RVC is providing memorable vacation experiences and clearly defining the meaning of the phrase outdoor destination.

About RVC Outdoor Destinations: RVC Outdoor Destinations owns and operates a unique recreation brand that combines your ideal natural environment with your favorite hotel experience. RVC Outdoor Destinations has locations in Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. For more information, visit www.rvcoutdoors.com.