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This is Fred Ball for Zions bank, speaking on business.
Jeff and Gena Rigdon owned and operated a campground in Kimball, Neb. Three years ago they went to Moab on vacation and decided that this it was the place they would really enjoy making their home.
They wanted to utilize their experience in the recreation vehicle and campground business so decided to purchase the Spanish Trail RV Park and Campground on the highway south of town.
Spanish Trail was first built in 1994 and has 60 full-service RV spots and 13 tent sites. They offer a unique benefit to customers and that is that they have the space and design to cater to really big rigs. They can handle up to 70 footers. Frequently, someone will pull into Spanish Trail in a 45-foot vehicle and they will be pulling a boat or an automobile. Many campgrounds just can't handle this size of equipment. Jeff and Gena get much repeat business because of this feature.
The facility is open nine months of the year. They close in December, January and February. Once they open, they become very busy. While I was in the office talking to Gena, she had several telephone calls and I heard her say many times that they were booked for a particular time period.
Most of the customers come from the western states and many are repeat visitors. They will take reservations one year in advance. And frequently, as the customers leave, they will automatically book for the next year.
I asked about the average length of stay and was told it is about five nights. Some will stay much longer. Some have stayed months at a time.
The Rigdon family also operates in conjunction with the Winnemucca RV Park in Winnemucca, Nev. That facility is operated by Bill and Belinda Rigdon. They will frequently see customers leave one facility and stay in the next one the next evening.
Are Jeff and Gena happy that they made the decision to move from Nebraska to Moab? "Delighted," they told me. They really love Utah’s Color Country.
For Zions Bank, I’m Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
