The high country’s ONLY mature camping community. Come and enjoy your quiet, relaxing retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Large trees and beautiful landscaping frame sites in the campground. All sites are flat, paved, impeccably maintained, and spacious while most are pull- through.
Camping on a Higher Level
For anyone under 55, there’s a certain mystique that surrounds 55+ RV parks. What are those seniors doing in there? How awesome are the amenities? Why can’t I camp there?
These were common questions we asked ourselves.
Well, this week we snuck into a 55+ RV park.
Let’s dive in!
What 55+ RV Park Did We Visit?
We camped at Sunkissed Village RV Resort near The Villages in Florida. Not only is the RV resort 55 and up, the entire community is geared towards active living seniors.
Additionally, the park is age-restrictive with RVs. All units must be 15 years or younger (two strikes against us). The 15 year rule is more lax than the traditional 10 year rule, but many RV owners find this rule annoying.
And, let us be transparent. We snuck in, with permission, through the back door. The park was interested in us filming some clips for YouTube and invited us. However, the guests didn’t know this…so we recieved some authentic reactions when we were seen on the grounds.
Did You Know: 55+ RV Parks are legal only because a small loophole in the law.
How Nice Is a 55+ RV Resort?
Sunkissed Village RV Resort is amazing (like most 55+ parks). This park is brand new and all the amenities boast that fact. From our level, bricked-pad to the pristine sewer connection, Sunkissed will be a beauty for years to come.
Keep in mind – being a new park means some of the trees aren’t yet mature. They saved a few large oaks on site, but shade may be lacking for a few years.
PRO TIP: We use Campground Reviews to read honest reviews about RV parks before arriving. Even though Sunkissed Village is new, they already have 5 star reviews on the site!
Here’s what those “for it” had to say:
- “It’s nice to not have to worry about kids all over the park and it’s usually a much quieter campground without hundreds of children playing at all hours.” – Jack H.
- “We had the opportunity to stay in a 55+ in Mesa AZ, it was awesome! We’ve heard that some are flexible with the rules. We would happily stay in another and wish that perhaps they would base their decision on life circumstances, maybe adult only instead of age restriction.” – Tim H.
- “Very happy to stay there on occasion. Some times I just need a break from the families who don’t teach their kids manners and respect for others.” – Barbara D.
- “One of my favorite RV Resorts has both. Mountain Valley RV Resort Heber City, UT” – Michael F.
Not All RVers Like The Rule
39% of RVers said they don’t think age restrictive parks are fair. Many of these folk feel like 55 is an arbitrary number, especially when the goal is often to have “no kids allowed.”
Here’s a few voices from the other side:
- “I think instead of 55+ they should make it kids/no kids because isn’t that what it’s really about? We’re around 40 and we prefer the quieter atmosphere not near children.” – Melinda C.
- “I have no problem with 55+ parks as long as there are 55- parks. Old people are equally as annoying as they think we are.” Zack H.
- “It sucks if you can’t stay a few nights while visiting family in the area because you’re not old enough. We only have 2’dogs no humans of our own.” Jessa L.
Is It Legal? Or Is It Age Discrimination?
55+ RV parks are legal. Technomadia wrote an awesome article explaining this in detail. In one of the key points Cherie Ve Ard writes:
“The ‘Housing for Older Persons’ (HOPA) is an official HUD (U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) exemption. It supplements the Fair Housing Act originally designed to protect residents from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, handicap or familial status.” – Cherie Ve Ard, Technomadia
Diving deeper into the law, HUD USER explains further,
Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, the Fair Housing Act, prohibits age discrimination in housing. A 1988 amendment to the act created an exemption for housing for adults age 55 and over as long as it provided facilities and services designed to meet the physical and social needs of the elderly. However, the Housing for Older Americans Act of 1995 eliminated this requirement. In addition, these communities often are designed for and marketed to customers in their 50s and 60s who are more interested in golf courses, swimming pools, and other community amenities than in the supportive services they may eventually need.
Consequently, it would be illegal to open an “under 55 only” park. That would be age discrimination – a protected class in housing laws.
People Aren’t The Only Ones To Receive Age Restrictions
Age restriction rules are much stricter when it comes to your RV! Many RV resorts restrict old RVs.
The 10 Year Rule is widely unpopular among RVs. Yet, here’s why RV Park Owners love it!
You Have Options, It’s Called Boondocking!
If rules make you squirm and you want to camp far away from people, we recommend boondocking. That’s another way of saying “free camping.”
You don’t need reservations or much money!
Free camping happens on public land – BLM land, National Forests & County Parks primarily.
The Best FREE Camping in the USA
We love camping across this amazing country. And, we really love it when its free. Here’s our list of the 20 Best Free Campsites in the USA.
If you haven’t tried free camping before, also known as boondocking, take a look at our beginners guide to boondocking filled with everything you need to know to get started.