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Recreational vehicles are no longer trailers on wheels and much more than a pop-up camper to be towed on the back of a pickup truck. Hit the open road this summer "” in accommodations as fine as those offered in a luxury hotel "” in one of these extravagant 2009 RV models.
By Greg Henry
2009 Country Coach Rhapsody
Length: 45 feet
Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine: Caterpillar 15.2-liter C15
(625-horsepower)
Price: $1,287,860
Standard equipment:
Standard equipment: Norcold 12-cubic-feet, four-door refrigerator; 46-inch flatscreen LCD HDTV with 5.1 home theater surround sound in living room; 26-inch LCD TV on overhead dash; DVD player; 37-inch LCD HDTV in bedroom; king bed.
2009 Country Coach Prevost
Length: 45 feet
Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine: DDEC IV Series 60,
14-liter (515-horsepower)
Price: $1,437,874
Standard equipment:
ISRI adjustable driver seat with lumbar support, arm rest and head rest, covering in Ultraleather or leather; Crestron controls with wireless remote touch screens (available on most Country Coach models); 22-cubic-feet refrigerator-freezer; 40-inch LCD HDTV on overhead dash; DVD player; VCR; 37-inch LCD HDTV in bedroom; king bed
Nearest dealer:
Buddy Gregg Motorhomes, 1206 N. Stemmons Fwy., Lewisville, TX, 972-420-8586; Beaudry RV, 1576 S. Nelson Dr., Chandler AZ, 888.688.8232. (Rhapsody models may not be available.)
Web site: countrycoach.com
2009 Country Coach Affinity
Length: 45 feet
Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine: Caterpillar C15 (625-horsepower)
Price: $795,200
Standard equipment:
DirecTV HD receiver for stationary automatic satellite system; Dish Network HD receiver for in-motion satellite system; 17-cubic feet, four-door refrigerator; 32-inch LCD TV mounted in living area; 26-inch LCD TV in bedroom (with DVD player); queen bed; GPS navigation system.
2009 Monaco Dynasty
Length: 39 feet, 2 inches to 43 feet, 10 inches
Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine: 500-horsepower Cummins
Price: Starting at $382,000
Standard equipment:
Lighted VIP Smartwheel™ with ignition key on column and controls for windshield wipers, ICC and cruise control (available on most models); 12-cubic-feet, four-door refrigerator; 32-inch flatscreen LCD TV in overhead dash; 37-inch or 42-inch TV in entertainment center (depending on model); 46-inch TV in Squire IV only; 20-inch LCD TV in bedroom; queen bed
Nearest dealer:
Beaudry RV, 1576 S. Nelson Dr., Chandler AZ, 888.688.8232; Monaco of Las Vegas, 7485 Dean Martin Dr., Las Vegas, NV, 888.281.3787 or 702.407.1949.
Web site: monacocoach.com
2009 American Coach Allegiance
Length: 41 feet to 43 feet
Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine: 500-horsepower Cummins
Price: Starting at $586,000
Standard equipment:
Six-way, leather power driver and passenger seats; Navion/R5000 information and entertainment center (AM-FM, single CD, Satellite, MP3, Camera Monitor, one-way audio); Norcold 12-cubic-feet, four-door refrigerator; 32-inch LCD HDTV in living room (40-inch TV available in select models); 26-inch LCD TV in bedroom
Nearest dealer:
K&C RV Center, 14504 E.1-25 Frontage Road, Longmont, 800.452.5278.
Web site: americancoach.com
2009 Monaco camelot
Length: 43 feet
Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine: 425-horsepower Cummins
Price: Starting at $278,000
Standard equipment:
Norcold 12-cubic-feet, four-door refrigerator; 37-inch flatscreen LCD TV in living area; 26-inch LCD TV in bedroom; king bed in three of the four styles
Nearest dealer:
Beaudry RV, 1576 S. Nelson Dr., Chandler AZ, 888.688.8232; Monaco of Las Vegas, 7485 Dean Martin Dr., Las Vegas, NV, 888.281.3787 or 702.407.1949.
Web site: monacocoach.com
2009 Monaco Executive
Length: 44 feet, 10 inches
Fuel Type: Diesel
Engine: 525-horsepower Cummins
Price: Starting at $498,000
Standard equipment:
17-cubic-feet, four-door refrigerator; 32-inch LCD TV mounted in living area; 26-inch LCD TV in bedroom (with DVD player); queen bed; GPS navigation system
Nearest dealer:
Beaudry RV, 1576 S. Nelson Dr., Chandler AZ, 888.688.8232; Monaco of Las Vegas, 7485 Dean Martin Dr., Las Vegas, NV, 888.281.3787 or 702.407.1949.
Web site: monacocoach.com
Bella Terra
A luxury resort for recreational vehicle users? Apparently, today's RV enthusiasts seek more than simple campgrounds or a slab of concrete with an electric hookup.
Denver-based Sagebrush Realty Development is opening a two-phase, 176-lot luxury motorhome facility, Bella Terra Resort, in late August or early September near Gulf Shores, Ala. Just minutes from the white sand beaches of the Florida panhandle towns along the Intracoastal Waterway, Bella Terra will provide its RV lot owners resort style luxury. Instead of raggedy nine-hole miniature golf layouts and soda machines, Bella Terra offers poolside barbecues, Jacuzzis, a fitness center, well-appointed clubhouses and lavish amenities.
"There are many things that distinguish our luxury RV resort from that of another RV park," says Executive Vice President of Business Development Tripp Keber via e-mail. "Start with a hotel-resort platform reservation system and front desk check-in in a private gated community all managed by a full-time General Manager and Concierge. You have not one Grand Clubhouse with a resort style pool, but two. Add to this, a consistent and predictable level of service like you would find at a major upscale hotel chain. Now you have the platform on which the Bella Terra resorts will successfully expand."
Sounds like a Ritz-Carlton for the free-wheeling (or high-roller) set. Lots at Bella Terra are designed for Class A RV owners, the top-of-the-line vehicles that sell for as much as $2 million (that's no misprint, folks!).
"We believe the market to be completely untapped," says Keber. "There is no consistency and quality of service even between the handful of high-end, motor coach resorts that exist today. With tens of thousands of high-end motor coaches rolling down America's roads, this is probably the most underserved market segment of affluent travelers in America."
Grace Johnson and her husband, Gary, of Baton Rouge, La., "stumbled upon" Bella Terra after looking at other sites. "We wanted to buy a lot actually for a year now that was a resort style, luxury place," Grace says. "I didn't understand why Louisiana didn't have something like that. We've looked at several places that we thought were luxury resorts but when we saw them it was nothing more than a concrete slab. We are both anxious to be a part of a great outdoor resort."
Plus, the Johnsons, who have been RV fanatics for about four years, only have a 240-mile drive. "We didn't have to drive 1,000 miles and the security and all of that sealed it for us," says Grace Johnson, who admits her reluctance about becoming an RVer ("I fought it for a couple of years... but now I love it."). "I don't like going by plane anymore. I like to stop and go when I want to. If we're delayed it's because I want to be delayed and not because we're sitting on a tarmac somewhere."
Chuck Smith, President of Sagebrush Realty Development, got the inspiration for the resort from his parents, who have been longtime motorcoach enthusiasts.
"Having heard all of the stories and from time to time visited his parents at several resorts, Chuck saw an opportunity for a market niche that was completely underserved," says Keber. "That is creating a family of lifestyle resorts catering to the high end, Class A motor coach owner."
As of early May, more than 60 percent of the phase 1 lots had been sold. The lots range from 2,876 square feet to 5,027 square feet and prices are from $100,000 to $225,000.
What distinguishes Bella Terra from other RV resorts, says Kelly Moore Robertson of Kidd Public Relations, is "most importantly, attention to detail and a high level of service. For those that travel "” Bella Terra is the Ritz Carlton of RV resorts. For example, say a motorcoach owner is arriving late on an empty stomach. A simple call to the concierge desk and dinner will be awaiting their arrival. Need laundry taken to the cleaners? A tee time booked? All this is available through the Bella Terra concierge team."
The Johnsons of Baton Rouge are champing at the bit to make the drive across Louisiana to southern Alabama. "We'll be using that a great deal," says Grace Johnson. "I cannot wait for that to open. Even if you're not far from home, it's got everything enjoy the luxury lifestyle and still be able to do work. I don't have to work from home. I've got mypc.com, so I get on the Internet and work from (Bella Terra)."
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