RV parks and campgrounds are specialty properties that many banks avoid, which is why owners often turn to SBA programs, specialty lenders, and bridge financing. Lenders look at occupancy, seasonal revenue, the number and type of sites, amenities, and the market. Because these fall outside standard bank guidelines, creative and bridge financing is frequently the practical path.
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RV parks and campgrounds have become popular investments, but financing them runs into a common wall: many banks simply do not lend on them. They are specialty properties with seasonal, variable income, and they fall outside the standard boxes conventional lenders work within. That does not make them bad investments. It means you need a lender who understands the asset.
A conventional commercial lender is set up for property types with predictable, lease-driven income, office, retail, industrial. An RV park earns its income from nightly, weekly, and seasonal stays, with revenue that swings through the year and a mix of long-term and transient sites. That variability, plus the specialty nature of the asset, is why so many banks pass, often regardless of how well the park performs.
Lenders who understand RV parks look at occupancy and seasonality, the number and type of sites and the mix of long-term versus transient, revenue per site, the amenities and utility infrastructure, the location and market, and the operating history. A well-run park in a strong location with good infrastructure is financeable, you just need to reach the right lender.
SBA financing can work well for an owner-operator, since these programs are built for people who run the business themselves.
Specialty lenders who focus on or understand hospitality and recreation assets can offer conventional-style financing where a general bank would not.
Bridge financing fits acquisitions, improvements, and repositioning, buying a park that needs upgrades, or one whose income has room to grow with better management.
A bank turning you down on an RV park is not a verdict on the deal, it is usually just the wrong lender for the asset. Send us the park, the income, and your plan, and we will point you to financing that fits.
Alan is Managing Partner at BluRidge Funding and has worked in mortgage and real estate finance since 1996, with commercial lending as a principal focus since 2003. He holds an economics degree from BYU and a law degree from the University of Utah, and is a founding board member and former President of the Utah Association of Mortgage Brokers. More about the team.
Send the property, the loan amount, and your timeline. We will tell you whether it looks like something we can help with, usually within one business day.
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