Fruits of our Labors

Oh boy! Wow, it has been 2 years since we began this project sitting down with the city of Caldwell at a roundtable meeting to find out if they would be amicable to an RV park being built in their city.  After that came the neighborhood meeting, the application and hearing in front of the planning and zoning to seek a conditional use permit to build an RV park in an R-3 Zone. Then came the easement request from the buerau, I can never spell that work. Beureau of Reclamation, working with the Engineer to get plans established,  Tearing down the barns, outbuildings, houses, fences and some trees :(.  Working with many banks to get the lending arranged, then came the appraisal, then another appraisal. Then we had to rework our engineered plans to include the City Engineer's version of the Storm water system. Finally 1 year ago we began our construction loan but couldn't start ' "building"  until we got the new Storm Water system and full plans approved by the City and all her departments. 9 months ago we started digging the first of the trenches.  The many, many, many trenches.  Our land saw layers of trenches. Sewer, pressurized irrigaition,Storm Water, Water, electrical and finally sprinklers.  All criss crossed  and creating the infrastructure of our park. We learned that it is warmer in trenches during the cold weather.  Each and every day Jason, myself, our four boys and Gunner our golden worked on every aspect of the project we were allowed to touch. Finally we started making above the ground progress with the roads, the waterpipes, the grass, gravel and cement pads.  oh, how can I neglect to mention the concrete.  My amature crew did half of the concrete pads.  If I never see another cement truck it would be okay. Cement is an art and a science and is backbreaking work.  Finally the sites took shape while our office also got finishing touches, The boys put on the metal roof, they are pros by now since they put on the roof at our home a couple of years ago.  Paint, Trim,  shiplap, plank flooring all coming together. We had so much help from family friends and even a few "new friends" Everything from rolling out sod to taking care of my grocery shopping,  car pooling my children to and from what school was possible during this pandemic and cheering us along. Then came the surprising day on Oct. 2 When we were given our temporary occupancy permit.  Many tears flowed that day.  Tears of joy that were soon joined by beads of sweat as we realized we had a lot of work left to do.  If you want to know what is more work than building an RV park.....it is starting an RV park business, while running and RV park while still building an RV park. After we got our temporary occupancy permit I told my boys, there is a light at the end of this tunnel! But then In two weeks time we went from 30 applications processed  for month to month site rentals  to 100 applications, background checks and deposits, mixed in with the surprise overnight guests that i just wasn't expecting this season.  I then told my boys after a few 17 hour days that the light at the end of our tunnel was actually a train!  But then we got into a rhythm in the office.  We are a week away from having the Clubhouse finished, and yet what weighs heavily on my mind tonight is that fact that I feel no closer to having INTERNET for my guests.   I don't even have the energy to describe what is happening with my internet.  And in all this.  We feel so abundantly blessed.  We have had the most wonderful people stop in for the night and so many new neighbors we are proud to share a space with. Cancer survivors, heart transplant recipients, families schooling from their RV, one man who is 100 years old, some people starting over, some downsizing, others on a pit stop to the permanent homes  that are being built. and several people in town to build our Amazon factory. I can honestly say I have the best people living in our RV park, no other park can touch how awesome our guests are.  They are awesome, and gracious and patient.  My hope is to continue to the finish line. Which is  a park that is a great place for our guests and a community others are proud to call home.  If you want to see a drone video of where we are at now take a peak here: ​https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifervparkcaldwellidaho/videos/733069297291051