Five star RV park opens for tourist season

POLSON — Memorial day is just around the corner. In preparation for guests, mothers begin to gather their favorite recipes and fathers bring their boats out of storage. Local businesses are also gearing up for the coming tourists who will visit the recently designated Polson “resort town.”

There are 14 resort towns in Montana; Polson was designated as such in November 2008 and received an official letter to that effect in March. It’s no wonder, as the population doubles during the summer months.

How do tourists coming from across the country find out about the small town of Polson? On their way to Glacier, by word of mouth, en route to another destination? Many learn about Polson by word of mouth, however, a growing number are attracted to the area by local businesses who target the tourist.

Paul London, owner of Polson Motorcoach and RV Resort, came to Montana about 10 years ago and has been a Polson advocate ever since. Before coming he toured the country in an RV working for Nordstrom’s retail store. He met his Montanan wife, Carlisa, and they began their dream of creating a 5-star RV resort in the heart of one of the most beautiful places in the country.

This Memorial day, after one year of steady construction and years of careful planning, the first phase of the Polson Motorcoach and RV Resort will be completed. The Londons’ vision of their resort is coming full circle.

“It’s always been a dream of ours to own a Class-A resort,” he said of the 28 acres, where half of the lots will be reserved for strictly Class A RVs and luxury amenities.

Paul tours the country during the winter months promoting Polson and attracting tourists to his resort. As the families come, the businesses benefit.

“We promote the golf courses, rafting, fishing and restaurant industries,” Paul said, among others. He said Polson used to be a sleepover to Glacier National Park, but that is changing.

Barbara Jacobson, with the Polson Chamber of Commerce, said that as the national economy has faced a downturn more Montanans are also planning Polson vacations.

The Polson Chamber of Commerce has ridden the wave of town attraction. A redesign of the website promotes local businesses, as Paul does, and a new tab was designed specifically for event planning.

“Tourists are our target,” Jacobson said, noting the many seasonal businesses in the area.

The chamber works with business owners, cultivating a community where the entrepreneur flourishes. Paul brings local business brochures to the trade shows, further describing Polson to the traveler, and also has links to local businesses on the resort’s website.

“Most people have never heard of Polson,” Paul said of the crowds he meets in various states across the country during his trade shows.  “It’s a win-win for the community.”

Paul will speak at the next chamber luncheon.  He will no doubt share his business endeavors as they relate to the resort’s construction.

The redesign of the Kamp Of America site has been in the works for several years, but Paul said he chose to begin construction in a time when jobs were hard to come by. Most of the contractors working on this project — one of the biggest projects in Western Montana — are local.

The lots under construction average 75 feet long by 40 feet wide in diameter. The lots are sold to owners of Class-A motorcoaches who work with Alpine Design to customize their purchase.

One owner has an intricate putting green on his lot, another a waterfall and large out door cooking area with marble countertops. Thirty seven of the lots are already sodded with grass hydro-seed wildflowers from the resort’s greenhouse. A six-tier babbling brook welcomes tourists to the gated community, where each lot was designed to take advantage of the view, Paul said.

“We’re doing everything right,” Paul said. “We take pride in ownership. Everywhere you walk or look is beautiful. It’s all about lifestyle.”

Paul will travel to Oregon in June, where he will present another show. For more information on Polson Motorcoach and RV Resort call 1-800-985-0421 or visit the website at www.polsonrvresort.com.