Escapees Inc. RV Club purchased Tra-Park in January. Escapee couples are trained to manage the Rainbow Parks, as the RV campgrounds are called. All four spend a lot of time in town, trying out restaurants, locating good mechanics and getting acquainted with fun things to do. Then, of course, they spread the word among their guests. I hadn't thought of the RV park as an economic resource for the town, but it sure is.
Retirees have money to spend, and they require few services.
I guess they draw on the water supply and use some electricity while they're hooked up at the park. But of course they pay for utilities just like the rest of us do. And they drop a lot of cash at grocery stores, filling stations, garages and restaurants. The Escapee magazine lists a Wal-Mart as the biggest draw for club members. Everyone asks where the nearest Wal-Mart is located, said Bud Carr, who is some kind of a boss in the organization.