DLP Capital, a private real estate investment and financial services firm, acquired Ocala North RV Resort for a purchase price of $33 million. The Ocala North RV Resort, spanning 73 acres in central Florida’s horse country, consists of 385 sites for RVs and cottages.
Ocala has a prolific equine industry, with 600-plus thoroughbred farms and training centers, as well as the Ocala National Forest, which has hundreds of lakes, rivers and freshwater springs that serve as home to manatees and hundreds of other wildlife species. The region is an increasingly popular natural playground for RV enthusiasts and vacationers, with DLP Capital investing in the resort at a time when RVs are more popular than ever.
RV resorts are an emerging asset class for investment. with tremendous untapped value given prolific growth in the RV leisure market.”
More than 11.2 million households in the US own an RV, up 62 percent from 20 years ago, with a significant increase among 18- to 34-year-olds, who now make up nearly a quarter of the market. DLP Capital’s acquisition of the RV resort follows on the heels of its development of Island Oaks RV Resort in north Florida near Jacksonville, which opened in 2022 and includes 385 RV pads.
“RV resorts are an emerging asset class for investment. with tremendous untapped value given prolific growth in the RV leisure market,” said Don Wenner, Founder and CEO of DLP Capital. “America has changed the way it travels with the return of the road trip becoming increasingly popular, without the hassles of planes and trains. RV resorts are especially appealing to those interested in active outdoor getaways, and DLP Capital is refining the RV experience with amenity-driven resorts. It’s a new generation of RV resorts that are a far cry from prior generations of barebone parks.”
Ocala is located approximately 20 miles south of Gainesville and 90 miles northwest of Orlando. The Ocala North RV Resort is easily accessible, featuring frontage along I-75 (exit 368), a major north-south interstate that connects the Southeast to the Great Lakes. The resort features a clubhouse, exercise center, saline swimming pool, pickleball, shuffleboard and bocce ball courts, and Florida’s largest groomed dog park. DLP Capital will upgrade some amenities and may add more cottage accommodations. Plans also include development of a resort restaurant and general store and an outdoor community kitchen and fireplace. The resort also hosts special events and social activities throughout the year. More than 50 percent of the RV sites at the resort are “pull-throughs”—a highly desirable RV park feature, allowing easy maneuverability of recreational vehicles.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Ocala metro area is among the top 25 fastest-growing metro areas in the US. The Ocala region also features the largest equestrian complex in the US, the World Equestrian Center, with multi indoor/outdoor arenas hosting Olympic-caliber competitions.
