The resort is situated on 24.5 acres of land that have been in the owners’ family for generations.
Jon and Nicole Graf are co-owners of the resort. They said getting to this point has been full of setbacks, both from financial and city-planning perspectives.
“We are not deep pockets. We’re just a small family business trying to make this project and this dream work,” Nicole said.
“We heard a lot of no’s, dozens of no’s. And then finally came some possibility,” Jon added.
The husband-and-wife duo first had the idea for a resort nearly ten years ago. No’s came in the form of financing hurdles, zoning issues, and then a global pandemic.
They said that, when they first presented the idea to the city, there was immediate pushback.
“When we came in as an RV resort, all they could picture in their mind was a mobile home park and full-time residents. A lot of times there is chaos that comes with that,” Jon said. “There was a lot of educating on our part and there were still some people who weren’t happy about it, but we worked through it.”
Jon said that, many decades ago, there was a mobile home park in Ivins with permanent residents. He referred to the site as a “black eye on the city,” and said it took many years to clean it up.
While that park is now closed, he said some stereotypes still linger. Chris Hart, the mayor of Ivins, said “It’s just the idea that something on wheels is going to be coming here and parking. It conjures up images that are unsavory for some.”
However, the mayor said he saw the Graf’s vision and offered support where he could.
“I can’t promote something that doesn’t fall within the zoning ordinance,” Hart said. “But, I felt like this really did and it was something that really fit in our city.”
While he doesn’t have voting power on council motions, the mayor said he “advocated for Hidden Springs and believed it would be a nice enhancement for the city.”
Hart said Ivins is a “resort destination,” and they want to welcome all types of visitors — including those who travel in an RV.
The Grafs said that RV resorts are zoned differently than RV parks and require a certain level of hospitality and amenities.
Additionally, there is no permanent parking or dwelling on the property.
“I told the city many times at city council meetings that we are going to have transient people, but they are transient people like you and I who are exploring the country in motor coaches,” Jon said. “I wanted them to understand that transient doesn’t necessarily mean bad.”
“We had a lot of people who didn’t see the vision, but we also had those gems of people that really wanted us to make it happen,” Nicole added.
Jon chooses to look at the upside of the delays.
“I think that if it happened quicker, it wouldn’t have been as good,” Jon said. “My kids were all teens when we started this, now they are all adults. I’ve been able to lean on my children for their talents.”
What started as family land, is now a family business with several of his six kids contributing to or working for the business.
“I think we’ve taught our kids and grandkids that if you really keep trying you can pursue and accomplish anything,” Jon said.
Hidden Springs was granted permission by the city to open, despite some minor lingering ordinance issues with landscaping and concrete. They said the influx of revenue will help bring the project to completion.
“We really just needed that concession from the city to open and to start generating some income. By making that concession they are allowing us to open our doors,” Nicole said.
Hidden Springs features multiple different camping sites, including those for RVs and tents. They also have a pool and spa, a clubhouse with a market and game room, on-site laundry, fire pits, access to BLM land, and other amenities that are coming soon.
Hidden Springs is now open and accepting bookings while finishing the landscaping and some other construction.
“I think there is a spirit about it. When you come here, you feel it,” Jon said. “I’ve been to a lot of RV Parks and they don’t feel like this one.”
