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The resort is situated on 24.5 acres of land that have been in the owners\u2019 family for generations.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe are not deep pockets. We\u2019re just a small family business trying to make this project and this dream work,” Nicole said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe heard a lot of no\u2019s, dozens of no\u2019s. And then finally came some possibility,\u201d Jon added.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The husband-and-wife duo first had the idea for a resort nearly ten years ago. <\/span><\/span><\/span>No\u2019s came in the form of financing hurdles, zoning issues, and then a global pandemic.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They said that, when they first presented the idea to the city, there was immediate pushback.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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,\u201d Jon said. \u201cThere was a lot of educating on our part and there were still some people who weren\u2019t happy about it, but we worked through it.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Jon said that, many decades ago, there was a mobile home park in Ivins with permanent residents. He referred to the site as a \u201cblack eye on the city,\u201d and said it took many years to clean it up.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While that park is now closed, he said some stereotypes still linger. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Chris Hart, the mayor of Ivins, said \u201cIt\u2019s just the idea that something on wheels is going to be coming here and parking. It conjures up images that are unsavory for some.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n However, the mayor said he saw the Graf\u2019s vision and offered support where he could.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t promote something that doesn\u2019t fall within the zoning ordinance,” Hart said. “But, I felt like this really did and it was something that really fit in our city.”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While he doesn\u2019t have voting power on council motions, the mayor said he \u201cadvocated for Hidden Springs and believed it would be a nice enhancement for the city.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Hart said Ivins is a \u201cresort destination,\u201d and they want to welcome all types of visitors — including those who travel in an RV.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Grafs said that RV resorts are zoned differently than RV parks and require a certain level of hospitality and amenities.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, there is no permanent parking or dwelling on the property.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d Jon said. \u201cI wanted them to understand that transient doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bad.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe had a lot of people who didn\u2019t see the vision, but we also had those gems of people that really wanted us to make it happen,\u201d Nicole added.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Jon chooses to look at the upside of the delays.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think that if it happened quicker, it wouldn\u2019t have been as good,\u201d Jon said. \u201cMy kids were all teens when we started this, now they are all adults. I\u2019ve been able to lean on my children for their talents.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n What started as family land, is now a family business with several of his six kids contributing to or working for the business.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think we\u2019ve taught our kids and grandkids that if you really keep trying you can pursue and accomplish anything,\u201d Jon said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe 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,\u201d Nicole said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Hidden Springs is now open and accepting bookings while finishing the landscaping and some other construction.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n