RV drivers park it in Carson City

Chuck Kelley has a wood-paneled kitchen, an imitation fireplace and a mounted buck's head on the wall. The welcome mat at his front door says "please wipe your paws."

Kelley is one of dozens of people who live long-term at Carson City's two major recreational vehicle parks, Camp N Town and Comstock Country RV Resort, where they make up about half the tenants.

Kelley said the 30-foot-long RV at Camp N Town he's lived in the past two years is perfect for him. He and others name freedom, quiet living and cheap rent as reasons for settling down in an RV rather than an apartment or house.

Rent at Camp N Town is $335 a month.

"You're not going to find an apartment for that," he said.

Kelley, 70, retired 10 years ago and sold his California almond farm. He planned on touring the country during his retirement, but settled in Carson City to help build the

Tahoe Rim Trail.

He said he plans to stay, but knows he doesn't have to.

"If you don't like your neighbors, you just go somewhere else," he said.

Ivan Lepire, the owner of Camp N Town, said about half the people in the 157-space

park have been there 6 months or more.

He said short-term stays pick up in the summer, but seasonal campers are less numerous than they once were. The number of people staying long-term has increased in the last 15 of the 31 years he's owned the park, he said.

"Some of them choose to live that way, and some can't afford to live any other way," Lepire said.

Courtney Robey, a representative with the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, said her trade group doesn't track the number of people living long-term in RVs, but she has heard estimates of up to 750,000, mostly retired people.

She said from what the association can tell, living long-term in an RV seems to be a growing trend.

David Harrell moved to the Comstock Country RV Resort in November after living four years at the Virginia City RV Park.

He said his 37-foot RV is "plenty big enough" for him and his wife, Ellen.

An apartment is too cramped and a house is too expensive, he said.

They have a patio set, bird feeder and wind chimes outside their RV. Harrell, 71, said he looks forward to growing flowers when the weather gets warmer.

"I don't know how to describe it," he said. "It's a comfortable way of living."

Carson City's third RV park at the Gold Dust West isn't designed for long-term stays, said Jennifer Kinson, hotel manager. The park doesn't have mail boxes, she said, and only a few of the 48 spaces are taken up by longterm residents.

Phyllis Maus said she's liked the independence of living in an RV for about 9 years at Camp N Town.

She lived in Fallon for about a year a few years ago, but often drove into Carson City at night. She said she couldn't sleep well anywhere else.

Maus said friends have tried to get her to move into an apartment, but neighbors are too noisy and she likes the idea of being able to leave whenever she wants.

"I just want to RV to where I'm in my own little world," Maus said.

- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.