Nov. 20--Despite the deepening recession, warmth-seeking winter visitors still seem to be making their annual trek to the Yuma area for the winter.

According to Ken Rosevear, the executive director of the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, reservations at the county's 112 recreational vehicle park are about the same as they were last year.

"Some parks have even reported an increase over the previous year, a few as much as 3 percent," Rosevear said. "We are cautiously optimistic, despite the economy."

The biggest reason they are coming, Rosevear believes, is due to lower gas prices, which peaked around $4 a gallon in July and are now hovering in the $2 range.

"Some of the winter visitors who were apprehensive about coming because of the high gas prices may do so now," Rosevear said.

Jim Forsyth, general manager of County Roads RV Park, said the park has about 250 rentable spaces available and they are already filled this year.

"We never have troubling renting spaces and are always filled this time of year," Forsyth said. "We also have a waiting list with about 30 people on it."

Forsyth said he was not worried about seeing a drop in the number of winter visitors at his park because a lot of the spaces were reserved from the year before.

"We are a five-star park and when you are the best everyone wants in," Forsyth said.

According to Paul Shadel, an analyst for Yuma Stats, based on their most recent count, which was conducted last month, there are currently about 43,500 winter visitors in Yuma County parks already, about half of the yearly peak, which occurs in February.

Shadel said this year's figures indicated that the winter visitor population was down by about 10 percent in September and October, but have since caught since back up.

"Initially there was some cause for concern, but that has since dissipated," Shadel said. "Last year, winter visitors were slow in arriving and lingered until late March."

Last year, based on Yuma Stats figures, the number of winter visitors who came to Yuma peaked during the month of February at 87,000, which has also been the highest number reached the past decade.

While it still has empty spaces now, Fortuna Del Oro RV Park's 600 or so rentable spaces will be full later this year, employee Linda Shook said.

"Our occupancy is pretty much about what it usually is this time of year," Shook said. "We have had a few cancellations, but even more reservations so it balances out. Most of our residents don't come until after Christmas anyway."

She added she wasn't worried that winter visitors would decide to stay home this year, saying, "I think if people want to get away for the winter that is what they are going to do, no matter what the economy is like."

David Renaudin, the gas station manager at Dateland Palms, said the east-county park, which has about 40 spaces for rent, hasn't had many winter visitors, but the park's occupancy rate is about what it was last year at this time.

"We have our normal people who come out here every year," Renaudin said. "We have also opened up the park to the construction workers."

Renaudin explained the park's gas station, gift shop and restaurant are currently being remodeled so the park doesn't have any available spaces.

He went on to explain that the park would have started taking reservations in January, but didn't this year due to all the construction taking place at the park.

Sue Neal, the manager of Foothills Village RV Park, which has 167 spaces for rent, said although their occupancy is a bit down also, the park expects to be full by February.

"I think winter visitors are still coming, but most of them aren't coming until after Christmas," Neal said. "We will eventually be full, we just may be slower getting there this year."

Neal said she had some initial concerns that the poor economy would prevent winter visitors from flocking to Yuma, but that people who live that lifestyle would probably come anyway.

One thing Neal says she has seen more often each year is the number of winter visitors who are looking for annual sites so they can leave their recreational vehicle in Yuma year-round.

With all the winter visitors expected to come to Yuma this year, Shadel said the one thing that remains to be seen is whether they will be spending as much as they have in the past.

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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

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