Updated 17 days ago on .
From Ashes to RV Pads: Converting a Burned MHP into an RV Park
Investment Info:
Mobile home fix & flip investment.
Skyway Villa RV Park, 7726 Skyway, Paradise, CA — Former mobile-home park destroyed in the Camp Fire. I brokered the deal, brought in a partner, and co-invested to reposition the site into RV pads serving the local rebuild: traveling nurses, construction crews, and other temp workers. Scope included debris/utility cleanup, reconfiguration to code, and lease-up for workforce housing. After a multi-year redevelopment, the park is active; plan is to stabilize operations and evaluate a sale.
What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?
I broker and invest in RV/MHC and have spent years RV’ing myself, so the use case was clear. This was a chance to help rebuild the city, place partner capital productively, and leverage a capable redevelopment team on a compelling value-add.
How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?
A long-standing client relationship—multi-generation owners—brought me the opportunity. We structured terms around realistic timelines and redevelopment risk, keeping diligence tight on utilities, access, and entitlement path.
How did you finance this deal?
Industry partners plus a bank construction loan.
How did you add value to the deal?
Full site cleanup of burn debris, grading/leveling, new gravel pads, and re-establishing services—converting to RV sites targeting traveling nurses, construction crews, and other temp workers supporting the rebuild.
What was the outcome?
Redevelopment took time, but the park is now active and leasing well. Plan: stabilize operations and then evaluate a sale.
Lessons learned? Challenges?
California development is slow, and utility coordination (PG&E for gas/electric) can be a difficult path. Build extra float into schedules, over-communicate with agencies, and expect curveballs—the impact is worth it when the asset serves the community and pencils long-term.
Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?
I served as broker. Happy to share contacts offline for our construction lender, civil engineer, and GC who understand post-fire redevelopment in Butte County.
