Real estate development vision. Seeking guidance

Upstate New York, New York
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Real estate development vision. Seeking guidance

Chris Bolsenbroek
Real Estate Agent · Hudson Valley NY · Member since 2026 · 2 posts · 1 vote

Hello BiggerPockets Community,

I'm a newly licensed real estate salesperson. For the past decade, I've been immersed in automotive management, including 4 years as a Parts Manager where I oversaw operations contributing to a $300k monthly profit. This experience has given me a strong foundation in financial management, operational efficiency, and team leadership.

My true passion, however, lies in the outdoors. As an active scout leader and avid camper, I'm now transitioning to pursue a long-held dream: developing a unique RV park from the ground up. My vision is for a nature-preserving, rustic camping resort in the beautiful Hudson Valley, including dedicated scout-friendly campsites.


I've already identified potential land with favorable zoning, and I'm eager to connect with experienced investors and developers who understand the nuances of ground-up commercial real estate, particularly in the outdoor hospitality sector. I'm specifically interested in exploring options for silent partnerships – individuals looking for passive income opportunities in a growing asset class.


I'm here to learn, contribute, and build valuable relationships. What advice do you have for a new developer with a strong management background looking to bring a unique RV park concept to life? What are the key considerations for attracting silent partners in this niche?

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  • Mark UpdegraffBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Rochester, NY · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 706 votes
    1mo

    I think your management background translates better to this than you may realize. An RV park is real estate, but once it’s open, it’s also very much an operating business. Knowing how to manage people, systems, expenses, and margins is going to matter.

    If I were in your shoes, I’d spend a lot of time proving the deal before worrying too much about finding silent partners. Get a realistic handle on site work, utilities/septic, road infrastructure, permitting, number of sites, development cost per site, achievable nightly/seasonal rates, occupancy, and what the property looks like at stabilization.

    The scout/outdoor angle is interesting, but I’d make sure the numbers work as an RV park first and let that become the differentiator rather than something the deal depends on.

    For passive investors, I’d want to see a pretty simple story: what does it cost, how much equity are you raising, what can go wrong during development, when does it start producing cash, what are the projected returns, and how do I eventually get my money back?

    Also, don’t underestimate the value of talking to a few existing campground owners. Twenty minutes with someone who has actually developed or expanded one will probably uncover three things that never showed up in your spreadsheet.

    Sounds like a cool project. I’m up in Rochester and spend a fair amount of time looking at nontraditional real estate and development opportunities. Happy to connect and follow along as you put the deal together.

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