Red Coconut RV Park

Red Coconut RV Park

A place we will not be visiting again.

We were so excited to be lucky enough to secure two nights at the Red Coconut RV Park at Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. One night at the “Park Side” right across the road from the beach, and the second night Right. On. The. Beach! It would be our first beach camping experience, and boy were we looking forward to it!

The Red Coconut, a privately owned campground, was a coveted place to camp at Ft. Myers Beach. On the Park Side were residents fortunate to live in paradise full time in their trailers, with vacationing campers mixed in around them. Right across the road was the Beach Side, where RVs were parked in rows right on the sand, with the front row getting an unobstructed view of the Gulf of Mexico.

Did someone say Squeeze?

To say that the sites on the Park Side were a little tight would be an understatement. We were led down a super narrow, winding road, and shown to our site. Our rig is small, and I would imagine that anything much larger than our 22’ would have a very difficult time fitting in.

In fact, we were so close, that we had to step on our neighbor’s carpet to plug in on our electric post. They could have passed me a cup of sugar from their window to ours. This was quite different than our experiences at the Florida State Parks had been with all the vegetation in between sites.

However, we laughed it off and chalked it up to an experience. Because, after all, the purpose of camping here was not for the campground amenities, per se, it was to be close to the beach. And close we were! It was wonderful just to stroll across the street and there we were – at the beach! Which, by the way, was gorgeous!

I’d like to add that everyone at the Red Coconut RV Park was very nice, and although crowded, it was well maintained.

No driving cars on the beach. That is, unless you’re a dog!

You never know what you’re going to see, and on our first beach walk it was no exception.

On our way back from a beautiful stroll along the shore, a dog driving a Barbie-pink jeep passed us by! What?!?

It took us a beat to realize that the pup’s owners were about twenty feet behind us with a remote control for the vehicle. The dog was the hit of the beach, and was very gracious to take pictures with all of its admirers. You sure don’t see that every day!

Sunsets and Surge Protectors

In our subsequent travels, we have come to learn and appreciate the fact that the sunset is an event to be celebrated. Whether it be Florida or as far north as Michigan, when the sun sets, the people gather. It’s community. It’s witnessing the beautiful end to a day well spent.

At the Red Coconut RV Park, we experienced this for the first time, gathering with other campers on the beach. We could see the long-term large rigs in the front row having a potluck dinner and sitting at their tables with cocktails and wine. Apparently, this was a nightly beach party they were fortunate to participate in the whole winter long.

However, we were happy to have our two nights at the beach.

After the cheer as the sun dipped below the horizon, we headed back to our home on wheels and called it a day.

At some point during the night, I woke up to Walt heading outside. He informed me that the power had gone out and he was going to check on it.

The electricity seemed to be out in our whole area. There was a fire station right across the street from the back of our RV and we could hear their generator running.  It was kind of a weird and eerie thing for the whole campground area to be in total darkness.

Fortunately, we have a portable surge guard device, that plugs into the power pedestal. Our surge protector has a Bluetooth remote so we can see what’s going on with the power without going out to the power source.  It turns out that this was a good move. Because, when the power came back on, there was a surge and it could have damaged our RV electrical components. So, we definitely would recommend having one.

On the Beach!

Our second night was spent camping on the beach. We were not in the front row, but, hey – we were on the sand! Steps away from rolling waves. It was awesome! The spots here were a little tight also – we could hear and see our neighbor watching Andy Griffith reruns. Also, this is not the campfire-at-night kind of place. But who needs that when so much beauty is right in front of you? We were looking to experience all kinds of camping, and beach camping absolutely ranks as one of our favorites.

Our day was spent enjoying the beautiful beach, and collecting a variety of shells. The shelling here was superb!

We witnessed another fabulous sunset, and it was wonderful to only have to walk a few steps home. Also, there is nothing more relaxing than to hear the sound of the waves crashing to the shore through open windows as you fall asleep.

Another one of those pinch-yourself-moments. Absolutely Incredible.

Why we won’t return.

Two words – Hurricane Ian.

We visited the Red Coconut RV Park in January of 2022. Nine months later, in September, Hurricane Ian, a Category 5 hurricane, hit the western coast of Florida.  It devastated many islands and cities in its path.

Sadly, the Red Coconut RV Park was demolished. According to their website, it is permanently closed.

One of our goals of traveling is to witness and experience natural beauty, but we also understand that we have to respect the forces of nature – for better, or for worse. It saddens us to learn that such a beautiful place, the Red Coconut RV Park, will be no more. Our hearts go out to the permanent residents of the campground, knowing that they have lost their forever homes and most likely, their way of beach life.

A wise person once told us never to miss an opportunity. We are so happy that we had the opportunity to experience beach camping at the Red Coconut RV Park. To witness the camaraderie of the long-term, snow- bird campers and cement in our minds that camping can be a community. To literally call the beach our home, if only for a short time.

Of course, the spots were tight, and it had its quirky aspects. But it was an unforgettable experience that we wouldn’t trade for the world.

Someone else will build something on this valuable ocean front property, probably a high-rise hotel. People will enjoy this stretch of beach once again and make new memories. However, a select group of campers who were lucky enough to visit the Red Coconut RV Park have been blessed with memories that now can never be duplicated. These we will carry with us forever.

A lesson learned, that we never know when we will pass this way again, or if we do, what we will find. Cherish the days, make the memories, and take the opportunities.

As the sun once again dips below the horizon, I raise a glass to another day well-spent, and to the Red Coconut RV Park.

Cheers!

Click on the picture below to hear a permanent resident of the Red Coconut RV Park tell his experience with Hurricane Ian.

Man revisits Red Coconut RV Park, where he used to live before Ian