Pharr RV park residents give thanks

The estimated 200 Winter Texans at Paradise Park in Pharr had a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

They gathered in the RV park’s large activities hall yesterday and said grace before their afternoon meal, some of them enjoying their 30th Thanksgiving Day feast there.

They gave thanks for their warm community and their health. They were also grateful for ending up at Paradise Park in the Rio Grande Valley — a retirement spot they said they’d rather be than anywhere else in the country.

Anita Treble, 89, originally from Peoria, Ill., has lived here year-round for the past 33 years. When she and her husband began looking for a winter vacationing spot, they originally visited Florida and Arizona.

“In Florida the people were very unfriendly. Their noses were so high it’s a wonder they didn’t drown when it rained,” Treble said, a ruby, multi-colored turkey pendant hanging from her neck. “And in Arizona you cooked during the day and froze at night. We were destined to be here. Destined to be in Paradise.”

The RV park community moved to its new grounds at 301 E. Hall Acres Rd. in 2002 after 29 years at its previous location on South Jackson Road and West Kelly Avenue.

Some of the longest-standing park residents said they have been holding a Thanksgiving Day dinner every year there for as long as they can remember.

“We’ve been coming down here 30 years for the holidays,” said Al Hayes, an Iowa native and World War II veteran, referring to him and his wife of 63 years. “These are our friends that we don’t have anymore back home.”

The large activity hall was filled with at least a dozen tables. Each table of 16 or so friends chipped in to buy a turkey and then coordinated whatever else they would make for the rest of the table, said Pat Regan, a Dubuque, Iowa, native.

After finishing off a plate of turkey and stuffing, Regan said he and his wife, Stella, have enjoyed the park most of all because of the kindness of the people there.

“My wife broke her leg in January and I had to tell everybody to stop bringing so much food. My fridge was full!” said Regan, a “full-timer,” as he called himself, who moved here permanently five years ago. “It’s a wonderful community.”

The South Texas fall and winter seasons aren’t too bad, either, he said.

Regan drove up to Nebraska recently to see his daughter and was reminded of those cold, Midwestern autumn days.

“The weather in Nebraska in October…,” he mused, without so much of a hint of nostalgia. “I told my wife, ‘My little car is crying! It wants to go back home!'"

Nick Pipitone covers McAllen, PSJA, the Mid-Valley and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.