Open for business: Some Winter Texans returning; economy keeps others up north

They return every year, flocking south in droves to flee the northern winter and spending trailer loads of cash along the way.

The local economy thrives on the Winter Texans and restaurants, retailers and the tourism industry herald their arrival.

But since the snowbirds' migration to warmer climates is banked on savings, pensions and other investments that have also turned cold in recent weeks, area businesses are left to wonder if fewer will return.

RV park operators say it's too early to tell if the economic woes will impact the Winter Texan population. Some parks are fully booked while others are below average.

At the Mission Bell RV Resort, almost all of the open sites are booked.

"This is going to be our best year ever," said Wally Olejnik, general manager for the Mission Bell RV Resort. "We're going to be full, I'm elated."

Still, Winter Texans have already begun canceling their reservations at other parks. The volatility in the markets has particularly impacted retirees, many of whom have investments such as 401(k)s that have suffered significant losses as the stock market dropped.

Valena Brink, owner of the Seven Oaks RV Park in Mission, said that as the economy worsened, cancellations rose among people who had booked their reservation a year ago.

"I've noticed no difference in reservations until this year," said Brink, who has owned the park for eight years. "And I'm getting cancellations."

Every year, more than about 64,000 Winter Texans descend on the Valley, spending an estimated $606.7 million, according to a study conducted by University of Texas Pan-American Professor Penny Simpson.

They also spend cash across the border on doctors, medications and shopping.

Yet while some news was dire, almost everyone pointed out a host of factors that could encourage Winter Texans to return this year. As oil prices have declined, so has the price per gallon of gas.

And the cost of living in the Valley is much cheaper than many other places in the country, so it could be easier to weather a bad economy here than at their permanent homes, said R.D. King, a Winter Texan from Michigan.

Richard Burton, a Winter Texan from Missouri, said some of his friends are not returning this year. Though gas is cheaper today, it might increase tomorrow and make pulling a trailer far too expensive.

Unlike many Winter Texans, Burton owns the property where his trailer sits and leaves it here year round. If he didn't, he might have not even come down this year, he said.

"I can understand, though, why a lot of people are concerned," Burton said.

At the Trade Winds RV Park in Mission, Bill and Mary Law drove a golf cart up the park's desolate main street earlier this week. As some of the first Winter Texans to return this season, the couple from Michigan has been asked to pick people up from the airport.

All their friends at the park have weathered the economic turmoil and are expected to return, Mary Law said.

"Everyone is doing fine," she said. "Even my sister should be here in two weeks."

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Sean Gaffney covers business, the economy and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4434.