Hundreds of RV spots inside Isla Blanca Park are still a work in progress.

In a few weeks, Cameron County parks are opening their reservations for a small number of spots for the winter season.

Work is currently underway at the RV area inside Isla Blanca Park. While there are still RVs at the park, hundreds of spots have been out of the picture.

That's sent some longtime RVers elsewhere and some of their business along with them.

In a few weeks the wait begins to reserve a spot at Isla Blanca Park for the winter season. As Frank Ricci explains, getting the spot he wanted was never a sure thing.

"Basically, it's like a land rush. You have to be the first onsite in order to get the spot that you want," Ricci said.

He's been staying at county parks for a few years. To make sure he gets a spot, Ricci would have his computer ready, watch the clock and try to claim his spot before someone else did.

RELATED STORY: RV site at Isla Blanca Park to close for renovations

"It's a great spot, especially Andy Bowie. You put your trailer out there and you're on the beach," Ricci said.

But then the rush stopped. Around 577 RV sites inside Isla Blanca closed last October for a major renovation project.

Ricci and hundreds of others had to find somewhere else to stay. But Ricci says he didn't just lose his spot in the park.

"Oh, I was disappointed not only for that, but also as a business owner, knowing that we were going to have to grin and bear it," Ricci said.

A few miles away, Ricci started losing customers too. He's the owner of Rockin' Cigar Bar and Grill on the north end of South Padre Island.

He says with the majority of Isla Blanca Park closed, Winter Texans needed to find another place to park their RVs.

Some stayed nearby, others didn't come at all.

"Oh, it affects sales quite a bit. I mean, we were down a lot from one year to the next, not only summer, but also the winter time with the Winter Texans," Ricci said.

Channel 5 News spoke with Cameron County Parks and Recreation about the upgrades that started last year.

"We're doing a major infrastructure improvement project to the RV sites that are located inside of the gate. There's about 577 RV sites that we're upgrading the electrical, the water and sewer. So those are temporarily closed until the project is completed," Cameron County Parks and Recreation Director Joe Vega said.

Officials said last year the spots should reopen for the summer 2027 season.

For now, there are a handful of spots available for the winter season right outside the park.

"It's going to go by quick because we only have 43 sites available right now outside the park. It's important that as soon as the reservations open up that you're there on time, because those reservations they get booked very, very quick," Vega said.

Ricci said he doesn't plan to try and reserve this year. As an RVer, he's already found somewhere else to stay.

But as a business owner, from behind the bar, he'll be waiting for the people who do get a spot.

"We're looking forward to seeing all the Winter Texans' faces again," Ricci said.

Online winter reservations open September 15; phone and in-person reservations start the next morning.

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