Oceans RV Resort in Holly Ridge is a new luxury campground within easy reach of the Topsail beaches.
The world of RVing has changed in many ways since the pandemic and so has the landscape of campgrounds across the country. As RV ownership continues to increase and more people are choosing to travel and camp in their recreational vehicles, luxury RV resorts are raising the bar on outdoor vacations.
Oceans RV Resort, a brand-new luxury RV resort in Holly Ridge, provides visitors and local camping enthusiasts with a fresh, first-class campground experience unlike anything else in the area.
A project of real estate firm Evolve Companies, Oceans RV Resort opened in January 2023 after two years of planning and construction. The origin of the resort’s concept stemmed from the surge in demand for RVs post-pandemic as well as a demographical shift as younger generations began embracing the RV lifestyle.
“There’s been a recent boom since COVID in the RV industry, which is how the idea sparked,” says Evolve Companies Development Manager Michael Buckland. “We saw it as a way to do something different that’s outside our wheelhouse, but in an industry with a lot of upsides that could add another arm to our professional portfolio.”
Oceans RV is only 5 miles from Surf City and 10 miles from Topsail Beach, making it the perfect coastal vacation spot for ocean lovers. The 30-acre park has more than 200 RV sites and 10 premium cabins available to rent. Each site has a firepit, a tree and a picnic table, and the entire resort is surrounded by woods with a restaurant within walking distance.
The resort’s high-end amenities include a heated swimming pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a dog park and dog wash station, two pickleball courts, a 5-hole putting green, a children’s playground, a basketball hoop and golf cart rentals. Other convenient features include a clubhouse with an onsite bar and fireplace, laundry facilities and a general store offering an array of RV necessities, snacks, drinks, dog treats and cleaning supplies.
“We believe the quality of construction and amenity package is first class,” Buckland says. “There is not another RV park with park models, a pool and an amenity center that compares to the standard we’ve set at Oceans. When you package that with its location being less than 5 miles from the Surf City Bridge, it provides a way for visitors to stay that are not otherwise available nearby.”
With more than a decade of experience in the RV industry, General Manager Joel Beck’s primary focus is on Ocean RV’s guest experience. Having worked in both the Adirondack Mountains and the Pocono Mountains before moving to the Carolina coast to help open the park, he understands the importance of building relationships with visitors while overseeing the campground and all daily operations.
“We’re always trying to provide an exceptional adventure and vacation for our guests,” Beck says. “We have an activities director who offers activities throughout the week like arts and crafts, tie dying, pool parties, bands and music at the pool, and we sometimes have food trucks
on site.”
Oceans RV Resort is open year-round, something Beck believes makes the resort an ideal destination for not only vacationers, but also people visiting the Topsail area for short-term work assignments. He says the park also sees a lot of weekend visitors, weekly guests and some longer-term seasonal stay guests. But its biggest draw is families.
“We’re well suited for all kinds of guests, but we definitely see more family-oriented vacationers,” Beck says. “I think the thing that makes us stand out is our availability as an RV resort as opposed to full-time campground living. We offer a great opportunity for people to come and vacation here because that is what the community needed.”
“There aren’t many hotel options if you want to visit Surf City,” Buckland agrees. “Our cabins even allow for those without an RV to still enjoy the amenities that come with an RV park. This is a great alternative for those with smaller parties who don’t want to rent an entire home on Airbnb.”
As Oceans RV completes final additions to its park models, security gate and golf cart barn, Beck and his staff are busy making sure the resort’s amenities provide guests with everything they need to enjoy their vacation. In addition, the park continues to add more events to its activity calendar, including many holiday weekend celebrations throughout the year.
Wanting to focus on the community as well, Beck and his team are working to grow their outdoor events and find ways to give back to the local community. Resort staff and guests recently participated in a beach cleanup after the busy Fourth of July weekend, with other similar events to come.
“Our vision is that the park will create a space for families and friends to come together to relax and have fun,” Buckland says. “We want the park to be a memorable experience and for folks who visit to remember us for our genuine hospitality and an enjoyable stay.”
Want to camp?
Oceans RV Resort
730 E. Ocean Road, Holly Ridge
(910) 778-2839
oceansrvresort.com
Photography by Matt Ray
