A new RV park featuring over 200 lots is set to be developed on a property in Marion County that currently houses one of the area’s only operational card rooms and outdoor pickleball courts.
The project, called Track and Card RV Park, was part of a waiver request discussed during a recent meeting of the Marion County Development Review Committee.
Property owner Marion Gaming Management, LLC, and managing partner Tony Mendola plan to develop approximately 218 RV lots on the 68.79-acre site along U.S. Highway 301, near the border of Marion and Sumter counties.
The project, listed under the name “Mendola RV” in planning documents, will be located northwest of the existing card room and other facilities.
Lot sizes are expected to range between 2,400 and 4,000 square feet, with select corner lots reaching around 5,000 square feet.
According to a report by Ocala-News, the site was previously rezoned to accommodate significant expansion, including the addition of new amenities.
Since then, the property has introduced outdoor pickleball courts, and Oxford Downs has remained one of only two card rooms in Marion County.
The area’s gaming landscape shifted in late 2023 when Ocala Bets opened, replacing the former Ocala Gainesville Poker and Jai Alai facility.
As part of the latest waiver request, the developer is seeking approval to begin site work “prior to plan approval” at the “developer’s risk.”
This could allow for an accelerated timeline, potentially benefiting both the project’s stakeholders and the local economy by expediting the arrival of new accommodations for RV travelers.
For RV park operators and investors, the development highlights ongoing demand for expanded RV infrastructure in areas with established attractions.
The combination of gaming, recreational amenities, and RV accommodations may present new business opportunities in mixed-use hospitality developments, particularly in regions where zoning allows for diversified entertainment offerings.