After a decade of perseverance and investment, Hidden Springs RV Resort finally opened its doors, marking a significant milestone for owners Jon and Nicole Graf.
The couple’s journey to transform their 24.5-acre family land into a premier RV destination experienced challenges, from financial hurdles to zoning issues and a global pandemic.
Hidden Springs RV Resort offers a variety of camping options, accommodating both RVs and tents. Guests can enjoy numerous amenities, including a pool and spa, a clubhouse featuring a market and game room, on-site laundry facilities, and fire pits.
“We are not deep pockets. We’re just a small family business trying to make this project and this dream work,” Nicole explained, reflecting on their challenging path. According to an article published by 2KUTV, Jon added, “We heard a lot of no’s, dozens of no’s. And then finally came some possibility.”
The Grafs’ vision for Hidden Springs faced initial resistance from the local community due to stereotypes associated with mobile home parks.
Jon elaborated on the misconceptions they encountered: “When we came in as an RV resort, all they could picture in their mind was a mobile home park and full-time residents. A lot of times there is chaos that comes with that.”
Overcoming these preconceptions required extensive education and dialogue with city officials and residents. “There was a lot of educating on our part and there were still some people who weren’t happy about it, but we worked through it,” Jon said.
Chris Hart, the mayor of Ivins, acknowledged the challenge of changing perceptions: “It’s just the idea that something on wheels is going to be coming here and parking. It conjures up images that are unsavory for some.”
However, Hart saw the potential in the Grafs’ project and offered his support where possible. “I can’t promote something that doesn’t fall within the zoning ordinance,” he stated, “But, I felt like this really did and it was something that really fit in our city.”
Throughout the approval process, Jon emphasized the nature of their future clientele to city officials. Despite the setbacks, the Grafs persevered.
As Hidden Springs begins operations, Jon believes the resort offers something truly special. “I think there is a spirit about it. When you come here, you feel it,” he said.
