A Globe mainstay for more than 30 years, RV Park rebuilds after the floods

“In 1986, when it was built, we understand that the codes were different than they are today, understandably,” he says. “So we've been working closely with the city and getting every piece of information we can to make sure we cross our T's, dot our I's, do it exactly how they would see fit.””

Gila County RV Park has served as a reliable lodging option for travelers and contractors in Globe-Miami since 1986, but September’s destructive floods left the family business facing its greatest challenge yet.

Founded by Louis Monarrez and located near Pinal Creek on the outskirts of downtown Globe, the RV park was typically full before last fall’s storms, according to co-owner Mark Demroo. The floods washed out much of the property’s lower level, destroying utilities, RV spaces and a century-old retaining wall.

“This was a really hard moment for the family, a really hard moment for grandma,” Demroo says. “She's been really strong to pick herself up and say, ‘hey, you know, we're going to keep going.’”

Demroo is one of the owners and directors of the park, which remains in the Monarrez family. His wife is Monarrez’s granddaughter, and the couple moved to Globe to help carry on the business.

Over the years, the park grew to include 50 RV spaces across its upper and lower levels, offering full hookups, laundry and dump services. In the 1990s, the family added batting cages as a recreational amenity for the community.

The batting cages, and much of the lower level, were wiped out during the flooding. Demroo said the storm destroyed all utilities on the lower level, swept away batting cage equipment and destroyed the wall between the lower level of the park and the adjacent creek bed that had been in place for more than 100 years.

The park’s upper level was spared and is currently housing about 30 people. The lower level, however, remains empty.

“We're not generating any revenue, and it's definitely a hemorrhage,” Demroo says. “So we're doing everything in our power to get this up and running and going.”

Recovery is happening in stages. Demroo says immediate priorities include restoring electricity and reopening 10 RV spaces that were not physically damaged, aside from utility hookups. Another large project is rebuilding the retaining wall.

“In 1986, when it was built, we understand that the codes were different than they are today, understandably,” he says. “So we've been working closely with the city and getting every piece of information we can to make sure we cross our T's, dot our I's, do it exactly how they would see fit.”

The original wall was constructed over many years in multiple concrete pours, he explains, which contributed to weaknesses and failure points. This time, he’s planning a single-pour concrete wall with reinforcement, so it will be much stronger.

Demroo credits the City of Globe for its support and cooperation throughout the rebuilding process.

“The city has been great,” he says. “They're communicating with us.They're telling us what they need from us and we're working closely with them to make sure we do everything exactly how they would see fit.”

If permitting, financing and construction stay on track, Demroo says he hopes the park can be fully operational again within six months of the wall’s completion.

Once restored, Gila RV Park would again help meet lodging needs during peak times, particularly when hotels are full or when mining-related projects bring an influx of workers to the area.

“Whenever the mine shuts down or has work going on, we work closely with them and partner up to make sure their contractors can have a place to stay when they're here to keep the economy going in the area,” he says. 

The park has historically attracted contractors, retirees and seasonal visitors, including international travelers.

“We get, surprisingly, quite a bit of those retirees,” Demroo says. “Depending on the time of year, there's bicycle runs, and we have people from all over the world that come and stay with us, from as far as Germany.”

Demroo produces forecasts in his own line of work, and he estimates the RV park contributes roughly $65,000 per month in spending at local restaurants alone. He describes the figure as conservative, noting it does not include spending on supplies, retail or families traveling together.

As the family works to rebuild, Demroo says support from the community has been critical. He credits the City of Globe, along with Shelby Barrowdale of Gila Monster Construction LLC and DJ’s Companies Inc., for their assistance.

“I think the core of the story for us is how grateful we really are,” he says. “The city and the townsfolk, friends and family have gathered around us.”