‘WE’RE FULL’: Canadian snowbirds looking to South Okanagan are out of luck

South Okanagan RV parks are seeing increased demand but little room to accommodate Canadian snowbirds looking for winter lodging north of the 49th parallel.

The continuing closure of the Canada – U.S. border means many Canadians who normally drive their RVs to points south around this time of year no longer have that option.

Destination Osoyoos executive director Kelly Glazer says there's no room.

“We’re full. The snowbirds we normally have book a year in advance, so any leftover space was filled some time ago,” she says, although there are a few spaces available for a couple of weeks at a time only. “Generally speaking, the multiple-month stays are fully booked at all of our properties including our campsites."

Glazer says Destination Osoyoos intends to promote some shorter time frames but when it comes to multiple month stays, “it’s very, very limited availability.”

Holiday Hills Resort owner Dan Selles says he’s seen a 100 per cent increase in calls and interest for sites at his RV park, located just south of Penticton.

“People are calling all the time, but we don’t have any space as most of our rentals are full time, year round,” he says.

— This story was originally published at 7 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020.

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