By Christina Nellemann

Our idea of romance: My husband and I spent our honeymoon in a park model at the White Rock Resort in Smith River, California.

When we first drove by the the resort on a previous trip to the coast, my husband jammed on the brakes of the car and exclaimed “Look at the tiny houses!” We were enamored of them. We have since spent several car camping trips relaxing at our favorite resorts, and we’ve realized that a house the size of a park model is all we really need.

They are a perfect size for two or three people and usually contain a kitchen, living room, loft space, master bedroom and one bath. They have all the modern conveniences, and with the construction of porches and decks, a park model offers a generous use of outdoor space.

They are called park models because they can be parked anywhere. They are a maximum of 400 square feet under federal guidelines and are not designated as homes, but as recreational vehicles. Rather than paying property taxes on the park model, an owner will pay annual licensing and registration fees.

White Rock Resort offers park models for nightly stays or vacation rentals. The location is spectacular, with several of the cabins right on the edge of the cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the private beach below. Each cabin has a deck or covered porch and many have outdoor hot tubs.

Another of our favorite park model resorts is Whaleshead Beach Resort which is located just north of Brookings, Oregon. Even though the basic park model is under 500 square feet, Whaleshead has shown how many different ways a park model can be upgraded and added on to. Many include garages and guest cabins.

Each of the resorts periodically have park models for sale. When you purchase the model, you own the home, but have to lease the resort land. The price for the lease usually runs around $400 a month. Many of them are sold as furnished.

These type of park model resorts offer an affordable way to live in some of the most beautiful places, whether for a vacation or your permanent home.

New York Times: A Resort Cottage to Go

If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to our feed