Coming Home...to Texas!
The stars at night are big and bright, deep in the heart of winter Texas, and the coming New Year marks a major mass exodus of Winter Texans from their colder climes - in search of warmth, and culture and friendship, and a place to call "home away from home."Late December and early January, in fact, mark the opening of the peak Winter Texas season, as RV parks and resorts from Fredericksburg to Brownsville fill to over capacity and are a bustle of activity as 60,000-plus new visitors arrive in the closing days of the old year.
And the excitement for the Texas locals is just about as great as it is for the new arrivals. In addition to welcoming back a large number of familiar faces to their communities, the Winter Texas season is an important economic development in many resort and retirement-oriented communities in Texas. Interaction and cultural exchange with Winter Texans is largely viewed as a positive and welcome past time by most of the natives.
Regardless for how long they plan to stay or where it is in Texas they choose to go, Winter Texans seem to favor the week between Christmas and New Year's as one of their favorite times to relocate to Lone Star destinations.
And how good will the 2003 season be? Even the experts can't seem to agree whether there has been a decline or just stale growth in the overall Winter Texan market over the last couple of years. But most agree this year may prove slightly slower because of current world events and the continued sagging national economy. Others might argue the economy will have nominal effect on the Winter Texan community as many own second homes or RV lots in Texas. A few might argue a sagging economy could even encourage a few Winter Texans to extend their visit to the Sunbelt where the cost of living is generally lower than in their Midwest hometowns.
Time, of course, will be the true test. But you can bet - as always - there are thousands that have or will be making the annual trip South to enjoy another winter under the sun.
If you're headed to Texas this holiday season, we wish you safe traveling, and we look forward to your return.
