TOWER— It’s been one step forward, one step back lately for Dave Rose and his not-yet-completed Tower RV Resort on the East Two River— and the frustration among would-be residents of the park has been building.
A year and a half ago, it seemed that Rose’s seven-year battle to create his RV park was finally nearing its end. He had sewer lines installed and water lines set to go in as well. After final landscaping, he expected to be officially open in spring of 2023 at that was the story he told prospective buyers of the 32 lots he was creating within the roughly five-acre park.
But, as has often been the case with Rose since he began sinking his life savings into the project, things have not always gone according to plan.
While Rose had the sewer lines installed almost two years ago, they remain unconnected from the city’s main line that will eventually serve as the conduit for the park’s effluent. The system actually was connected, for a time, but Rose’s contractor connected it in error and the city later ordered it disconnected and capped. Since then, it turned out the sewer line had a leak, which has taken months to try to locate.
“Here’s the truth. The 100 percent King James, Gideon Bible version of it,” said Rose. “We’ve had multiple contractors in to look for the leak but they can’t locate it.”
He now believes he’s pinpointed the leak and that repairs should be made within days. Then, he’ll need to get the system pressure tested and if it passes, he’ll be one step closer to getting the certificate of occupancy he needs to finally open the park to its would-be residents, many of whom plunked down more than $30,000 two or three years ago on the promise the park would be open by the spring of 2023. Now, with barely two months remaining in the summer of 2024, Rose acknowledges everyone’s patience is wearing thin.
So far, he said he’s only had to refund the sale price of one lot. And given the demand for RV spaces, he said he was able to resell the site for considerably more than the amount he had to refund the previous buyers. Rose said the money he’s taken in from buyers is sitting in an escrow account and he said he’s offered to refund money from other impatient buyers. “I’ve said to them, I don’t want no hard feelings. “I’m willing to give them their money back.”
John Holm, who bought one of the RV lots from Rose two years ago, said he’s not upset over the delays, although he’s heard from others who don’t feel that way. “I know there are a lot of people who are very upset,” he said. “It was supposed to be done three years ago.”
Holm said he and his wife Amy bought it on a whim after selling their house on Lake Vermilion a few years ago. They had already owned a winter residence in Florida and figured they could put an RV on the lot at Rose’s park and spend summers there. They’ve changed their plans since and bought another home on the lake instead.
“Knowing Dave like I did, I wasn’t expecting too much and I pretty much got what I expected.”
Even so, assuming Rose finally gets his park open, Holm’s lot will likely be worth considerably more than he paid for it. And, according to Rose, that’s one of the factors that’s prompted some of Rose’s buyers to wait out the delays. Given that he was able to resell the one lot he had to take back for considerably more money, he said some of his buyers have accused him of delaying the project on purpose in hopes that some of the early buyers take a refund, allowing Rose to sell the lots again for an even bigger payday.
Rose said that’s not his plan and that he wants to see the project completed as badly as anyone. “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it,” he said.
City eager for completion
Prospective residents of the park aren’t the only ones hoping Rose can finally bring his project to completion. “We want him to get it done, too,” said Tower Clerk-Treasurer Michael Schultz. He said the city’s biggest fear is that Rose could be sued, which could leave the project uncompleted, potentially for years.
While previous city administrations erected roadblocks to Rose’s project, that’s not the case currently, said Schultz. “We’re definitely not putting any brakes on it at this point,” he said. “We’re basically a thumbs up, here. We just need it to be done right.”
The Timberjay contacted both state inspectors involved with Rose’s project. Neither was willing to answer questions about the project.