Rancho Casa Blanca 

Quorum Article - June 2003

Rancho Casa Blanca is an 801-unit gated Recreational Vehicle Park. It occupies 81 acres of fee land on Avenue 44 in Indio, just south of the Landmark Golf Course. It was built in 1984-1985 with the Homeowners Association being incorporated in January of 1986.

 The general neighborhood is North Indio, an area that is currently experiencing a surge in development. The community has vineyards to the east and housing to the west. The Landmark Golf Company is the neighbor to the north and Fantasy Springs Casino is a short distance away, separated only by undeveloped land. Many gated residential communities have been approved for the area by the City of Indio and will be under construction soon.

Several developers were involved in the construction of RCB. Most notable was Lawrence Welk and his development company. Welk was present for the opening of the 18-hole par 3 golf course.

Rancho Casa Blanca has two clubhouses. The main clubhouse houses the management and activity offices, as well as Board and Architectural Committee meeting rooms, sales and rental office, a full kitchen, large ballroom complete with stage, card room, library, billiard room, B-B-Q area, fireplace social area, indoor spa and shower room. The second clubhouse also has a full kitchen, a ballroom and stage, library, sewing room, craft room, tennis club meeting room, laundry room, and a pro shop.

There are four satellite buildings with laundry and shower facilities. Each of the satellite buildings also has a swimming pool and spa. An 18-hole, par three golf course is fully integrated throughout the facility and contains 8 separate lakes or ponds as well as other water features. Other facilities include 4 lighted tennis courts, a shuffleboard building with 4 courts, a 9-hole putting course, a chipping green, and a putting green.

This being an RV park, all of the 801 lots originally consisted of a concrete pad for parking 5^th wheel trailers or RV motorhomes. The lots have a standard utility pedestal, with electric, water, telephone and cable service. However, sixty two percent of the lots are now occupied by structures known as park models. These are 400 square foot homes on wheels that are licensed and designated by the state as recreational vehicles. These homes and the construction of storage sheds on almost every lot have changed the atmosphere of the community since its beginnings as a RV resort and country club. Park models currently sell in the $70,000 range. Lots sell in the $30,000 range.

Sales are brisk in both standard RV lots and park models. A variety of locations are available with many having golf course fairway and lake views. An on-site real estate office handles many of the sales and rentals. Owners also promote the sale or rental of their own lot and accommodations. Rancho Casa Blanca is not a full time living facility.  Most owners live here during the November through April period but there are others who may be absent for only a month or two. 

What owners like most about RCB is that it is an extremely active community. There are a multitude of activities, clubs, trips, social events and dinners. In season there are four special events each month, a dance and three bus trips scheduled. Weekly, there are over 65 ongoing events, including clubs and classes. All this is coordinated by Gary Marshall, the Activity Director, the Activity Council, and a multitude of other owner volunteers, who make it all possible. 

The RV spirit is what makes Rancho Casa Blanca different. The owners are friendly, outgoing people who enjoy an extremely busy social life. Most people could not even begin to keep up with them. Before they arrive at RCB, they, for the most part, have all been very active traveling across this country or several countries in their Recreational Vehicles. Volunteerism is certainly alive and well at RCB Last season the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner included over 340 owners who had volunteered their service in one way or another throughout the season.

Rancho Casa Blanca is a mature community. It is now over 15 years old and some of the infrastructure has reached its life expectancy. RCB has always maintained a sound Reserve Study program overseen by an extremely active Finance Committee, whose volunteer members are retired from all areas of finance. Major projects have never had a negative impact on the Association because they have been wisely planned in advance.

RCB is fortunate to be located east of Washington Street and therefore within the low energy cost Imperial Irrigation District. Last year’s electric crisis in California had little effect here. The Association is affected by fluctuations in energy costs but the Finance Committee has a good track record in anticipating these changes. HOA dues are $205 per month.

A major roof replacement project is scheduled for completion in May. This involves the main clubhouse and one of the satellite building The Board of Directors has worked with AWS Roofing Consultants and Davey Roofing on this project. The specifications not only remove more than half of the original weight from the roof but they retain the tile roofing material that enhances the mission style of the clubhouse building.

The Board of Directors is made up of seven elected volunteers who serve three-year terms. The Board meets twice monthly in season and conducts telephonic Board meetings in the summer as needed. A monthly Open Forum is held for the membership in season.

Committees of the Board are especially active at Rancho Casa Blanca. As with most associations, the Architectural and Landscape Committees are the most active with weekly meetings and then with improvement plan approvals. Other very active committees include Finance, Activities, Nominations, Elections, Communications, Safety, Security, Golf Course, Facilities, Recycling, Rules Review, Enforcement Hearing Panel, and Long Range Planning.

Respecting maintenance of the facilities, RCB is in-house with the entire operation except in the case of major projects. The Maintenance staff has 2 technicians, a pool man and a working supervisor. Janitorial has 2 employees, increasing to 4 in the season. Security has 7 security officers and one working supervisor. Landscape employs 17, including a superintendent, a foreman, an equipment mechanic, a tree trimmer, 2 golf course specialists, a lake man, 8 general landscapers and 2 irrigators.

The Monarch Group of Palm Desert provides management services. Monarch Group on-site employees are general manager, Paul Sellers, and office manager, Judy Mandic.

Paul Sellers comments that this community is different from others because of the diversity of the owners. They come from many backgrounds and professions. They are not here for a place to live, they are here for a place to recreate and have fun. Recreation is a very serious matter at RCB. The owners are here to enjoy life, the beauty of the park, the company of others, and all that goes with a lifestyle where they are free to enjoy the fruits of their labors. They participate in a host of activities too numerous to mention. Nothing stands still here. There are no idle minds and there are no idle people.