Albuquerque residents enjoyed their first official holiday free of COVID-19-related restrictions since the pandemic hit as the state fully reopened for the Fourth of July weekend.
One area attraction is Enchanted Trails RV Park and Trading Post, which got back to fully operational business as usual for the first time in more than a year.
“We were forced to completely alter the way we do business, the hours we were open and the type of customers we took in,” Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post President Vickie Ashcraft told the New Mexico Sun about operating during the pandemic. “Customers couldn't come in the building. We actively pursued essential workers because we were allowed to host them.”
Established in the 1940s as a trading post on historic Route 66, Enchanted Trails is located on Albuquerque's West Side, overlooking the city and Sandia Mountains. Consisting of 135 sites, the park offers pull-thru sites, 30- and 50-amp hook-ups, free Wi-Fi, propane, RV supplies, a spacious laundry, heated pool, hot tub and a large gift shop.
“Pre COVID-19, we had European tour groups regularly stop in because of our location and history on Route 66,” Ashcraft said. “Unfortunately, they haven't been able to return, but a group of 67 motorcycles stopped in last week. It was the first tour we'd seen since March 2020. I felt bad for them because it was 100 degrees, but I couldn't stop grinning at the sight of them.”
One of the few silver linings of the pandemic was the positive impact it had on a handful of industries, and the recreational-vehicle retail industry was one of them for obvious reasons. Ashcraft expects her business to start feeling the effects of that increase for a while.
“RV Sales increased by 700% during COVID, so we expect we will be quite busy for some time," she said.
