'Luxury' RV park planned in Carroll

HILLSVILLE — A development company called Morris International has plans to build a luxury recreational vehicle resort adjacent to the New River Trail State Park in the Gambetta section of Carroll County.
The plans for the Chestnut Creek resort call for a total of 30 RV sites in two phases, just off Gambetta Road., according to information available on the company's Web site, morrisinternationalproperties.com.

CHESTNUT CREEK LUXURY RV RESORT An artist's concept drawing of the proposed park shows the left and upper boundary as Gambetta Road, and Chestnut Creek and the New River Trail running along the lower border.

The gated development would sport a general store, park and picnic pavilion, 12 cabins, an equestrian barn and pasture across Chestnut Creek and access to the New River Trail, according to a conceptual drawing.
It also shows a strip of trees between the RV spaces and the creek and the cabins appear to be tucked into the woods.
The website has a video that shows company proprietor Sid Morris parked on the undeveloped Chestnut Creek site. "This is one of the most special places I've found to park a luxury RV," he says on video. "It's nature at it's finest — I don't think there's another RV resort in America that can challenge it."
Developers are now taking reservations for phase one of Chestnut Creek, limiting this round to only 10 of the 30 planned lots, according to information on the Web site.
A draft of the bylaws on Chestnut Creek says that lots will be sold as condominiums, as allowed by Virginia law.
It notes that participation will be limited to class A motor coaches. The Motor Home Guide website specifies that luxury RVs typically range from 34 to 45 feet long, weigh 22,000 to 59,000 pounds and cost $140,000 to $2.5 million, according to www.khulsey.com/rv_info/rv_mfg_class-a_luxury.html.
Morris International offers what it describes as unique properties on its Web site.
"Morris International's expertise ranges from the design, development and management to the creation, sales and marketing of unique resort properties," it says. "For over 38 years Morris International has offered its clients a full range of professional expertise, including strategic planning, project development, marketing and advertising, media planning, public relations, and sales and marketing. We know how to make big ideas happen!"
Morris International's marketing clients have included Charlotte Motor Speedway and many well-known companies that sponsor NASCAR events and racers.
The company website lists its involvement with the Lake Norman Company in Davidson, N.C., which offers commercial property on the lake.
Bald Rock Ridge in the Elk Creek community of Grayson County, near Jefferson National Forest, is also listed among the company's commercial property.
Morris International recently petitioned the Carroll County Planning Commission for a lot size variance for the Chestnut Creek Luxury RV Resort.
The public hearing is one of three scheduled for July 15 at 7 p.m. before the planning commission.
Calls to company representatives were not returned in time for publication in this article.