Since 1999, Mathan and Jill Holt have been the owners of University Station RV Resort. Currently, the establishment offers a total of 800 RV sites for visitors to occupy, among which are a mix of pull-through and back-in spaces. Several on-site pastimes are also supplied, namely bingo, cornhole, and a playground area, to name a few. Kim, the manager, notes that the property is "well known for being a football tailgating park" in Auburn. During college football season from August to September, the business experiences an influx of visitors who come to attend sporting events, primarily football games held at nearby Auburn University. With the goal of facilitating access to these events, the owners provide a shuttle service that takes people to and from the nearby stadium.
Encompassing nearly 50 acres of land in eastern Alabama, University Station RV Resort is found in the city of Auburn. The property has 800 RV sites available for visitors to reserve, all of which are equipped with full hookups, including water, sewage, and 30/50 amp electricity. For those who do not have an RV, University Station RV Resort also has a few fully furnished cottages that can accommodate occupants. In addition to the RV spaces and cabins, guests have access to an on-site convenience store, laundry facility, community center, two bathhouses that contain showers, and the property's restaurant, which is called Tailgate Grill.
According to Kim, the manager of University Station RV Resort, one of the most unique aspects of the establishment is that it is known for being a "football tailgating park." In other words, Kim says that "people tend to associate this property with football season." As a reflection of this, the RV resort features a jumbotron where the owners broadcast Auburn's football games every Saturday during football season for visitors to enjoy. Moreover, University Station RV Resort offers a shuttle service that can transport people to and from the football stadium throughout the season. This shuttle service is included with every patron's stay. Kim notes that the business provides other services aside from the shuttles, which are as follows: golf cart rentals, on-site security assistance, first aid, and RV maintenance.
The majority of visitors to the establishment are primarily drawn to the college football games that take place in Auburn each year, however, several other notable attractions can be found in the vicinity of University Station RV Resort. About a 15-minute drive southeast of the property is Chewacla State Park, an outdoor recreational site that Kim often recommends to visitors. Kim additionally suggests that guests visit a "nationally known golf course" that is located in fairly close proximity. The city of Auburn also contains a performing arts center that arranges concerts and live entertainment. Beyond the previously listed attractions that could pique the interest of those staying at University Station RV Resort, a diverse range of restaurants are found in the city as well. Three specific dining options that Kim recommends are Big Mike's Steakhouse, Acre, and Toomer's Drugs, the latter of which is "known for its lemonade," as reported by Kim.
As University Station RV Resort is open year-round, the property typically experiences its busiest time of operation during football season from mid-August to mid-September. College baseball, football, and soccer games are a significant draw for tourism, and many of those who stay at the establishment are visiting Auburn to attend these sports events. The RV resort itself also hosts a few gatherings seasonally, including outdoor concerts on Friday nights, bonfires on Friday and Saturday evenings, and occasionally food trucks. During some holidays, the RV park offers activities; for example, Trick-or-Treating takes place at the business during Halloween. Kim, the manager of University Station RV Resort, comments on these on-site events, saying, "It's a community out here, and we really try to entertain [visitors]." A number of reviews from previous guests of the property also mention the activities that are held at the RV resort as one former patron said, "The Friday night band and fireworks were an incredible addition to the weekend. It made for a great night of southern hospitality and fun. It was especially nice how clean the bathhouse was!"
Kim says that she, Mathan, and Jill Holt—the owners of the RV park—want to help their guests feel "like they're a member of the family." She remarks, "Customer service is our number one goal." In an effort to provide this experience to their occupants, Mathan frequently stops by each patron's site to converse and meet with them. Furthermore, the staff greets visitors upon their arrival and escorts them to the site they will be staying at. Kim believes "that one-on-one relationship is what we're known for."
The owners of University Station RV Resort want to "keep the park very family oriented." On account of this, a few policies are implemented at the resort that principally involves "respect[ing] others, the park, and the sites," according to Kim. Long-term guests are responsible for keeping the grass of their RV site mowed during football season. Every night, quiet time is enforced from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., and all site occupants are expected to keep noise to a minimum during these hours. With regard to smoking, visitors are prohibited from doing so inside the facilities on the premises. It should also be noted that people are welcome to bring their pets to the property. For the safety of their patrons, the owners have off-duty police officers and deputies drive around the premises.
Mathan Holt, one of the owners of University Station RV Resort, was formerly in the underground construction industry prior to owning the RV park. He and his wife, Jill Holt—the other owner of the business—built the RV park in 1999 with the intent to create a place "for football tailgating," as reported by the manager of the establishment, Kim. She further explains that Mathan "laid the groundwork for every RV space." The site on which University Station RV Resort is located was chosen by Mathan due to his extensive history with the city of Auburn, as he had spent much of his life a couple of miles down the road from the property where he formerly resided. "He lived here his whole life" and is fairly familiar with the area, Kim says. Since becoming the manager of the park, Kim has come to find that her favorite part of her job is "meeting the people." She observes that "people are happy when they're here because they're here for a fun reason."
Since first acquiring the acreage, Mathan and Jill Holt have made a few updates to the establishment. The main roads that wind throughout the RV park were previously gravel paths that have now been paved. A few renovations were made to the cottage units as well. As for future plans, the owners hope to add a playground area and potentially provide more sites or cottages, depending on if they can expand their acreage.
3076 Alabama 14
Auburn, Alabama 36832
United States
Campground
Mathan and Jill Holt
