Last time you were here, eating a plate of nachos on the balcony overlooking the desert sunset, did you wonder, in between bites, what it would be like to own this view?
To answer your question with a blog post, I interviewed two of Arcadia’s homeowners who have been with us for a few years. Renee owns villa #31 “Arcade Paradise” and Merilee owns villa #17 “Enchanted Poolside Getaway”.
What city/state do you live in full time?
Renee: San Diego, California
Merilee: Woodland Hills, Utah
How did you find out about Arcadia Resort?
Renee: We were looking to purchase a second home in St. George and our realtor suggested Arcadia Resort.
Merilee: Our daughter’s friend works with Red Rock Real Estate (Arcadia’s Partner) and we heard from her how nice it was, so we checked it out and it was perfect for us!
Have you worked with either of the Arcadia Realtors?
Renee: Dave has been our go-to realtor this whole time. He has been so helpful.
Merilee: Yes, Dave. Everything has been very smooth and timely.
What was it about Arcadia that made you decide to purchase a home here?
Renee: The amenities there just seemed to be sort of a cut above all of the other vacation rental villages. It was also better quality construction. We could trust the builder wasn’t cutting corners. I believe bought the last house in Phase One, so we’ve been here since 2019.
Merilee: We loved the location, floor plan, and amenities. We selected our lot and house plan, so it’s just exactly where & how we planned it to be. We absolutely love it !!!
Tell us about the on-site management. Do you like the hands-off experience?
Renee: Although I am probably an exception in that I actually enjoy vacation rental property management, I have to say that I truly appreciate where Arcadia is right now in their management of our personal property and the resort property, and it’s a pleasure to collaborate with their team. From day one Arcadia’s commitment to a high standard of excellence has helped them navigate to the great management staff they have today. I have felt especially supported by Taylor over reservations and Kaci over housekeeping. It has been a pleasure working together with them to maximize our guest experiences at Arcadia. I always look forward to contacting any of the staff at Arcadia. Everyone is always very professional and helpful.
Merilee: It has been great for us. We have really liked how Taylor (Arcadia’s Director of Reservations) has been willing to help us with our reservation changes. She’s been so helpful & nice to help us always. The management staff was also kind, helpful, & patient teaching our guests how to use the Ebikes when we rented then on several occasions. On another occasion your staff helped me arrange for Tuacahn tickets and I was so very appreciative.
What do you have to say about the amenities?
Renee: We have been very pleased with the amenities and will tell anyone who asks that we consider Arcadia to have the best resort amenities around. We’ve noticed that the amenities are well maintained, which gives us a lot of confidence in the future of the resort. As earlier buyers, we have been very happy to see that promised future amenities are happening as planned and have even been expanded to include more extras. This speaks to the integrity of the project.
Merilee: We absolutely love them !!! Our family and guests can’t wait til their next trip there.
What are some perks in owning a villa?
Renee: It’s a fantastic place to gather with family and friends. Between the great resort amenities and the amble beds, bathrooms, and dining for a crowd, there’s no better place for an extended family reunion.
Merilee: We love that we don’t have to clean it and that it looks wonderful upon each arrival. We also love the beautiful resort, poolside cafe, lazy river & slides, fun activities in the clubhouse, and the awesome gym. We also enjoy not having to maintain a pool or yard. Yes, we do love the income and yes, we love to stay there ourselves and try to often.
What are some things you’d like first time Arcadia homeowners to know?
Renee: I think it helps all the owners when we can contact staff if we notice things that might be missed in cleanliness or whatever. If we can talk in a productive and professional tone about things that might improve the resort or personal property management, I think it helps all of us. Some furnishings just don’t hold up well in vacation rentals. For example, no “performance fabrics” on a sofa are going to look very good after two years of vacation rental use, but leather will give you a lot more mileage.
Merilee: We weren’t aware that the pool would be opened up to public use. To use the clubhouse and pool even as an owner you are required to show your wristband. We are not big fans of the wearing wristbands around town the entire time we stay there.
How is the location and the area?
Renee: The location is great. I like how I can bike to Snow Canyon. Everyone thinks of Zion when they come to St. George, so it’s not an ideal location for Zion, but there are a LOT of other things to do in the area that are more accessible from this side of town. I like this part of town.
Merilee: We absolutely love the location! Everything we wanted is right there close and it is getting better time with all the commercial development being added over by the new Harmon’s store.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Renee: With the housing market these days, if you have the cash, then I do think Arcadia is a great resort. I love where they’re going with it. They have very professional people working at the Resort. It’s completely stress-free working with the management. They’re a new resort, and the growth has steered the management in the right direction. Any fast growing project faces challenges, but I believe the decision makers have helped things go as smoothly as possible.
Merilee: Keep up the great work Arcadia team! We are grateful for all you do and know that you have a lot to deal with. We appreciate the cheery disposition of your staff.
**Some editing of responses has been done for clarification.
