Lots of folks ask about the history of this property, and from time to time we encounter visitors meandering through the area who shed light on its mysteries. From stories passed along to us, we know that the area, at one point in time, was home to Native Americans who called the headwaters of the San Marcos River their home. San Marcos translated is “sacred springs”. Historians hold that San Marcos is the longest continuously inhabited site in North America. Many guests have found delight in the discoveries along our riverfront property, in the form of fossils and other artifacts that point to the area’s rich history.
Sometime before Gary Air Force Base was closed, an old time pilot reported to us that he resided in an Airstream with other Air Force pilots in the 1950’s-60’s, nestled right here under these same pecan trees. In the late 60’s and early 70’s, the property became an excavation site for gravel trucks. Later in that decade, half of the 54 acres that surround us, including the 24.5 acres that make up Pecan Park today, were split into an upper level area that became a mobile home park and a lower level area.
Pecan Park operated as a mobile home park until 1998, when flooding washed the mobile homes away. When FEMA redrew floodplain lines after 1998, it meant no permanent living structure that wasn’t already here could be returned. So old mobile home sites were converted to strictly RV park rentals, which is why many of our sites are much larger than those in a traditional RV park.
The park was purchased by the Rowley Family Partnership in 2006. Veterans in the RV park industry, the Rowley family added Pecan Park to its other RV Park holdings. In March 2006, David and Rachael Rowley, the youngest son of the Rowley family and his wife, moved to the house in the middle of the property to conduct all park operations, while the other family members remained in Austin to run their other RV Park.
As a child born into and brought up in the RV park business, and adding to that a General Studies degree from the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor with an emphasis in journalism and photography, David had operations and marketing knowledge that belied his 28 years. Rachael added her head for business to their two-person team, while she continued as an accounting student at Texas State University, graduating Suma Cum Laude in 2007.
The Rowleys’ heart for people and hospitality quickly vaulted their San Marcos RV park to an unprecedented level of success, and Pecan Park enjoyed a climb to notoriety among top-level RV parks.
In late 2006, knowing this line of work was a calling for both of them, David and Rachael began to plan a family of their own, whose roots continue to be woven into the fabric and future of Pecan Park. Jason, the oldest son, made his appearance in May 2007, and Jeremy made his appearance a short time later in October 2008.
Pecan Park sits an average of 35 feet above the San Marcos River, on a scenic bluff overlooking its river access, approximately one mile upstream of the confluence of the San Marcos and Blanco Rivers.
Thank you for visiting us and we look forward to seeing you soon!
