Cocopah Bend RV and Golf Resort – Yuma, AZ

12 02 2022

Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort

After a rather rushed departure from Winterhaven, we’ve moved about 8 miles southwest to the outskirts of Yuma.  We’re on Native American land, a large RV resort intertwined with a beautiful 18 hole golf course.  The “Bend” in the resort name referrers to the last sharp curve that the Colorado River makes before entering Mexico and flowing towards the Sea of Cortez.  Here the bend borders California and Arizona, and just a few blocks south, Mexico and Arizona.

Colorado River in Arizona, California and Mexico

The staff here at Cocopah were very accommodating to find us space, much less side by side spaces.  We’re parked in site #555, along with friends in #554.  Thanks to everyone at the resort that assisted during our evacuation!  This is a huge place, with over 800 RV sites surrounded by an 18 hole golf course.  Many of the sites are side by side with fairways and greens, and several complaints of golf balls breaking roof vents and windows can be found on various forums. Any site number higher than 502 should be safe from flying objects.  All sites are back-in, and all except one outside row back to your neighbors.  Since the patios are offset, you aren’t looking directly into their back window.  However, sewer ports are all the way to the rear, and offset to the incorrect side of the site, causing many to back beyond the center line which gives a bit tighter feel (extended awnings almost touched our neighbors).  Electrical and water hookups are on common pedestals between the two back-in spots.  The free WiFi ran along at around 1Mb, however upgraded service is available on a paid basis.

Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort

Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resorta

Other facilities such as the laundry room (use a value loaded card), pool, a huge dog park, a restaurant, pro shop and craft areas are clean and well maintained. And, while you’re less than 1 mile from I-8 and a busy rail line, this park is much quieter than Sans End.

Broken Yolk Cafe Bloody Marys!

On Saturday, after an excellent breakfast at the Broken Yolk Café, we toured the Yuma Territorial Prison Park. This park, in an impressive setting overlooking the Colorado River, was once occupied by characters of the old west convicted of everything from polygamy to murder starting in 1876. During our visit, the old prison grounds were being cleaned and polished and set-up for what was apparently a very large wedding and reception.  What an ideal venue!

Yuma Territorial Prison

Yuma Territorial Prison

 

We enjoyed Yuma, and especially Cocopah Resort, and would probably return here on another visit to Yuma.  From here we’re off to 4 nights of dry camping at Organ Pipe Cactus, a favorite Federal campground in southern Arizona.  More from Organ Pipe…





Evacuated!

10 02 2022

Winterhaven Fire

On Wednesday we had scheduled a cleaning/exam appointment at Simple Dental, across the border in Los Algodones. Mexico.  As we’re leaving for our appointments around noon, we notice thick heavy smoke boiling up just to the north of the RV park.  Worried that the fire might spread, we quickly tucked our laptops in the truck, handed the RV keys to friends that we’re traveling with and departed for the Mexican border.

About 1 hour later, just as I’m getting settled into the dental hygienist’s chair, my phone rings.  Our friends have been notified by the fire marshal that they are providing voluntary evacuation notices to the RV park, and that the smelly, eye burning, thick black smoke is likely to be present all night.  After a quick conversation with them, we decide to move to whatever accommodations they can find.  Within a few minutes, we are confirmed at the Cocopah Bend RV & Golf Resort, about 8 miles away.

After our dental appointments, we arrive back to the pedestrian border crossing to find the lines even longer than they were on Saturday.  With the prospect of waiting nearly 3 hours, we were quite appreciative of a dental office shuttle van that offered to drive us across the border for $5 each.  Filling the van with 4 other Americans, he had us back to the US parking lot in about 10 minutes.

“The Wall” in Los Algodones, Mexico

After an anxious exercise of packing things up, by around 4pm we were on the road to our new home.  More from Cocopah as we explore our new location!