Our History

Winter Haven initially began as an idea of Robert Benton, a Brownsville lawyer.  Benton had moved to Brownsville from Michigan, and while living in that state had experience in developing a park where transient travelers rented facilities for a short term stay.  When he began thinking about developing a park in Brownsville he approached a friend, Paul Cunningham, to go in as a partner with him. 

The two of them made plans to develop a retirement resort for people over age 55, anticipating there was a potential market made up of people from northern states and Canada.  These people came to the Rio Grande Valley for the winter, and some would later consider establishing permanent residence upon retirement.  The developers anticipated there was potential for selling lots to people who would come for several months each winter, and to others who would make Winter Haven their year-round residence.

They acquired a site of approximately 78 acres on Old Port Isabel Road, an area covered with cactus, mesquite and brush.  They planned to develop the first 45 acres first.

Development work began in 1984, when Dorothy and Mary Streets were graded.  In 1984 and 1985 prospective customers were shown an artist’s rendition of the club house, which was built later in 1985.  A mobile home was used as an office.

Lots were laid out and surveyed.   Utilities, a cement pad and a picnic table were provided for each lot.  When a lot was sold trees were provided for landscaping

There were 75 lots on the first two streets which were priced at $10,000 each and 25 larger lots on the west side of Mary Street priced at $12,000  each.

It was intended that after the entire property was developed it would be managed by the residents.  A legal entity known as a Property Owners Association (POA) was established for this purpose.

After the first couple of years it became evident that the sales were going rather slowly and that the costs of operating the facility for the relatively small number of owners exceeded the income.  It was apparent this was due to competition from other parks in the area, some of which were well established and offered more amenities and activities.  And some other parks offered short term rentals.  Since Winter Haven was still in the early stages of development and was primarily interested in selling lots, rather than short term rentals, the developers found they were losing money.

These problems became more difficult in 1986 and 1987, and the developers decided to work out a way to exit the project.  They worked out an arrangement with Texas Commerce Bank, which had provided the financing, to turn the lots over to the bank.  The bank took the lots and began selling them.

At one time all the unsold lots were opened to the general real estate market, raising concern that Winter Haven would be unable to maintain the 55 and over age designation for residents.

So the Winter Haven board decided it would be in the best interest of the park to buy the lots still held by the bank.  The bank was willing to sell the lots at a substantial discount and eleven Winter Haven residents agreed to put up $75,000 to purchase the lots.  The sale of these lots was successfully concluded and the money that the men had advanced was all repaid.