ABOUT
One Family’s American Legacy
Anaheim RV Park is a legacy passed down through three generations of the Bostwick-Mangels family. Hospitality has been in the family for over 60 years.
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
L.V. Bostwick was born in Missouri in 1906. He was the youngest of nine children and grew up on a small farm.
In 1925 L.V. moved the family to Colorado where he became a barber and met his wife, Myriam. L.V. believed he was destined for more. After attending a Dale Carnegie course, he borrowed $50 from his father to open his own barbershop, Bostwick’s on East Colfax Avenue in Denver.
From that point on he never worked for anyone again. His barber and beauty supplies thrived through WWII but as a returning Merchant Marine, he set his sites on real estate and moved the family to California.
The Early Years
L.V. and Miriam bought and flipped numerous hotels in Central and Southern California. From Needles to Bakersfield, Studio City to Venice boulevard, Inglewood to Long Beach, and Laguna Beach. It was a non-stop process of moving and fixing and selling.
While L.V. never had more than an eighth-grade education he was a savvy entrepreneur and businessman. Miriam attended business college and learned skills that were a perfect compliment to L.V.’s vision and determination.
In 1946, they bought the sixty-unit colonial motel on the Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach and the whole family pitched in to make a go of it.
By 1956, Miriam’s mother and her sister owned an RV park north of Los Angeles and L.V. became eager to find a similar property.
L.V. heard about a small trailer park in Anaheim called Shady Acres. He took a look around and struck a deal with the owner, Mr. Brown, swooping in under the nose of Miriam’s mother and sister. The family was now in the trailer park business just across the 5 freeway from Disneyland.
They renamed the park, Midway Trailer City. After selling the Colonial Motel, L.V. began buying small homes around the trailer park. He would buy one and clear the lot, doing that over and over as he slowly and deliberately expanded his family’s small empire.
The Growth Years
Leasing a 10-acre parcel to the south, L.V. added over 100 improved mobile home spaces.
For the next twenty years, a community with 100’s of permanent residents lived like an extended family nestled in the area’s orange trees.
They added a community pool and brought in a barracks from the Marine base that became a community gathering place for bingo, potlucks, and social events.
In 1966, a new office was built to meet the growing demand. Soon they opened a business to service and repair RV’s.
That business grew so quickly in 1974 they purchased land across the street and opened a two-story building dedicated to supplies and service which was run by L.V.’s children Beth and Paul.
Shortly after, L.V. seized another business opportunity and began buying and selling RV’s.
End of an Era
L.V. remained active in the business well into his 90s. But as he aged, so did the buildings, infrastructure, and mobile homes on the west end.
When Disneyland changed their name to promote their resort so did the park, changing the name to Anaheim Resort RV Park, but it wasn’t enough. 1994 brought news that Interstate 5 would be widened, carving away 150’ off the entire west end of the property which included the well, clubhouse, and pool. The family removed the mobile homes and made way for larger RV’s. RV sales and service dwindled as most items could be bought at larger retailers. The repair and service business closed in 1999.
Some in the family wanted to sell everything, cut losses, and go. It was a dark time for the park and the family.
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The early 2000s brought legal battles and business challenges. The facilities were in disrepair and the park’s fate was uncertain.
The New Promise
In 2008, Vern Mangels, entered the RV park business with the same entrepreneurial spirit as his grandfather, L.V., before him. Vern over-hauled the park infrastructure, updated the office with an advanced communication and business center for guests.
Vern also brought in service, offering 5-star concierge service to help guests plan their Disney vacation along with pool and spa upgrades to help them relax and unwind after a day at Disneyland
Under Vern’s leadership, Anaheim RV Park became recognized by the top travel authorities for extraordinary facilities and guest services.
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AAA approved
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A rating from GuestRated
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#1 rated by RV Park Reviews
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TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence 6 years in a row.
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TripAdvisor Hall of Fame
