Happy Trails Resort
A gated 55+ RV and manufactured-home resort on Bell Road, where you own your lot, wrapped around Great Eagle Golf Club.
Search Happy Trails Resort homes and sign up with Greg What's My Home Worth?Overview
Happy Trails Resort is one of the West Valley's original 55+ RV resorts, named for Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Its streets are named for Western film themes like Spur, Lariat and Powder Horn. What sets it apart is ownership: you buy a deeded lot instead of leasing one, and place a manufactured home, park model or RV on it.
It's a very social, seasonal community. There's a 750-seat Performing Arts Center, 14 pickleball courts, pools and hot tubs throughout, and a monthly Vendors' Day, all inside a gated resort wrapped around a public golf course.
Please note: Prices, HOA/recreation fees and age rules change, often every year. Figures below were gathered in October 2026 from the sources listed at the bottom of this page. Verify everything in the official resale disclosure packet before relying on it. Where we couldn't verify a figure, we say so.
Quick facts
| Location | 17200 W Bell Rd, Surprise, AZ 85374, near the Surprise Recreation Campus (spring training) |
|---|---|
| Age status | 55+ (per Happy Trails Resort: “a community of age 55+ active adults”). contact Greg for current figures on the specific occupancy rules. |
| Opened / developer | Lot sales began in January 1985, and the grand opening, attended by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, was in January 1986. It began as a Thousand Trails RV resort (per Happy Trails Resort). |
| Ownership | All lots are individually owned deeded land, not leased (per Happy Trails Resort). Lots hold manufactured homes, park models and RVs. |
| Approximate size | More than 2,000 manufactured-home and RV lots (per a third-party guide). contact Greg for current figures. |
| Golf | Surrounds Great Eagle Golf Club, an 18-hole, par-72 public course (per Happy Trails Resort). Golf is separate from HOA fees. |
| Recreation & amenities | Performing Arts Center (up to 750 seated), 14 pickleball courts, tennis, a 25-meter Town Center pool and other pools, 7 hot tubs, a sauna, fitness center, billiards, bocce, horseshoes, a woodworking shop, library, mail center, dog park, and RV storage and wash (per Happy Trails Resort) |
| Social life | Clubs for arts and crafts, cards, fitness, music, sports and vehicles. Vendors' Day on the first Friday of each month. On-site restaurant. |
| Gated | Yes. Gated, with 24-hour on-site patrol (per Happy Trails Resort). |
| General price range | contact Greg for current figures. |
Fees and rates are subject to change. Last checked October 2026. Verify with the HOA.
Fees at a glance
| Monthly HOA (HTCA) | $216 to $238 per month, depending on the section (per Greg Slaughter, local agent, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Capital improvement fee | $2,595 one-time, paid by the buyer (per Greg Slaughter, local agent, 2026) |
| Transfer fee | $190 one-time, buyer (2025, third-party guide). contact Greg for current figures. |
| RV storage | Separate, priced by space size (per Happy Trails Resort) |
| Golf | Separate (public course) |
Want the exact numbers for a specific home? Ask Greg and he'll pull the current figures for that address.
Estimate your Happy Trails Resort costs in the Cost to Live calculator
If you're buying in Happy Trails Resort
- Financing and insurance work differently for manufactured homes, park models and RVs. Talk to a lender who knows them before you shop.
- Ask what's included with the lot (home, Arizona room, carport, shed) and its age and condition. Get an inspection.
- Ask which section the lot is in, since dues run $216 to $238 a month depending on the section (per Greg Slaughter).
- Check the rules on RV parking, storage and exterior work before you buy.
If you're selling in Happy Trails Resort
- Many buyers are snowbirds. Timing your listing for the fall and winter season can help, so ask Greg about seasonality.
- Gather records of updates (roof, A/C, plumbing) and what conveys with the lot.
- Golf-course and corner lots draw attention. Good photos of outdoor living space matter here.
Happy Trails Resort: honest pros and cons
Pros
- You own your lot (deeded, not leased)
- Gated, with 24-hour patrol and 14 pickleball courts
- Lower cost of entry than site-built 55+ homes
Cons
- Manufactured homes, park models and RVs are harder to finance and insure
- Seasonal community
- Golf course is public and separate
Based on the dated, sourced facts on this page. Every buyer weighs these differently, so ask Greg what matters for your situation.
Live Happy Trails Resort listings
See every home for sale right now, updated from the MLS, on Greg's search site.
See live Happy Trails Resort listings What's my home worth?Video tour of Happy Trails Resort
Video tour coming soon. Greg is filming his own walk-through of Happy Trails Resort.
Want a live video tour now? Call or text 623-523-1557 or sign up with Greg.
Desert living in the West Valley
Stock photos of general Arizona desert scenery (Unsplash). They are not photos of Happy Trails Resort. For real photos of homes and amenities in Happy Trails Resort, ask Greg.
More for Happy Trails Resort
What's my Happy Trails Resort home worth? · Market snapshot for ZIP 85374 · See Happy Trails Resort on the map · Is Happy Trails Resort right for you? Take the quiz · Events calendar
More tools: Community map · Which community fits you? quiz · What's my home worth? · Market snapshot · Events calendar · Free Buyer's Guide (PDF)
Frequently asked questions
Is Happy Trails Resort 55+?
Yes. Happy Trails Resort describes itself as a community of age 55+ active adults. Confirm the specific occupancy and guest rules in the governing documents.
Do you own the land at Happy Trails Resort?
Yes. Per Happy Trails Resort, all lots are individually owned deeded lots rather than leased. That's unusual for an RV resort. Financing and insurance for manufactured homes, park models and RVs differ from site-built homes, so ask Greg and your lender early.
What is the one-time cap fee in Happy Trails Resort, and who pays it?
Most 55+ communities charge a one-time capital (cap) or preservation fee when a home changes hands, usually paid by the buyer at closing. In Happy Trails Resort, plan for: $2,595 capital improvement fee (per Greg Slaughter, local agent, 2026) + transfer fee ($190 in 2025 per a third-party guide; contact Greg for current figures). Greg Slaughter says this fee surprises a lot of buyers, so build it into your cash-to-close budget. Fees change, so verify the current amount in the resale disclosure packet.
What are the HOA fees in Happy Trails Resort?
Recurring fees: $216–$238/mo depending on the section (per Greg Slaughter, local agent, 2026). Figures are dated and sourced below. Confirm in the resale disclosure packet.
Is Happy Trails Resort gated?
Yes (24-hour patrol).
Does Happy Trails Resort have golf?
Surrounds Great Eagle Golf Club, an 18-hole, par-72 public course.
How many homes are in Happy Trails Resort?
2,000+ lots (third-party estimate).
When was Happy Trails Resort built?
Lot sales January 1985; grand opening January 1986.
What are the age rules in Happy Trails Resort?
55+ (per Happy Trails Resort: “a community of age 55+ active adults”). contact Greg for current figures on the specific occupancy rules. Confirm the occupancy rules in the CC&Rs.
How can I see homes for sale in Happy Trails Resort?
Use Greg's live listings search (link on this page) or call or text Greg Slaughter at 623-523-1557. He also does video tours for out-of-state buyers.
Questions about Happy Trails Resort?
Whether you're buying your first 55+ home or selling one you've loved for years, Greg can walk you through current fees, recent sales and next steps. No pressure.
Search homes and sign up with Greg Get a Free Home Value Contact Greg Free Buyer's Guide (PDF)Prefer the phone? Call or text 623-523-1557
Sources
Facts on this page were gathered from the sources below in October 2026. Third-party agent and listing sites are noted as such. Fees and rules change, so always check the association's current documents.