Book brings Fun N Sun to life
SAN BENITO - The activities that occur at Fun N Sun RV Resort often need to be seen to be believed.
But now, thanks to 10 writers, they can also be read.
Members of the park's Writers Group have spent the past two years researching, interviewing, writing and editing their book, "Fun N Sun: Then N Now." The 270-page book chronicles the story of the park since its inception in 1967.
Along with photographs, the writers have included short stories, poems and anecdotes from residents.
Carolyn Ross, a California native who has visited Fun N Sun since 2001, became interested in the activities that the park no longer offers, such as the chariot races and the Polka Festival, both started in 1995.
From there, an idea snowballed about the park's history and the people who lived and worked here.
Previously, the group had written "Open Windows: Glimpses of Our Lives."
Book two started in Activity Room 4 in 2006.
In their research, the group started with Joan Stanley Cocozza, who with her husband Hank Stanley first owned and operated the park, Marianna Nelson from Connecticut said.
The group also interviewed a woman who grew up on the Zillock Road property when it was the Barber Plantation.
"We learned what went into this park and what it was," Nelson said.
New Yorker Eunice Greenhaus, who's been visiting the Rio Grande Valley since 1990, put together the 10-page timeline of events.
The most recent events of Hurricane Dolly and the return of this season's visitors were the last stories to be included, Greenhaus said.
The group, which meets weekly and corresponded via e-mail when they traveled back home, said the most interesting and difficult part of their job was editing each others work.
"You've never lived until you've edited with about 10 people," Ross said.
Cory Layne of Nevada joked that the U.S. Congress might learn about teamwork and accomplishment from the group.
"We really worked to make it as truthful as possible," Maila Hedin of Minnesota said.
In their research, the group learned that the resort faced people in 1,500 vehicles looking for a place to stay when the park was full in 1972, Layne said.
It was a two-day wait to get into the park at that time, added Greenhaus.
The group laughs at the idea of another book of this kind, citing the business aspect is too tricky. Obtaining signatures and releases for the use of photographs and verifying facts were some of the hardest parts of compiling the book, they said.
"It's been a labor of love," said Dee Beringer, a Wisconsin native who has visited Fun N Sun since 1987.
To design their cover and name their book, the Writers Group enlisted the help of park residents. They held contests for both, with the design going to the park's Digital Darkroom group that used the challenge as a classroom project.
With events like the Book Bash, the group collected money with advance sales to help pay their publisher, Lulu, Greenhaus said.
A total of 317 books have been sold, Layne said.
"It turned out a lot better and more professional than what people expected," Hedin said.
For order information, contact: Writers Group at Fun N Sun, 1400 Zillock Road, San Benito, TX 78586 or visit http://www.lulu.com/buy and search: Fun N Sun Then N Now by Writers Group at Fun N Sun.
