What if your next investment wasn’t a house… but something on wheels?

In this episode, Mark Lumpkin sits down with Gar Russell, founder of Fireside RV Rental, to break down an entirely different angle on hospitality investing.

Gar shares how he went from building and losing a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio… to creating the largest RV rental management franchise in the country.

They dive into:

• Why RVs are NOT traditional investments (and what most people get wrong)
• How unused RVs can turn into cash-flowing assets
• The biggest mistakes Gar made that nearly cost him everything
• What scaling to 70+ locations actually looks like
• Where the future of travel, AI, and hospitality is headed

This episode is a raw look at entrepreneurship, failure, and finding opportunity in unexpected places.

If you're thinking beyond traditional STRs or just want to sharpen your investing mindset, this one hits different.

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Episode Sponsored By:
STR Search

STR Search is the industry leading property finder service. They've helped investors acquire over 215 profitable STRs across the US. If you'd like the data professionals to help you find your next STR, reach out to STRsearch.com

In this week’s Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the short-term rental data for Big Bear Lake — including a full market snapshot + amenity performance breakdown.

This episode introduces a new format, giving you a clearer picture of:

• Overall market supply and demand
• Where guests are coming from
• Seasonality and booking patterns
• And which amenities actually drive revenue

Here’s what the data shows in Big Bear:

• Hot Tubs (59%) → +$14,000/year
• Fire Pits (48%) → +$3,600/year
• Game Rooms (29%) → +$14,752/year
• Saunas (2%) → +$38,000/year
• Waterfront (<1%) → +$25,000/year

With over 4,000 listings and steady growth, Big Bear is competitive — but still offers opportunity for investors who differentiate with the right amenities.

Most guests are coming from Southern California for short, weekend stays — making design, amenities, and guest experience critical to standing out.

If you’re investing in Big Bear or analyzing mountain markets, this episode gives you the data you need to compete.

In this week’s Monday Market Data Report, Mark Lumpkin breaks down the amenity data for The Poconos — one of the most competitive and heavily amenitized STR markets in the country.

This episode reveals a massive truth about the Poconos:

Amenities aren’t optional. They’re everything.

Using data from STR Search, we break down what top-performing properties are doing differently — and why some homes generate $250K+ per year while others struggle to break even in the exact same location.

Here’s what the data shows:

• Fire Pits (83%) → +$42,750/year
• Hot Tubs (75%) → +$45,600/year
• Game Rooms (71%) → +$41,100/year
• Playgrounds (41%) → +$55,000/year
• Saunas (19%) → +$21,000/year
• Movie Theaters (13%) → +$58,000/year

The takeaway is clear: amenity stacking drives revenue in the Poconos.

Properties with multiple high-impact amenities consistently outperform — while under-amenitized homes fall far behind, even if they share the same location, views, and bedroom count.

If you’re investing in the Poconos, this episode gives you the blueprint to compete — and win.

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