Tucson's winter visitors have lately been soaking up the sun and taking part in other non-traditional winter activities, but the previous months' cold weather put their poolside fun on hold for a while.
January was the coldest January in Tucson since 1979, according to the National Weather Service.
That was good news for Tucsonans who were glad to see a rare snow blanket the Old Pueblo.
But it was bad news for winter visitors who came to the Tucson area to escape frigid weather in their hometowns.
Some first-time snowbirds said this winter's cold weather wasn't what they expected and they don't know if they'll come back next year. Other first-timers and longtime snowbirds said this winter's cold temperatures haven't dissuaded them from returning.
Dealing with cold weather isn't what Illinois native Richard Withrow planned on when he and his wife, Dawn, came to the Tucson area for the first time in late November, after spending previous winters in Florida, he said.
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"We came to get away from winter, and we ran into it," said Withrow, 68.
The weather was much colder than they thought it would be — the water in their RV froze several times — and the jury is still out on whether they will come back to Tucson next winter, he said.
But, as some visitors pointed out, cold is relative. What's considered cold in Tucson is considered warm in some snowbirds' hometowns.
New Englander Carol Ball said it was unusually cold here this winter but not as cold as Vermont, where she is from. Ball, 66, stayed at the equestrian campground Spirit Dog Ranch, 13750 N. Bowman Road, north of Catalina State Park and east of North Oracle Road.
Likewise, though Michigan native Raymond Starr noticed this winter might be a little chillier than the other three winters he and has wife Patricia have stayed in Catalina State Park, "as far as I'm concerned, it's nice down here," said Starr, 66.
Michigan natives Bill and Aggie Esper have been traveling to the Tucson area for more than 20 years. They call the South Forty RV Ranch, 3600 W. Orange Grove Road, where they are staying, their "nest in the West."
This winter was the coldest one they remember, said Aggie Esper, 76.
People who came here for the first time were disappointed, she said. But no cold snap will deter the Espers: "We always come back," she said.
Frank and Melinda Simpson have stayed at Westward Look Resort, 245 E. Ina Road, every winter for nearly 20 years, ever since they moved from Tucson to Kentucky, said Melinda Simpson, 59.
When it's too cold for them to spend time at their favorite pool at the resort, they just go to another, more heated one there, said Frank Simpson, 62.
Even with the unusually cold weather, Westward Look guests have been more interested in outdoor activities this year than in previous years, and winter business is up, said Alan Klein, the resort's general manager.
"Cold here is not what cold is back East," he said.
Other people who work at the places snowbirds frequent said they haven't seen a decline in winter business despite the cold.
Guests at the South Forty RV Ranch were "a little later getting here, but for the most part they made it in, even with the weather," said Pat Deering, activities director.
Many of the snowbirds in Oro Valley's Sun City Vistoso thought the way the Tucson area reacted to "a little bit of snow" was hilarious, said Colleen Holland, director of operations for Sun City Vistoso, where about 25 percent of the people are winter visitors.
"They're used to the Tucson weather — how it fluctuates," Holland said. "I don't think it's deterred anyone from coming back."
The previous months' chilly weather hasn't seemed to keep visitors from Catalina State Park, either, said Jack McCabe, the park's assistant manager.
"We're actually busier this season than last year," he said.
But the snowbird season rush at National RV Central, 6260 N. Travel Center Drive, wasn't as good as the relatively new business had hoped, said Michael B. Carson, facility manager. Recreational vehicle owners can store, wash and maintain their RVs at National RV Central.
Carson, who has worked in the local RV business for seven years, said he has noticed a winter slump in the business throughout the Tucson area.
"Most years, during the middle of January, RV business picks up, but it's just not happening," he said.
The winter rush at the nearby Crying Onion Café, 3684 W. Orange Grove Road, started later than usual this year, said owner Deborah Akers, and business has been sparser.
About 15 to 20 percent of the café's customers are winter visitors. During most winters, business there goes from "busy to outrageously busy," Akers said.
But this winter, Akers is seeing fewer winter visitors in the restaurant and around Tucson in general, she said.
"You definitely drive around town and see the lack of out-of-state-plates this year."
We came to get away from winter, and we ran into it.
Richard Withrow
Illinois native
As far as I'm concerned, it's nice down here.
Raymond Starr
Michigan native
