The Heart of America's Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing
In The RV Capital Of The World Rests The RV/MH Hall Of Fame Dedicated To Commending The Pioneers Of The RV & Manufactured Housing Industries...
Elkhart, Indiana, is the heart of America's recreational vehicle manufacturing, where many manufactured houses are built and is the home of the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum, an expansive center dedicated to all things RV and MH. Elkhart is the historical center for recreational vehicle and manufactured housing (MH) and has been, for years. Nowadays, RVs are being built in factories from New York to California, Michigan to Florida, as are growing numbers of manufactured homes. In the past two years, both types of homes have only grown more popular as Americans struggle with the ever-increasing costs of housing following the Housing Recession of 2007-08, a situation the country, as a whole, has still to recover. But things are going well in Elkhart, where never enough workers are at hand to help meet the demand of producing enough RVs.
Demands for additional workers is about to grow, for here in Elkhart is located the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum, visited in 2017 by more than 200,000 people, who stopped by to wander through the extensive 100,000 sq.ft facility. Darryl Shearer, president of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, the nonprofit that operates the hall and museum, announced last year that a proposed $10 million expansion is planned.
Already a popular venue for RV'ing fans, with extensive RV parking, expansion plans include an additional 300 recreational vehicle parking sites for RV owners who attend rallies held there. “When they come into the site, they'll never have to back up,” says Shearer, a situation much appreciated by those RV'ers pulling trailers, big or small, and big rig drivers who find maneuvering in tight spaces a tad difficult. The new parking sites will be long enough and wide enough to handle any sized rig, while two additional dump stations for water and sewage will be added to the already extensive RV amenities.
RV rallies and other events are now centered in the 18,000 sq.ft. Ingram Hall, at the Northern Indiana Event Center which sits on a 40-acre site at 21565 Executive Parkway in Elkhart. An additional 2,000 sq. ft. will be added, along with another additional 9,000 sq.ft. of “breakout rooms.” Plans for the expansion includes a 60,000 sq.ft. extension with drop-down, soundproof walls for the event center. Shearer explained that with the expansion, that up to three activities, or meetings, could then be held at the same time, each in a 20,000 sq.ft. space. There are two big RV shows at the Hall of Fame and Museum each year, attracting thousands of RV enthusiasts, an economic boon for Northern Indiana and, especially, for Elkhart.
The expansion will be broken into phases with Shearer having explained the first phase would be the rally site and a pavilion. Phase two will focus on an event center addition. Neither, however, will move forward, he stressed, until there is a a way to pay for the work, without going into debt. Foundation members have worked hard, with Shearer, for the past 5-1/2 years to get the Hall & Museum out of debt.
“There is a resolution by the board that we will never go into debt again,” said Shearer, who added that they would begin the anticipated $10 million cost of the expansion as “money is raised” through various funding strategies. By the end of this year, it is anticipated that the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum “will be debt free.” The not-for-profit recently celebrated the 'Kevin Clayton $1 million Debt Eliminating Challenge' as its funding campaign topped $900,000. Kevin Clayton is CEO of Clayton Homes, the nation's largest builder of manufactured and modular homes, with its main factory located in Tennessee.
During the past three years, more than 20,000 paid attendees have come through the doors. Entry fees are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and children 6-16, $9. The winter hours, Nov. 1-March 31, are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. To 4 p.m. and on Sundays, closed. April 1 to Oct. 31, the hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. -5 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. To 3 p.m. There is no charge for children aged 5 or under. Special rates are also available for groups. RV parking the night before your visit and the night after, RV parking is allowed. Note, however, there is no security. Pets may be brought inside if suitably contained within a walker, or pet bag. None, but service dogs, are allowed to be leased and walking about the premises.
A tour of the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum takes about an hour and a half and visitors can walk through a wide variety of RV and manufactured homes on display. Some of the very first recreational vehicles ever made are on show, including a 1913 Earl Travel Trailer and a 1939 skinned aluminum travel trailer built for Charles Lindberg, famed aviator, which has been refurbished to its original interior. On display along with a wide assortment of RVs is a house car provided for Actress Mae West. This 1931 Chevrolet housecar was given to West by Paramount Pictures as an incentive to get her involved in movie making.
RVs and house-cars through the ages are on display in the museum divided into areas that highlight key events in RV history. Ford “tin Lizzie's” from the era of the Great Depression, from the late 1920's through the 1930's, are seen, along with the latest, up-to-date travel trailers and motor homes. On exhibit are Winnebago's oldest unit, and Airstream's smallest. Founder's Hall features a recreated RV park with a wide diversity of recreational vehicles. Areas are divided to highlight key events in RV history.
Dedicated to preserving the history, and honoring the pioneers and individuals who have made significant contributions to the RV and manufactured housing industries, the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum in Elkhart is located off I-80/I-95. The Recreational Vehicle/Manufactured Housing Heritage Foundation was formed in 1972. They opened the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum in 1991 and then shifted it to its present location off Executive Parkway in 2007. The hall and museum are spread out over 100,000 sq.ft. with easy parking for RVs of all sizes.
Dollie Gull-Goldman
A veteran multimedia journalist who, now a senior, enthusiastically continues her RV travels, and she has worked as a photographer/filmmaker for early TV news, she spent some 20-years as a newspaper writer-editor/journalist. Dollie looks forward to even more RV on-the-road adventures.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Elkhart Campground, who is constantly improving their facilities. Call us to find out the latest news! Also look at the Tripadvisor reviews! Being in the RV Capital of the world, they accommodate families and motorhomes of any size. Sites are all pull through and leveled, so you can drive right in and set up.