Camping World
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| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Founder(s) | David Garvin |
| Headquarters | Bowling Green, Kentucky |
| Number of locations | 75+ |
| Products | Hunting, fishing, and outdoor merchandise |
| Parent | Affinity Group Inc. |
Camping World is an American corporation specializing in selling parts and service for recreational vehicles and supplies for camping. The company is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and is privately held. Camping World has 70+ retail/service locations throughout the United States, and also sells goods through mail order and online. It claims to be the world's largest supplier of RV parts and supplies. The company is also the title sponsor for the NASCAR Camping World East Series, NASCAR Camping World West Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Camping World began in 1966 with a small store in Beech Bend Park, an amusement park outside of Bowling Green which billed its campground as the world's largest. Campers at the park were requesting a store where they could buy supplies, so David Garvin — son of the park's owner — took out a loan and opened the store. Garvin amassed a large customer list as the years went by, which proved to be a windfall later when he added a mail-order division to the company. That division thrived, fueling the company's growth for years to come.
In 1997, Garvin sold the company to the current owners, Affinity Group Inc., of Ventura, California.
In 2005, Garvin announced plans for a huge development near Franklin, Kentucky called "Garvin's." The development, described by Garvin as "a combination of Disney World, Camping World and Bass Pro Shops," will feature a large Camping World store with RV 250 service bays; a five-story, 650,000 square foot (60,000 m²) permanent RV trade show and exhibition area; a "free range" campground with dry-camping sites; a camping museum; and much more. Due to the recession however the venture never got off the ground and much of the land proposed for development was sold at auction in October 2011. [1] .
Under the FreedomRoads brand, the company sells RV's through a network of about three dozen independent dealers.[2] In 2007, the company opened the Camping World RV Sales dealership; formerly known as Stout's RV, it is located on Interstate 65 south of Indianapolis, Indiana, and is the company's only owned-and-operated RV dealership.[3][4]
The company also operates RVs.com. [2]
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[edit] Auto racing
Camping World has major sponsorship involvement with NASCAR and the Indy Racing League, both for races and teams.
[edit] Races
- The NASCAR Nationwide Series' most prestigious race, the 2008 Camping World 300 presented by Chevrolet, at Daytona International Speedway; it is run the day before the Daytona 500. This race was run as the Orbitz 300 in 2007.[5]
- The Camping World 200 presented by RVs.com, a Nationwide Series race run at New Hampshire International Speedway. This race will be run at California Speedway beginning in 2008.[6]
- The Camping World Watkins Glen Grand Prix, an IndyCar Racing League race at Watkins Glen International Raceway.
[edit] NASCAR Camping World Series
- During the 2007 NASCAR Busch East Series, Grand National Division awards banquet, NASCAR introduced Camping World as the new title sponsor for the Grand National East and West Series, beginning in 2008. for the 2010 season it becomes the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and pro series west
[edit] NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
- Camping World was introduced as the new sponsor of the NASCAR Truck Series, replacing 13-year sponsor Craftsman. The sponsorship will start in 2009.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ [1]
- ^ FreedomRoads business profile
- ^ "Camping World announces grand opening of Indianapolis store at former Stout's location," May 16, 2007
- ^ Camping World RV Sales, Indianapolis
- ^ "Camping World Becomes Title Sponsor of Daytona February Busch Race". TheAutoChannel.com. http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/07/09/054505.html.
- ^ California Speedway Announces Fall Race Sponsorship Agreement With Camping World
[edit] External links
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