2024 Elkhart RV Open House Scheduled for Sept. 23-26 – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
ELKHART, Ind. – RV manufacturers Forest River Inc. and THOR Industries Inc. have confirmed the dates of the 2024 Elkhart RV Open House for Sept. 23-26 in and around the grounds of the RV/MH Hall of Fame (HOF) on the northeast side of the RV-building center of Elkhart.
That schedule again this year provides an essential break for Open House exhibitors between the Pennsylvania RV and Campground Association’s (PRVCA) Hershey Show, which is Sept. 9-10 at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa., and this year’s Open House, a busy venue including scores of manufacturer exhibits and a nearly-sold-out 4th Annual Hall of Fame RV Suppliers Show.
Forest River CEO Pete Liegl, who first laid the groundwork for the original Open House in 2009 when his company invited dealers to its west-side Elkhart headquarters during the recession, told RVBusiness that he’s anticipating a strong Open House showing for Forest River, which plans to set up shop at the same location as the past couple of years on Old 33 on the southwest side of town.
“Well, basically it’s going to be primarily the same thing as last year, but probably with a few more units in it,” said Liegl. “And the general grounds will be a little better this year than what they were last year with some stone added. And we’re anticipating one hell of a good show, because our last month in the RV industry (April) was one of the best we’ve ever had.”
Although he didn’t have many details to add yet, THOR President & CEO Bob Martin said THOR’s divisions also plan to show 2025 model year product at the same basic locations as prior years near the Hall of Fame and Indiana Toll Road.
“We’re excited for the Open House this fall,” said Martin. “I know that a lot of our teams are working hard and beginning to look at new product and new innovations and features – freshening up the products. So, for us, it’s a great time to get together with our dealer partners while a lot of them are sort of planning ahead for the year but are holding on to their final selections and colors.
“But more than anything,” he added, “it’s our time to sit back and enjoy a meal and have a cold beverage with our dealer partners and just catch up and see how everyone’s doing and kind of get a feel for the rest of the year and the next few years where we as an industry are going. So, the Open House has been valuable for us in that planning. Even though we’re pretty early in our planning stages, we’re looking forward to it.”
Obviously, a lot of other companies are going through the same preliminary preparations for 2025 models that they’ll likely be showing dealers at this fall’s Open House, not the least of which is Winnebago Industries Inc., which will again showcase Winnebago-branded products at the Elcona Country Club, Grand Design RV towable and motorized RV’s on Executive Parkway near the HOF and Newmar Corp.’s motorhome lines at its familiar location on the grounds of Ramco Engineering Inc., on the corner of County Road #6 and Frederic Drive in Elkhart.
