RV/MH Hall of Fame Convention Center Project Continues

ELKHART, Ind. – Work continues on the addition of a convention center to the RV/MH Hall of Fame, with an expected completion date at the end of the year.

Darryl Searer, Hall of Fame president, said the room is already booked for its first event – the Hall of Heroes Comic Con, March 2-3, 2024 – which could attract between 12,000 and 15,000 attendees.

When complete, the 36,000-square-foot, clear-span room will be equipped with the latest audio and visual equipment, a large stage, catering staging area and restrooms. Two breakout rooms will be constructed adjacent to the new construction in an existing area of the Hall.

Darryl Searer

So far, the Hall of Fame has raised approximately $1.8 million of the $3 million cost of construction. Searer said fundraising is continuing and the Hall’s board of directors has approved use of operating funds to supplement the project.

The addition makes Elkhart County a suitable destination for large conventions, Searer said.

“Right now, we’ve got enough to finish the exterior of the building, the restrooms will be done, we should get the sprinkler system in, the lighting and some of the electrical,” Searer said. “This is Phase One.”

Ryan Szklarek

Ryan Szklarek, RV/MH Hall of Fame executive vice president, added, “Phase One is the bones. Phase Two is the meat. With Phase Two, what we’re doing is making sure we have our ducks in a row, making sure that our messaging is good, making sure that we’re going to make Phase Two to where it is the most useful to as many people as possible.”

He said the Hall is having many conversations with people throughout the RV industry and the Elkhart community who will be using the facility, to make sure that, “We’re going to build something that appeals to as many people as possible. As far as the fundraising goes, I think the whole thing is going to have a lot more success if we are very consistent with our message of what we’re trying to accomplish with that facility. Not that we’re slowing down, but we’re doing some organizing. Anyone who is going to be involved as an ambassador for the project or involved in the actual fundraising, we want to be sure we’re all on the same page.

“And we’re making sure we’re getting input from people who matter so when we actually finish it, it’s something that is appealing to everyone. It will be useful to the industry. It will be useful to the community. It will be as diverse as possible,” Szklarek said.

Searer noted a significant difference from when the manufactured housing museum was built.

“When we built the MH museum, we raised the money in 90 days,” he said. “Everybody knew that we were going to have a museum. We did an artist’s rendition of what it would look like and everyone knew, from the RV museum, what to expect. But here we are building a 36,000-square-foot building. What’s it going to do? What’s it for? So we’ve gone from thinking about asking for brick and mortar money to saying, once that’s complete, here’s what it’s going to do – for the community, for the RV industry, for the MH industry and for the Hall of Fame. That new convention center is going to be booked. It’s going to ensure the financial stability and security of the Hall of Fame for years to come.”

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/rv-mh-hall-of-fame-convention-center-project-continues/