Your Outings
Learn What’s New in RV Travel Feb. 3-6 By Peggy Werner
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hether you want to travel with all the conveniences of home for a safe weekend getaway, explore the entire country at your own pace, attend your children’s out-of-state sports games, or travel the country while working from home, you’ll want to attend the 61st annual Fort Wayne RV & Camping Show. The event will take place Feb. 3-5 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, 4000 Parnell Ave. Matt Rose, Director of Recreation Vehicles for the Recreation Vehicle Indiana Council, says people can view the smallest tear-shaped camper to the largest Class A diesel motorhome, and more. “The show is a great place to explore and shop for a new RV from any of the nine dealers represented, talk to representatives from area campgrounds, learn about accessories and ask RV owners enjoy the safety this form of travel provides during a pandemic as well as the economic benefit of preparing food in the RV instead of dining out for every meal. questions,” he says. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or want to you want, when you want, at your own pace and plan your own get a new RV because your needs have changed, the show will schedule,” he says. be the place to see new models, floor plans and features, he says. He was introduced to camping by his wife, Janine, whose The show is returning after a year-long hiatus because of parents were lifelong campers. The couple’s two children, Jada, COVID-19 restrictions, and the pandemic has only increased RV 22, and Addison, 14, have grown up camping with their parents sales. in a variety of places. “RV-ing is the original form of social distancing,” Rose ob“Both my kids love camping and hiking because they’ve serves. “Many American vacationers have changed the way they grown up with it. I believe they have a greater appreciation for travel and vacation because owning an RV gives them a safe the natural world because they’ve had so many opportunities to space with great flexibility. And instead of flying over places, explore it,” he says. you can stop and see the sights.” Chris and Janine both work full-time, so they do many According to the RV Industry Association, 25 million Amerweekend getaways, sometimes very spontaneously, and take lonicans use RVs each year to camp, hike, boat, fish or just to relax ger trips once or twice a year, mostly in the Midwest. When they in nature. They generate $114 billion for the national economy, retire, they’ll travel to parts of the country they haven’t yet seen with $32.4 billion of that money generated in Indiana alone. and stay for weeks at a time, says Chris. More than 600,000 RVs were sold to dealers in 2021 and They’re not alone. that number is expected to increase this year. Previously, 2017 RV ownership has steadily increased in the past few dewas a record year, with 504,000 units sold. cades, with ownership skyrocketing 62 percent in the past 20 “Elkhart County in Indiana is the RV capital of the world,” years among people of all ages, races and socio-economic backsays Rose. “More than 80 percent of all RVs are built in Indigrounds. ana. The state has about 50 dealerships that employ more than “People used to look at RV-ing as a pastime for older people 126,000 people.” and retirees, but that’s been changing in recent years,” says Rose. Chris Sallows of Angola, Ind., has been an RV owner for “A few years ago, the average RV owner was 49 years old. That more than 10 years and upgraded a few years ago to a 2016 Keynumber has dropped to 45, and we expect it to keep dropping. stone Bullet 272. What’s driving RV sales right now is younger buyers with famiHe says RVing is like a “home away from home” and is an lies. easier and more economical way to travel, without all the hassles “People are looking for a safe and convenient way to get of catching planes, booking hotel rooms and renting cars. away from it all, while spending time with the family in nature.” ❚ “You have all your own stuff with you and you can do what Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Fort Wayne
February 2022 • I
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