Playing in the big leagues, and trying to do it from New England, could put a company at a competitive disadvantage, but don't tell Fran Roberts that, because it doesn't apply to LongView RV SuperStores. In fact, it's not just New England anymore either. Roberts recently headed South and opened a dealership at the former Holiday World location in Leesburg, Florida. They also have a sales outlet in Canaan, New York that sells Gulf Stream travel trailers.

From humble beginnings in 1959, Fran and his wife Shirley, steadily grew what is now the largest and oldest family owned RV dealership in the United States, and they are not done yet. There is no indication that they have any plans to slow down, and with son Frank also on the team, don't bet against this group losing any of its luster.

As the RV industry has changed, LongView has changed with it.

Roberts started as a youth, while still in college. He began his career under the high observation tower that was part of his parent's souvenir and tourist attraction on the picturesque Mohawk Trail in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Frank and Shirley worked the business by themselves, never hiring their first employee until 1970.

Three years later they actually sold 55 Winnebago motorhomes in two months.

I remember stopping at this Mohawk Trail landmark as a youngster when traveling with my parents. We didn't go camping as a kid ... hell, I didn't know what camping was when I was a kid. The trailers next to the souvenir shop never even garnered a glance from me ... all I wanted to do was climb the tower and look at the beautiful scenery in all directions and spanned three states. This was the first place that I ever remember seeing a Winnebago motorhome. I must confess, I didn't have the slightest idea what it was and never even went over to look at it.

In 1984 they could no longer work on the side of the mountain, there wasn't enough room for the ever-growing RV business. Roberts purchased property in Northampton, MA and began the first major expansion of the business.