|
After years of planning, fund raising and dreaming, the new RV/MH Hall of Fame facility opened its doors recently to the delight of industry members as well as the visiting public. The new 80,000-sq. ft. building is located off the Indiana Toll Road east of Elkhart, Indiana. It houses the national RV/MH Heritage Foundation, as well as the RV/MH Hall of Fame, RV Founders Hall museum, theater, RV/MH Suppliers Exhibit Hall, and the GoRVing Hall.
The new facility reflects the vision of Carl Ehry, president, who has worked tirelessly for the past several years fund raising, working with architects and contractors, and the foundation's board of directors. Ehry said, "What pleases me most is the reaction of everyone who sees our new building. The most consistent remark is simply, 'Wow!'"
In May the board of directors met for the first time in the new building, and the directors confirmed what everyone else has been saying. Board Chairman Dave Altman said, "Up to now we have been working with blue prints, construction photos and artist's rendering, but they do not do the facility justice."
The multi-stage program calls for the completion of the Boots Ingram Hall, named in honor of Boots Ingram, founder of Teton Homes, in time for official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of the facility August held in conjunction with the Induction Dinner for the Class of 2007 Hall of Fame inductees. This hall will house the recently acquired David Woodworth Historic RV Collection.
Future plans call for the completion of the Champion Homes Conference Center and the Manufactured Housing Founders Hall. According the Ehry, when completed the conference center will accommodate nearly 2,000 people including meals and will be available for national and regional conferences and meetings. In the meantime, a smaller 9,000-sq.-ft. conference center will completed to accommodate medium-sized events.
"We've only started," Ehry said, "we have a long way to go, but this is great start. When I look over this new facility and think of all the people and companies who have so generously gave to get us where were are today, it's like a dream come true."
For more information visit the RV/MH Hall of Fame web site, www.rvmhhalloffame.org. 19
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
