News Briefs

RVIA Names New President

Richard A. Coon, director of RV business for Cummins Power Generation, will become president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, when David J. Humphreys, who has been president for three decades, retires on January 30, 2006.

Coon will begin working with Humphreys as president-elect on June 1 at the RVIA headquarters in Reston, Virginia. Coon currently serves as vice chairman of the RVIA, which represents 550 RV manufacturers and suppliers. The selection of Coon was announced by the RVIA board in March after a yearlong search.

North Cascades Road Reopens

The section of Washington’s North Cascades Highway that is closed in winter was reopened on March 10—the earliest-ever spring reopening. Because of the light snowfall this year, crews were able to clear the road in a record ten days.

The earliest previous reopening was March 22 in 2001, but the reopening is often in April or May and has been as late as June 14. A 34-mile section of the road between Diablo and Mazama that connects the Skagit River Valley and Methow Valley is closed every winter.

Atomic Testing Museum Opens

The Atomic Testing Museum, which chronicles the history of U.S. nuclear weapons tests, is now open in the Frank H. Rogers Science and Technology Building shared with the Desert Research Institute of the University of Nevada Las Vegas. The location at 755 E. Flamingo Road is east of the Las Vegas strip.

The exhibits include a simulated atmospheric blast in the Ground Zero Theater. Nuclear weapons were tested in an area 60 miles north of Las Vegas, starting in 1951. There were 100 atmospheric tests until 1963, and underground tests continued until 1992.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $10 for adults, and $7 for seniors 65 and older, children 7 to 17, and members of the U.S. armed forces. Children 6 and younger are admitted free.

Tahoe Ski Season Extended

The ski season was sharply curtailed this year in parts of the Pacific Northwest due to lack of snow, but Heavenly Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe has benefited from a heavy snowpack. The resort has extended the winter ski and snowboarding season to May 1, two weeks longer than planned, because of the extra snow.

Heavenly, which straddles the Nevada-California border, is Lake Tahoe’s largest ski resort.

Airstream Travels in Fast Company

The magazine Fast Company has named Airstream to its “Fast 50” list that recognizes companies that have been successful innovators. Airstream was cited for its success in bringing itself into the modern era, building upon the sleek aluminum exterior that has been a design hallmark of its RVs. The company has updated its products, revamped its dealer network and refocused its marketing energies on baby boomers. The result has been a 57 percent increase in revenues in the last fiscal year.

Park Models Continue Sales Growth

National shipments of recreation park trailers set an all-time industry record in 2004, according to new figures from the Recreation Park Trailer Industry Association. Shipments for the year totaled 9,186 units, a 30 percent increase from 2003.

The association reported that campground owners are purchasing park models in increasing numbers to serve the needs of people who don’t own RVs but want to enjoy the recreational lifestyle. Campground operator Thousand Trails, for example, purchased 50 parks models last year as it replaces its rental travel trailers with park model units.

Industry officials said more individuals also are buying park models to place on campsites as an alternative to vacation homes and condos.

RV Suppliers Reports Record Earnings

Two major RV suppliers, Drew Industries and Coast Distribution System, have reported record earnings for 2004.

Drew Industries, which supplies components to recreation vehicles and manufactured housing, reported record net sales of $531 million in 2004, a gain of 50 percent over the previous year. The company, based in White Plains, New York, also reported record net income of $25.1 million.

The company supplies windows, doors, chassis, slideout mechanism and power units and electric stabilizer jacks for travel trailers and fifth wheels and is beginning to supply products to motorhome manufacturers.

Coast Distribution Ssystem of Morgan Hill, California, reported an 80 percent increase in earnings and 9.8 percent increase in sales. Earnings amounted to $4.4 million and earnings reached $171.8 million. Coast distributes replacement parts, accessories and supplies to the RV and marine industries.