The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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Staff Photo by Morris Stephenson:
Fleetwood Homes in Rocky Mount is gearing up to build Kamping Lodges. Officials said it is too early to predict the impact of employee levels at the facility. |
Friday, December 11, 2009
By JOEL TURNER - Staff Writer
Cavco Industries, the Arizona-based company which purchased Fleetwood Homes last summer, plans to
build "Kamping Lodges" at the Rocky Mount facility, according to a company news release.
Cavco has been supplying Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) franchisees with park model Kamping Lodges manufactured at its factories in Arizona and Texas.
But as a result of Cavco's acquisition of Fleetwood Homes, the company can now serve hundreds of KOA franchisees in the Eastern part of the United States at the Fleetwood plant, according to the release.
"By Feb. 1, we will have the first Kamping Lodges available at our Virginia facility," said Tim Gage, vice president of Cavco's speciality division.
Gage said the Rocky Mount facility will save Eastï¾ Coast KOA franchisees money in shipping costs.
Before being acquired by Cavco, Fleetwood Homes produced manufactured housing.
Cavco is a leader in manufactured built homes, park models and camping cabins.
The company is a primary supplier to campground and RV park owners and developers for rental homes, lodges and resale models.
Cavco's decision to build Kamping Lodges in Rocky Mount is a "positive" for Fleetwood, said Tom Satterwhite. But he said it's too early to know what impact it will have on the employment level at Fleetwood.
"We just don't know yet," he said, but he doesn't expect any large increase in employees initially.
Fleetwood is gearing up to begin prototype production of the lodges, he said.
Cavco said that camping in a Kamping Lodge is like "roughing it" in a vacation home.
"Spacious and complete, these units offer living space and sleep to 4 to 6 people," a company brochure says.
The Kamping Lodges include a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, with central air and heat.
Mike Atkinson, KOA's director of lodging, said Cavco's Virginia plant (Rocky Mount) will help KOA franchisees keep their costs down as they continue to move into the accommodations business.
KOA franchisees purchased more than 200 Kamping Lodges from Cavco in 2009.
Cavco has worked with KOA Campgrounds to develop a custom line of floor plans designed specifically for KOA customers. |
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