Garvin's

Garvin's is a large American recreational and retail complex and tourist attraction currently being constructed on a site along Interstate 65 near Franklin, Kentucky. The complex is designed to attract enthusiasts of camping and recreational vehicles.

The complex is located just north of the I-65 interchange with Kentucky Route 100 (exit 6), on both sides of the interstate. The location was chosen because it is centrally located to the eastern portion of the country, along one of its major north-south highways and 35 miles (55 km) north of Nashville, Tennessee and Interstate 40, a major east-west route. The proposed extension of Interstate 66 will pass through Bowling Green, Kentucky, about 15 miles (24 km) to the north of the site. [cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/2005/03/21/daily23.html|title=Planned RV facility to employ 800 in Franklin|publisher=Business First (Louisville, Ky.)|date=2005-03-23] [ [http://www.f-sindustry.com/garvinparkplans.htm Franklin Industrial Authority: Plans move along on new park (December 1, 2005)] ]

The developer is David B. Garvin, founder of Camping World, a large supplier of camping equipment and RV supplies through 40 stores across the United States and via mail order and Internet. Garvin's plans call for a cross between Disney World, Camping World and a nature preserve. Among the features planned so far are a Camping World superstore with 250 RV service bays; a "permanent trade show" for the RV industry contained in a 650,000 square foot (60,000 m²), five-story facility; a "free range" campground for "dry camping" (no hookups); a museum dedicated to camping and RV history; various shops, restaurants and hotels; and an amusement park. (Garvin's father, and later Garvin himself, owned Beech Bend Park near Bowling Green, which was also home to the first Camping World store.)

The first phase of Garvin's was originally scheduled to open in 2007, but no part of the project has opened yet. After a flurry of announcements in 2005, the developers have had no further announcements.

References

External links

* [http://www.garvins.com Garvin's official web site]