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Timeline

2021 KZ RV Exterior Product Lineup
KZ RV 1972 Vintage Truck Camper with Tow Vehicle
KZ RV 1997 Sportsmen Travel Trailer Hitched to Truck
2021 KZ RV Sportsmen SE 281BHSE Travel Trailer at Campsite with Family

1970s

1972

KZ RV History Newspaper Article
KZ RV History Newspaper Article

KZ’s First Location – Started in former gas station north of Middlebury, Indiana. The first product Daryl Zook and uncle/partner Sam King produced was a line of truck campers, sold mostly in the eastern U.S. - More Info

1974

KZ RV First Sportsmen Travel Trailer

Builds First Travel Trailer in Middlebury, Indiana.

1975

KZ moves to Shipshewana, Indiana, and starts manufacturing 12- to 16-foot travel trailers.

1976

Sam King exits, and another uncle/partner, Dale Kauffman, enters (fortunately, both partners share the same last name initials!).

1979

Move to present location and build a 10,000 square foot building (Plant 1).

1980s

1983

Purchase adjacent land and construct Plant 2.

1985

Add addition to Plant 2.
Started building stick & tin fifth wheels in this plant.

1990s

1991

KZ RV 1991 First Expandable Travel Trailer

Introduced KZ’s first expandable.
Construction starts on a 64,000-square-foot lamination plant.

1992

First laminated 5th wheel produced.

1993–1994

KZ RV 1994 Goshen News Article Plant 3 Begins Construction

Purchased land and begin construction on Plant 3, a 26,000-square-foot travel trailer manufacturing facility.

1995

KZ RV 1995 New Vision Fifth Wheel

KZ acquires a manufactured housing plant, originally a part of Holly Park Manufacturing Group, and names it Plant 4. This original Plant 4 boasts a 47,000 square foot facility and is set up to produce New Vision fiberglass 5th wheels. The plant is located at the intersection of State Roads 5 and 20, southeast corner.

1999

KZ RV 1999 Plant 5 Construction 1
KZ RV 1999 Plant 5 Construction 2
KZ RV 1999 Plant 5 Construction 3
KZ RV 1999 Plant 5 Construction 4
KZ RV 1999 Plant 5 Construction 5
KZ RV 1999 Plant 5 Construction 6
KZ RV 1999 First Toy Hauler

KZ constructs Plant 5.
First toy hauler produced.

2000s

2001

KZ RV 2001 Sportsmen Ultralite Rear Slide Travel

Daryl Zook and Randall Graber receive a patent for a unique rear slide mechanism.

2002

KZ RV 2002 Plant 4 Construction 1
KZ RV 2002 Plant 4 Construction 2
KZ RV 2002 Plant 4 Construction 3
KZ RV 2002 Plant 4 Construction 4

Construction begins on new Plant 4.
Daryl Zook becomes sole owner.

2003

Partner Dale Kauffman retires.

2004

3rd Expansion project; Start a 133,000 square foot building, named Plant 7. - More Info

2005

KZ continues to grow, constructing Plant 6.
Construction of Plant 7 completed.

2010s

2012

Venture RV is created. First product SportTrek is hatched in July. - More Info

2013

KZ Enters the Global Market by partnering with Chinese manufacturing concern Shandon Shan Yete Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Company, LTD in January. First travel trailers off line in September.

2014

THOR Industries purchases KZ on April 17th. - More Info
Aram Koltookian joins KZ as chief operating officer in May. - More Info

2015

KZ RV Expansion Construction New Lamination Plant
KZ RV A5 Expansion Construction New Lamination Plant 1
KZ RV A5 Expansion Construction New Lamination Plant 2

Lamination Plant 9 breaks ground in March, adding 80,750 additional square feet - More Info
Aram Koltookian named KZ president in October. - More Info
Daryl Zook named KZ chairman.
KZ enters into a second Chinese manufacturing project in connection with KingLong Bus.

2016

2nd Chinese factory built.

2017

Consummate manufacturing agreement with AIRVAN Company, LTD, in South Korea.

2018

Daryl Zook retires.

2019

Venture Sonic X Receiving 2020 RV Business RV of the Year Award KZ RV 2019 Sonic X Travel Trailer

Venture’s Sonic X is named RV of the Year in November. - More Info
Daryl Zook inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in August. - More Info

2020s

2021

Purchased an additional 30 acres for future expansion opportunities.