February 12, 1958: John K Hanson Transforms Forest City, Iowa

In the late 50s, there was a small business owner that took on a project to bring industry to Forest City, Iowa. That man was John K. Hanson. In 1958, an avid camping enthusiast, brought Modernistic Trailer from California to Northern Iowa. He bought out his investors and on February 28, 1961 he changed the name to Winnebago Industries - a tribute to the County where the factory stood.

65 years in the making and we are a household name right up there with Q-Tips, Band-Aids, Kleenex, Coca Cola and Jell-O. My mother at 85 years old, as many do, refers to RVs as Winnebagos. We define the industry, and we are the only independent still standing.

We have people that have worked for 30 - 40 - 50 years, celebrating these milestone anniversaries. Although there may not be someone with 65 years, almost anyone you approach in this area has worked at Winnebago in some capacity. That project that started in 1957, continues today in 2023.

We started with a simple single axle trailer, then we built some of the best RVs through the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s though the 2000s, to the awesome Class A, Class B and Class C, models like the Minnie Winnie, Adventurer, and Journey, and new greats like the Travato, Revel and Ekko - we continue to build today in the same facility that started back in 1958. Today we continue to innovate, we introduced the first ALL-ELECTRIC RV with the eRV2. We are going across America, trying to improve the way one can enjoy the outdoors. I can imagine John K is looking down on us, as we continue to carry his vision forward, bringing his passion of the outdoors to this great country.

Thank you John K for all you have done for Forest City, and thank you to the John K Hanson Foundation and the Winnebago Industries Foundation for all you keep doing for this great town.

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