Camp Site RV will expand and relocate this fall to a new building being constructed at the intersection of Hwy. 9 W. and Valley Ave., adjacent to the Cresco Airport.
    Camp Site RV co-owner Steve McCarville said the company purchased the 43 acres of land from Bootie Kapler in February. They will use about 12 to 15 acres for the business.
    The owners will sell the remaining acres after they complete construction of the new building. McCarville said they hope to sell the land to commercial businesses, and are working with Howard County Economic Development Director Ken Paxton to attract new businesses to town.
    The new steel facility will be about 16,800 square feet. The expansion will allow Camp Site RV to operate more efficiently. The new facility will include nine service bases, and allow the business to undertake more interior work and offer complete repair work for all RVs.
    A couple years ago McCarville and co-owner Tom Kubik began looking into expanding the service work his business offers. Trailers are being manufactured larger than they used to be, which means more space is needed to complete service work efficiently, he said. He decided the business needed a larger shop to accomodate its customers.
    The new facility will also include a larger retail store, different variations of trailers for sale and living quarters for horse, racecar and service trailers.
    Last November, McCarville and Kubik explored the option of moving their business into the former Wal-Mart building on Hwy. 9 in Decorah. Although McCarville said the developer working with him in Decorah was very accommodating, the Camp Site owner preferred to stay in Cresco where his family is located.
    “We really wanted to expand in Cresco, but at the time there was no land available,” McCarville said.
    In early 2008, McCarville and Kubik approached Bootie Kapler about purchasing land she owned near the airport. After discussing the purchase with her, they made the decision in early February to stay in town.
    “If it wouldn’t be for her, we’d probably be in Decorah,” McCarville said of Kapler.
    Mehmert Tiling began preliminary work a couple weeks ago at the new site. A&J Construction will build the new facility. Camp Site RV hopes to be open for business at the new location Sept. 1.
    “I think it will work out really well,” McCarville said, of the expansion and relocation.
    After the business relocates, its current building on Hwy. 9 W. will be for sale.