Camping World — a dealership, service center and retail store — is a national chain founded in 1966 that has been headed by Marcus Lemonis since 2006. It has locations in 43 states.

The location at 2905 N. Lincoln Road had been Hilltop RV, a family business founded by Kenneth and Theresa Swanson, until 2021. Their first location was up on Danforth Road; the Swansons’ business on Lincoln Road operated from 1985 until 2021, when they sold to Camping World.

“Michigan is consistently a strong market for the RV and outdoor enthusiast,” Lemonis said in a press release announcing the purchase four years ago. “This acquisition expands our reach into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and allows us to bring our assortment closer to the consumer to fulfill their needs.”

Though winters were slow at the Escanaba dealership, business was reportedly good in the warmer months. The Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds are used for storage of RVs and campers in the wintertime, and those coming out of storage in the spring often came to Camping World for service, said Fixed Operations Director Michelle LaCosse when the Daily Press did a business profile on the Escanaba Camping World in April (that article is at https://www.dailypress.net/news/local-news/2025/04/business-profile-camping-world-has-become-a-part-of-delta-county/).

A laminated sign on the front door of Escanaba Camping World announces its closure and invites visitors to head to their Green Bay location. (R.R. Branstrom | Daily Press photo)

The past few months, the Escanaba location had particularly good sales, an employee said this week.

On Wednesday, delegates from Camping World’s corporate office arrived in Escanaba showed up to deliver unexpected news. Some local staff thought it might be congratulatory.

Instead, corporate representatives told salespeople that it was their last day. Service technicians were to complete work on the customer vehicles already on premises but wrap up in the next couple weeks. Some employees could help pack up the store over the next couple weeks. Upper management staff were told they could transfer to other locations, one employee said.

The Escanaba Camping World is the only one being closed at this time, said a spokesperson working in Lemonis’s office. She said that she was unable to provide a reason for the closure but confirmed: “They do have employees there until September the 26th; however, all RVS sales have stopped. All of the service work that they currently have in their location, they’re still gonna get that done for you.”

Although other Camping Worlds have shut down in recent months amid disputes with local governments about the massive, sometimes ordinance-violating flagpoles that Lemonis proudly raises in front of his businesses, that doesn’t seem to be the case in Escanaba. Zoning Administrator Joseph Walker said the city had not sought enforcement action against Camping World and it was sad to see them go.

Remaining businesses in the Upper Peninsula that may provide similar services for customers who had previously come to Camping World include Northern RV in Quinnesec; Ride North in Ishpeming, Kingsford and Houghton; Airstream of Northern Michigan in Marquette; and 906 RV Services in Iron Mountain.

The nearest Camping World now is 111 miles away in Green Bay. A laminated paper sign on the front door of the Escanaba store reads: “We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this closure but look forward to seeing you down the road at our Camping World of Green Bay location.”

The large roadside sign that had previously indicated the location of the store on North Lincoln Road with the name “CAMPING WORLD/RV SALES” in white and royal blue is now blank and black.