A previously announced agreement for Camping World to acquire Ottumwa, Iowa’s Bowling Motors and RV Sales has been terminated, according to a statement issued by Randy Bowling.
The deal had previously been announced in February. The companies mutually agreed to terminate the deal “based on unforeseen circumstances.”
“It was unfortunate that the deal did not happen, but the response to announcements of a pending sale to Camping World RV Sales created an incredible response from our long-standing relationships with many of our repeat customers and those who were about to become new customers,” said Bowling, president of Bowling Motors and RVs. “Word of the news spread quickly among our employees and customers were elated that the transaction had been mutually terminated by both companies.”
Bowling RV is a multi-generational dealership that was founded in 1959 as a used car dealership by Randy’s father, George. It transformed into an auto dealership and RV dealership in the early 1970s.
In 1988, Randy and his mother, Betty, took over the management of the family business. They closed the used car dealership and made the decision to focus exclusively on the RV market. In the fall of 2000, Bowling moved the dealership from downtown Ottumwa to a new 16-acre facility on the highway 63 bypass just north of town, where it has flourished since.
Today, the dealership is managed by three generations of Bowlings – Randy, Betty, and Randy’s two sons, Jake and Adam.
Adam Bowling, sales manager, said, “Communications and interaction with our customers set up apart from other RV dealerships. With three generations at the store, we can stay close to our longtime customers and engage the new RVers who have found our industry after the pandemic hit everyone in 2020. The next generation of RV buyers is very comfortable with the next generation of management here at the dealership.”
“Our customers shop here because we are a family-owned dealership that supports the local economy, schools, ball teams, family shelters, churches, libraries, and other civic programs,” added Randy Bowling.
Bowling RVs also has been an advocate for children with cancer. A few years back they did a campaign “Trailers for Trevor” raising money for a young boy with cancer. They donated $100 for every trailer sold in the month of April.
