The following is an excerpt from a story reported by St. Louis Magazine and shared by the RV Industry Association.
Generations of St. Louis families have turned to the same place to start their journeys on the open road.
At Apache Village RV, what began as a small, family-run operation has grown into one of the region’s most trusted RV dealerships. The company’s success is grounded in relationships, reliability, and an appreciation for what travel represents in people’s lives.
With 50 years in business, the company is reaching a significant milestone and stepping into its next chapter with the recent opening of a second location in O’Fallon, Missouri.
Why Customers Keep Coming Back Decades Later
Apache Village RV’s story begins in 1976, when Ray and Mary Ellen Meyer opened the business. A decade later, their son John saw potential growth in the RV industry. He took out a loan and purchased the company at just 25 years old with his wife, Barb, who was pregnant with their first child, Megan. They expanded the company’s offerings from pop-up campers to include travel trailers. The years that followed brought continued growth, with more than 500 campers, including pop-ups, travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes, along with expanding the property to span more than 8 acres.
That growth has been recognized across the industry. John was awarded the prestigious Founders Award from one of the top RV manufacturers, Jayco. Apache Village RV was selected among dealers nationwide and recognized during a ceremony in Las Vegas. The dealership has also earned distinction as the No. 1 fifth wheel dealer in North America, and it’s been recognized as “Best of the Midwest.”
“We built our entire business on customer service and word of mouth,” says Meg Powell, advertising manager at Apache Village RV Center. “We’re not here just to make a sale. We want to build relationships.”
The business is built on customer satisfaction and relationships, with an emphasis on the customer experience. Instead of a high-pressure sales environment, the dealership creates a comfortable space where families can explore options at their own pace.
That difference is clear to such customers as Lee Robinson, who first visited the dealership in 2020. “It was a family atmosphere,” Robinson recalls. “It was welcoming, warm, and there wasn’t any pressure. You felt like they were there to help you.”
The dealership has become a place that customers revisit, sometimes across decades. “We’ve seen families grow up with us,” Powell says. “They might start with a small trailer, then come back years later with kids, and eventually upgrade again. We’re part of that journey.”
Robinson has experienced that progression firsthand, returning to upgrade their RV and continuing to stay connected with the team. “You really feel like you’re part of the family when you’re there,” Robinson says.
The experience leaves a lasting impression on customers. “In an era where the internet allows a buyer to make most of a major decision before even stepping into a showroom, it’s refreshing to have a sales experience that feels comfortable,” says customer Kelly Alexander. “Apache Village and Grady [Powell, a sales professional at Apache Village] made us feel like our business was valued and never taken for granted.”
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