FOREST CITY, IA – Annually more than 10,000 visitors come to Forest City, Iowa, to get the inside story of one of America’s most iconic brands – Winnebago Industries®. Come see for yourself why Winnebago Industries is the most recognized name in the RV industry with a free factory tour.
Founded in 1958, “Winnebago” became a household word when the Company became the first recreation vehicle manufacturer to build motor homes in an automotive-style assembly line system. Winnebago Industries builds its Winnebago®, Itasca®, and Era® motor home brands in one of the most technologically advanced RV manufacturing facilities in existence today.
“If you haven’t been on our tour – you are missing out,” said Winnebago Industries Chairman, CEO and President Randy Potts. “The tour not only shows you how our motor homes are built from start to finish, but also the technology and innovative designs that set our motor homes apart from the rest.”
The tour starts at the Winnebago Industries’ Visitors Center with a 20-minute video that offers a preview of the manufacturing process. After the video, the tour bus, constructed on a Winnebago Industries Commercial Vehicle shell, departs for a drive-through tour of the grounds. Tour goers are also able to do walk-in tours of three buildings: the Chassis Weld facility, where the raw chassis is prepared to become a home on wheels with the front cab and basement storage added; the Stitchcraft facility that builds quality chairs, window valances, sofas and other innovative furniture pieces that are only found in our motor homes; and our main production area named Big Bertha.
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Equivalent in size to eight football fields, Big Bertha features three production lines. Visitors will see the magnitude of this building thanks to mezzanines that provide a bird’s eye view.
Before or after the tour, visitors can also tour the Winnebago Industries Museum which is located in the upper level of the Visitors Center. The museum chronicles the Company’s 54-year history, as well as the design and construction of the Company’s motor homes.
During the spring and summer months, the Visitors Center also features some of the latest models of the Company’s Winnebago, Itasca and Era brand motor homes, as well as Winnebago and SunnyBrook® brand towables, right off the assembly lines. Visitors can also see one of the first motor homes built by Winnebago Industries, the classic 1967 Winnebago D22, as well as a 1959 Aljo trailer also manufactured by Winnebago Industries.
Tours of Winnebago Industries are free, and all ages are welcome. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The Visitors Center is accessible to those with disabilities; however the factory tour does include three staircases.
Tours, which last approximately two hours, are offered twice daily at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Friday from April through October, and at 1 p.m. in November. If your group is larger than six, reservations are recommended.
For more information, please call 641/585-6936, visit: http://www.winnebagoind.com/company/visit-us/ or email info@winnebagoind.com.
