Thursday, February 09, 2006

Developer David Garvin hopes to have a “big announcement” to make within the next six weeks for his proposed recreation vehicle park in Simpson County.

Garvin traveled to England recently to check out some form of entertainment for the park. A tour for people involved in this type of entertainment is planned for the Simpson County site soon, Garvin said.

“We’ve got several things cooking right now, but nothing has been firmed up,” Garvin said. “We’ve made some headway. We’ve generated some excitement in the RV industry.”

Garvin said he has had full cooperation from highway transportation engineers and politicians for plans to widen Ky. 100 for his project and others in that area, including the industrial park. Garvin said it makes sense for the widening of Ky. 100 to coincide with the plan to six-lane I-65 from Warren County through Simpson County to the Tennessee state line. The Ky. 100 interchange will have to be reworked during the I-65 project so why not improve Ky. 100 simultaneously, Garvin said.

“The state is working with us perfectly. Our goal of providing a good experience to RVers hinges on the roads. I don’t see any reason why it won’t be done right the first time,” Garvin said.

The state Transportation Cabinet had already planned to improve Ky. 100 with the interchange. However, Garvin’s project requires additional upgrades, such as a two-lane off ramp that spreads into five lanes before connecting with Ky. 100 and the widening of Ky. 100 to six lanes.

Garvin said outdoor megastore Cabela’s is still interested in locating at the site. However, Cabela’s will wait until the road improvements are made, he said.

State Rep. Rob Wilkey said in December that Garvin’s project has support of both parties and houses in the General Assembly.

Garvin has been traveling the United States to promote his Simpson County project. So far, the feedback has been positive.

“They (RVers) want anything that will improve their experience. Everything we do will be to improve their experience from servicing their RVs to entertainment. Our goal is to attract the transient RVer who is between stops,” Garvin said.

Higher gas prices has adversely affected the sale of recreation vehicles. But, Garvin said RV owners who spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their vehicles still travel an average of 45,000 miles per year.

“High gas prices do not change their lifestyles,” Garvin noted.

Garvin – founder of Bowling Green-based Camping World – first proposed a five-story 650,000-square-foot megacenter at his $53 million Franklin development but said it would take too much of his 300 acres to construct such a tall building. He wants big roads, big parking lots and greenery.

Instead, he is dividing the property up for the RV-related businesses, entertainment centers and restaurants.

Garvin’s development is expected to open in 2007. It could create as many as 800 jobs.

The massive project has the ability to literally put Simpson County on the map and become Kentucky’s largest tourist attraction.