Wilkins Recreational Vehicles, Inc. completed an agreement to buy Great Outdoors RV and its locations in Fulton and Clay, New York.
The deal, which is expected to close Oct. 31, will increase Wilkins RV’s total locations to six.
“We are proud and excited to take over and build upon the proud heritage that has been built by Great Outdoors RV and its employees,” Wilkins RV President Brian Wilkins said. “They have a great customer following and we look forward to supporting that customer base and continuing the growth they have experienced for over 30 years. From a strategic standpoint, this move allows us to increase our presence in the Syracuse market and better serve our current customers in that market.”
Great Outdoors RV President Bill Clark said it was an honor to serve the market for more than three decades.
“As we vetted prospective buyers, Wilkins RV was consistently at the top of our list,” Clark said. “Wilkins has dominated the western RV market for well over 70 years and I could not be more pleased to pass the baton on to Brian and his team as they take what we started to the next level.”
The Great Outdoors Recreation Center started in 1988 when Clark and Jerry Fitzpatrick bought Ralph Bubbs Sport Center, a recreational dealership in Fulton. Clark and Fitzpatrick brought more than 20 years of retail recreation experience with them and since provided thousands of central New Yorkers a taste of the RV lifestyle, Wilkins RV stated.
The Great Outdoors Fulton location is known for its unique rural setting with ponds and rustic décor. The dealership opened in Clay in 2019 in a former Toys R Us store location. Together, the dealership can display up to 150 RVs. Clark had taken over as sole owner after Fitzpatrick passed away in July.
Wilkins RV was founded by Charles Wilkins in 1936 as an auto detail shop. Charles Wilkins and his son, Ronald, started selling RVs in the 1950s. Ron Wilkins ran the business until he sold it to his son, Brian, in 2004.
Wilkins RV has New York locations in Bath, Churchville, Victor and Brewerton.
