That was the RV week that was, May 11-17, 2019

Here are your RV news highlights for the week of May 11 to 17, 2019.

Year-over-year Canadian motorhome sales tumbled 53% for the first three months of 2019, according to the latest report from Statistical Surveys Inc. Thor Industries Inc. was the Canadian motorhome sales leader through March, capturing a 52.8% market share, followed by Forest River Inc. (25.2%) and Winnebago Industries Inc. (6.5%).

Strong winds from storms overturned an RV with six people inside near the Lake-Polk County line in Florida on Tuesday. The RV was knocked on its side at the Lake Magic RV Resort on U.S. 192 and U.S. 27, in the Four Corners area. Six people, including two children, were inside the RV at the time, Polk County Fire Rescue said. All were okay.

The Forest Preserves of Winnebago County, Illinois, will offer free camping for U.S. veterans on Flag Day, June 14. The offer entitles veterans to one campsite with one camping unit and one bundle of free firewood, plus electricity. Electric and primitive campsites are available.

Indiana Dunes National Park can now reserve campsites. In past years, all 66 sites were available on a first-come, first-served basis. Under the new system, 34 sites can be reserved up to six months in advance. The park covers 15,000 acres along the southern shore of Lake Michigan in northwestern Indiana. The price is $25 per night.

Lake Erie water levels are very high. It’s made for a soggy shoreline and with the road being the only way into Ontario’s Long Point Provincial Campground, the park superintendent was forced to close the park. Lake Erie is about two feet higher than normal, the highest it’s been since 1985. Selkirk Provincial Park is also closed because of flooding, and combined with Long Point, there are roughly 250 campsites closed as well.

The president of the RV Industry Association (RVIA), Frank Hugelmeyer, has resigned to accept a position as CEO of the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). Read more.

An RV went up in flames as a man tried to jump-start his Cadillac on Wednesday in Ellenton, Florida, using jumper cables connected to his motorhome. The man had two dogs, which were rescued from the RV. His cat, however, died as a result of the fire.

The Bureau of Land Management announced Wednesday that it is closing the Red Rock Campground near Las Vegas at 11 a.m. on June 2. The closure is due to the low-usage period that occurs during the most intense summer months. The campground is the only developed one within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

After 45 years in business, Forest City Motorhomes in London, Ontario, will close its doors for good sometime during the next several weeks, adding another company to the list of casualties resulting from the February closing of Erwin Hymer North America, which produced Roadtrek motorhomes. The company was the largest Roadtrek dealer in the country,