The Road to #1.

In the mid-1950s Forest City, Iowa, was looking at a bleak future. The farm economy was down and young people were leaving this rural area. Forward-looking members of the community set about bringing industry to town.

In 1958, businessman John K. Hanson and others convinced a California company to open a travel trailer factory in Forest City.

After a rough start, the operation was purchased by five Forest City residents and John K. Hanson became president. In 1960 the name of the company was changed to Winnebago Industries.

To improve quality, Winnebago Industries manufactured furniture and other components designed specifically for its travel trailers.

In 1963 a wall construction process called Thermo-Panel® was developed. It provides a strong, yet lightweight and well insulated sidewall. Innovations such as these resulted in a dramatic increase in the company’s sales.

In 1966 the first motor home rolled off the Winnebago Industries assembly lines. Through use of the assembly line and other manufacturing innovations in the motor home industry, Winnebago Industries could produce a motor home that sold for half the price of competitors’ models.

Growth Continues
In 1970 Winnebago Industries moved to a new and expanded manufacturing facility. In 1970 the company also was listed on the New York Stock exchange and in 1971 the stock appreciated 462 percent - more than any other company on the exchange.
The Itasca line was introduced in 1975 and in 1977 Winnebago Industries built its 100,000th unit - the first RV manufacturer to reach that production level.

The company continued to grow in the 1980s. Sales for the fiscal year ending on August 25, 1984, totaled $411 million - the first time the company’s sales topped $400 million.

1986 was a year of more firsts for Winnebago Industries. The company celebrated 20 years of motor home production - the first RV manufacturer to reach that milestone. In 1986 the company also was the first to produce 200,000 motor homes.

In addition, 1986 marked the first appearance of Winnebago Industries on the Fortune 500 list of corporations. Winnebago Industries ranked 340 in net income as a percentage of stockholder equity and made the Top Ten in innovation.
During 1989 a state-of-the-art testing facility was completed.

Changes - But Quality Remains
Much has changed since the first recreational vehicles were produced in the American heartland of Forest City, Iowa, by Winnebago Industries more than 46 years ago. But much also remains the same.

The Winnebago Industries commitment to providing high quality, great value, efficient design and eye-catching style in motor homes remains the driving force in Forest City, Iowa.