Timeline
1970s
1972
KZ’s First Location – Started in former gas station north of Middlebury, Indiana. The first product Daryl Zook and uncle/partner Sam King produced was a line of truck campers, sold mostly in the eastern U.S. - More Info
1974
Builds First Travel Trailer in Middlebury, Indiana.
1975
KZ moves to Shipshewana, Indiana, and starts manufacturing 12- to 16-foot travel trailers.
1976
Sam King exits, and another uncle/partner, Dale Kauffman, enters (fortunately, both partners share the same last name initials!).
1979
Move to present location and build a 10,000 square foot building (Plant 1).
1980s
1983
Purchase adjacent land and construct Plant 2.
1985
Add addition to Plant 2.
Started building stick & tin fifth wheels in this plant.
1990s
1991
Introduced KZ’s first expandable.
Construction starts on a 64,000-square-foot lamination plant.
1992
First laminated 5th wheel produced.
1993–1994
Purchased land and begin construction on Plant 3, a 26,000-square-foot travel trailer manufacturing facility.
1995
KZ acquires a manufactured housing plant, originally a part of Holly Park Manufacturing Group, and names it Plant 4. This original Plant 4 boasts a 47,000 square foot facility and is set up to produce New Vision fiberglass 5th wheels. The plant is located at the intersection of State Roads 5 and 20, southeast corner.
1999
KZ constructs Plant 5.
First toy hauler produced.
2000s
2001
Daryl Zook and Randall Graber receive a patent for a unique rear slide mechanism.
2002
Construction begins on new Plant 4.
Daryl Zook becomes sole owner.
2003
Partner Dale Kauffman retires.
2004
3rd Expansion project; Start a 133,000 square foot building, named Plant 7. - More Info
2005
KZ continues to grow, constructing Plant 6.
Construction of Plant 7 completed.
2010s
2012
Venture RV is created. First product SportTrek is hatched in July. - More Info
2013
KZ Enters the Global Market by partnering with Chinese manufacturing concern Shandon Shan Yete Recreational Vehicle Manufacturing Company, LTD in January. First travel trailers off line in September.
2014
THOR Industries purchases KZ on April 17th. - More Info
Aram Koltookian joins KZ as chief operating officer in May. - More Info
2015
2016
2nd Chinese factory built.
2017
Consummate manufacturing agreement with AIRVAN Company, LTD, in South Korea.
2018
Daryl Zook retires.
2020s
2021
Purchased an additional 30 acres for future expansion opportunities.