Woodall's Marks 70th Year as Major Publisher in Campground Industry

Woodall's Marks 70th Year as Major Publisher in Campground Industry

VENTURA, Calif., Jan. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- 2005 marks 70 years of service to the camping industry by Woodall Publications Corporation (Woodall's), a multi- media publisher that produces camping and RV related directories, special interest books, magazines and online publications.

Woodall's legacy began in 1935 when Karl Hale Dixon founded Dixon Publishing and began work on Trailer Travel magazine. In January of 1936, Dixon launched the first edition of Trailer Travel and dedicated it to "all Trailerites, owners (present and future), operators, dealers and manufacturers of pleasure and business trailers." Dixon recognized the potential of the "Trailerites" and understood that the country stood on the precipice of an amazing revolution. It was a revolution that would quickly give birth to an entire new industry and way of travel that would literally change the lives of millions of people.

Dixon's vision was to compile a publication that appealed to the adventuresome spirit of those who explored North America in their automobiles towing trailers -- whether they be state-of-the-art models with many of the comforts of home or more affordable home-made versions.

Dixon eventually sold the company to R.A. Woodall, after whom the current company is named. For the past 70 years, Woodall's has not only witnessed the evolution of the RV and camping industry, but documented it for RVers, and the changes have been nothing short of phenomenal. But the reason behind Woodall's publishing efforts remains unchanged -- to provide today's "Trailerites" or RVers as they are now called -- with the most complete, accurate and up-to-date information available.

"We know that travelers want to embrace the same pioneering and adventurous spirit that has compelled millions of people to take to the road in all forms of vehicles -- motor homes, trailers, fifth wheels, pop-ups and even some home-made concoctions," said Joe Daquino, Vice President and Group Publisher for Woodall's. "They want to find those off-the-beaten path treasures that make exploring this vast continent so rewarding."

Today, Woodall's publishes 10 campground directories including Woodall's North American Campground Directory, Woodall's Go & Rent ... Rent & Go Rental Guide, Woodall's Tenting Directory, five regional publications, Campground Management, a monthly trade publication, Woodall's Buyer's Guide and multiple special interest books. In addition, Woodall's online services are extensive with its free website at wooodalls.com, and a variety of online publications.

Special events planned to celebrate the 70th anniversary include a special One-Directory-A-Day drawing for a North American Campground Directory at http://www.woodalls.com/ , launch of a new Internet-based RV and camping club in the spring at http://www.woodallsdiamondclub.com/ , plus other drawings and activities at RV consumer shows throughout the year.

Studies show that nearly 1 in 12 U.S. vehicle-owning households now own an RV, accounting for nearly 7 million households, and an increase of 7.8 percent over the past four years. A leading force behind RV ownership's upswing is the baby boomer market of consumers 35 to 54 years old. The average RV owner is married, owns a home and has an annual household income of $56,000. Reflecting the aging population, the median age of all RV owners is now 49 years, up slightly from the previous study, which recorded a median age of 48.


Source: Woodall Publications Corporation

CONTACT: Joe Daquino, Multimedia Division Vice President, Publisher of
Woodall Publications Corporation, +1-805-667-4305, or
jdaquino@affinitygroup.com ; or Julie Calzone, President-CEO of Calzone &
Associates, +1-337-235-2924, ext. 3, or jcalzone@calzone.com , for Woodall
Publications Corporation

Web site: http://www.woodalls.com/


-------
Profile: intent