Dar Gardener to be Inducted into the RV/Manufactured Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana
After 50 years in the manufactured homes business, Dar Gardener of Kimball, Nebraska will be inducted into the RV/Manufactured Home Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana. After the first of the year, Dar received confirmation of her induction. The induction ceremony will be on August 21, when Dar will receive a traditional Green jacket.
Elkhart, Indiana, is the home of RV Manufactured Home Museum.Their stated “mission is to recognize, preserve, and honor the history, pioneers, and individuals who have been instrumental in making the Recreational Vehicle and Manufactured Housing industries what they are today.”
Dar said she was “surprised and humbled by the nomination from her colleagues.”
She has been able to get to know people throughout the country through business. Her nomination letters came from Manufactured Homes dealers in South Dakota, Arizona, California, and Florida.
Source: Western Nebraska Observer
Dar explained how things have changed from the 1970s to today. Most homes were 12 feet, 14 feet or 16 feet wide. Now they sell condos in Winter Park and three and 4-plexes.
The homes are on basements, and each state has its own rules for putting up a manufactured home. It is more like building a home now. Today, all the homes have blueprints.
Dar’s dad, Henry Stahla, started the trailer park on the north side of Kimball, including RVs and eventually selling manufactured homes. Dar worked with him and admitted that she was one of the only women in the business 50 years ago.
She recalled telling herself, “I am going to learn everything I can about the business and constantly educate myself.” The learning curve included everything from carrying blocks, backing up a home, driving flag cars, and cleaning repos.
With years of experience and guidance from her dad, in 1990 Dar purchased the business herself. Just as she grew up in the business, so did her children. Now a son and daughter have followed Dar into the family business selling Nebraska built, Bonneville and Champion Manufactured Homes.
