Tarpley RV shut its doors at the end of June, ending the company’s as one of the premier RV dealers in Durango.
The Tarpley family ran the company for 48 years starting under the leadership of Bill and Dorothy Tarpley in 1976. In 1996, their son Brad took over the business and ran it until its closure two months ago.
Nationally, the RV market is seeing a bit of a resurgence.
The most recent statistics reveal a positive increase, with overall sales rising by 11.1% compared with the previous year, according to market data from Bish’s RV Industry Update and Sales Report in March.
But it wasn’t the market that was the deciding factor in Tarpley’s decision. Tarpley’s business had grown exponentially since he took over 28 years ago.
When he took over for his parents, the dealership had only two or three full-time employees. At its peak, the business employed 50 workers because of demand.
In the dealership’s history, Tarpley said it employed on average between 15 and 20 full-time employees. It was something he and his family took pride in. He said that was one of the hardest aspect closing shop, knowing that he had great employees and Tarpley was able to be a stable employer.
He credits the business’ later success on the momentum his parents built before he took over. That momentum was based on the concept of trying to create a “win-win” for everybody.
“They just tried to treat people right,” he said.
But at 62, Tarpley was nearing retirement age and when he discovered that his children did not want to take on the family business, he decided it was time to move on.
The Tarpley RV location at 25871 U.S. Highway 550/160 (South Camino del Rio) has since been purchased by Durango Motor Co.
For most of the company’s existence it had a stranglehold on the RV dealership market. In 1976, the Tarpleys opened up shop in the lot where Rupert’s Durango is now located. At the time, the lot was located right next to the main highway coming and going from town.
Eventually, in 1988 the company moved to the Highway 550/160 location.
Around that time, there was also an explosion of car dealerships popping up. He said it went from four to 14 in a matter of a few years. He said that was a positive thing for the business because the two businesses pair well together.
Customers purchasing a vehicle may also want to buy a trailer.
For years, the dealership’s primary competitors were in Farmington and Utah.
Al’s Trailer Sales, Inc. in Farmington was one of Tarpley’s competitors until it closed. Four Corners RV was the other large competitor in Durango.
“We’re just not quite a large enough community, and we’re not on an interstate,” Tarpley said. “A lot of times, those larger dealerships want to be on an interstate.”
The RV dealership provided a way for his family to raise him and his siblings in Durango, he said. In the 1970s, Durango residents shared similar problems as they do today with regard to cost of living, he added.
“My folks, with myself and two siblings, wanted to live in Durango, and then, (same) as now, you couldn’t just move to town and get a job tending bar,” he said.
Luckily, the business was successful enough to allow Tarpley to do the same with his kids.
As for what’s next, Tarpley isn’t sure yet. He said he’s going to take it easy for a while and that he’s not ready to retire.
“The Tarpleys could not be more grateful for the support we’ve always felt from the community that we live in,” he said.
tbrown@durangoherald.com
