2016 PleasureLand RV Camp and Travel Expo

The 45th annual PleasureLand RV Camp and Travel Expo gets under way on Thursday, February 18, at the River’s Edge Convention Center.

The expo, which started in 1971, is free and open to the public.

There will be more than 100 new RV units taking up the convention center floor. There were 125 units at last year’s show, according to PleasureLand assistant sales manager Vinny Binsfeld.

“Last year we put in more units than we have ever had before,” said Binsfeld, who has worked for PleasureLand for 11 years. “It’s really expanded more and more every year.”

There will be everything from motorhomes, travel trailers, ice houses to pop-up campers at the expo.

The expo goes from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 21.

Some of the companies represented at the expo will include Winnebago, Keystone, Thor, Grand Design, Forest River, Crossroads, Cruiser RV and Palomino.

Fitting in all of the RVs on the convention center floor certainly isn’t an easy task for PleasureLand to accomplish.

“The River’s Edge does a great job of working with us,” Binsfeld said. “It’s almost like putting together a puzzle. Our GM does a fantastic job of making it all happen. Sometimes it comes down to a matter of feet and inches to fit all of these units in.”

RVs have come a long way since 1971. Binsfeld said the general public will be amazed by some of the technology advancements if they step into an RV today.

“There are always floor plan and technology changes,” he said. “There are so many more features like bluetooth, LED lights, larger bathrooms. The technology continues to grow and I think people love it.”

PleasureLand has six different locations in Minnesota including two in St. Cloud and Brainerd and one each in Ramsey and Long Prairie.