BORN FREE's Kim Olson still in the RV business?

Born Free Motorcoach in Humboldt, Iowa is shuttered. Reported to have run out of money, as the reason it closed in May 2017.

whemme wrote:
I don't think that is true. Born Free Motorcoach is now owned by an investment group based in Des Moines, IA.

Their regional office may be in Des Moines, but the ownership of Born Free is now based in Japan. The only thing owned by heirs of Dodgen are the building & associated real estate in Humboldt.

I don't think that is true. Born Free Motorcoach is now owned by an investment group based in Des Moines, IA.

More details are emerging on the sale of Born Free. The Humboldt. Iowa company is now foreign-owned by an Asian-based investor group. The Dodgens, i.e. John and John junior (C.T.) are out of it completely.

John Dodgen is now deceased. New management is in-place in Humboldt, Iowa.

In a letter addressed to the Born Free Owners Group, Jeff basically gave his background as an employee of numerous RV manufacturers covering 30+ years, and that; "great things were in store for Born Free." No specifics on what that might mean was offered in the press release/letter.

There were no details given beyond these two factoids from the Born Free president and CEO.

I owned a 24ft BF great coach. very well made.

The newly hired President and CEO of Born Free is Jeff Butler. He left Dynamax, a division of Forest River RV company to take the position with the investment group out of Des Moines, Iowa. Prior to Forest River, Jeff had a very long career in management with Monaco Coach in Oregon, before the industry basically shut down during the recession of 2008 and 2009.