An indoor showroom to display a variety of recreational vehicles should be open in Evansville by mid-April.

Sonny Rone, president of Sonny's RV located at 5000 East Yellowstone Highway, said the firm hopes to hold a grand opening for the new 13,000-square-foot showroom and 3,000 square feet of new office space on April 15.

While Sonny's RV has about 200 units in inventory, Rone said only about 15 ultimately will find their way into the new showroom.

"We've got 15 different manufacturers, and our game plan is to put one of each in there," he said. "So we'll go from the little tent-trailer guy clear up to the $100,000 motorhome."

Rone said the vehicles displayed with be adorned by such touches as little fountains, a little scene for the tent trailers which includes a canoe and a little white picket fence around the expensive motor home.

The new showroom and office space will be added on to an existing 11,000-square-foot service facility. "So we're just adding this showroom on and tying it right to the old facility," he said.

Cost of the showroom and new offices is expected to be about $1 million.

Factory-to-dealers deliveries of recreation vehicles grew by double digits in 2004, and reached their highest levels since 1978, according to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.

This occurred despite rising gasoline prices.

"There are many factors behind the surge in RV sales," RVIA President David Humphreys said on the association's Web site. "Among them are the rising popularity of driving vacations, a favorable economic climate, product innovation and demographics. Families want to spend quality time together and prefer the greater freedom, flexibility, control and comfort RVs provide. Younger consumers and empty-nesters are both driving up sales - realizing the advantages of RVing over other forms of travel."

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@casperstartribune.net, or by calling 1-307-266-0574.