The RVMH Hall of Fame museum reopened this week to a slow trickle of visitors after closing for weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Hall of Fame leaders are looking forward to getting back to normal operations as the summer progresses, after re-opening the museum this past Friday, May 1. The museum in Elkhart, Indiana is currently open for normal hours for visitors who follow safety protocols.
RVMH Hall of Fame President Darryl Searer said he is happy to welcome guests back to the Hall of Fame and museum, which has “plenty of room for social distancing.”
“During the shutdown our management team has been in, making the place absolutely spotless, so when people do come in the floors are shiny, not that they always aren’t,” Searer said.
He said guests will be asked to adhere to certain rules in line with CDC recommendations and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s phased-out plan for reopening the state.
Upon arrival, museum guests will be required to use provided hand sanitizer and have their temperature taken via a touchless thermometer. The Hall of Fame will provide face masks to those who do not bring their own, but requests that guests do bring a personal mask.
He said though visitors will not be able to enter any RVs on site, the museum’s exhibits have been sanitized and prepared for the reopening. Additionally, the Hall of Fame and museum will provide sanitized chairs and will implement a no-touch policy.
“They’ve cleaned all the vehicles inside and outside, and washed and waxed them,” Searer said. “It’s a show place they can feel comfortable to come to and know that everything has been sanitized and is clean.”
Searer said the museum averages around 20,000 paid visitors per year, with the vast majority of them coming between April and October. Last year’s attendance climbed to nearly 22,000 visitors.
He said the Hall of Fame’s event center is almost fully booked out for the remainder of the year, with a few weekends available for rental. The induction dinner is still slated to continue as planned this August.
“We’re in good shape for the rest of the year, and we think the museum will pick up pace as people want to get up and out of their homes,” Searer said.
