History Of Affinity

The Affinity Timeline

1935	The first Woodall’s Travel Trailer magazine is published, and includes a small campground listing as an insert.
1941	Western States Trailer Association, a group of RV manufacturers, starts publishing Western Trailer Life magazine. The first issue was 18 pages and cost 10 cents a copy.
1958	Los Angeles advertising executive Art Rouse sees a future in the RV business and purchases Trailer Life magazine at a circulation of 11,000.
1966	Trail-R-News, a cross-town rival to Trailer Life magazine, launches the Good Sam Club. The club, named after the Biblical Good Samaritan who helps travelers, is designed to be a club to help fellow RVers.
1968	Rouse buys Trail-R-News, along with the Good Sam Club and Camper Coachman magazine. He debuts a new magazine Motorhome Life.
1972	Coast to Coast Resorts is launched as a welcoming network of 13 membership campgrounds for RVers. The network eventually grows to over 600 campground resorts, and the club publishes Coast to Coast magazine.
1973	Golf Card International is launched as a club where members can get substantial discounts on rounds of golf at public golf courses across the country. The club goes on to launch Golf Traveler club magazine. Trailer Life publishes the first official campground directory of the Good Sam Club.
1974	Art Rouse’s son Denis launches an all-brand motorcycle magazine called Rider.
1980	John Ehlert founds Winter Sports Publishing, Inc. by merging two regional snowmobile publications and creating Snowmobile Magazine.
1984	The Good Sam Club introduces an Emergency Road Service program designed specifically for RV owners.
1987	Winter Sports Publishing launches Water Scooter magazine, later renamed Watercraft World. Winter Sports Publishing changes its name to Ehlert Publishing Group.
1988	Businessman Steve Adams purchases the Good Sam Club, TL Enterprises, and Coast to Coast Resorts campground network.
1990	TL Enterprises acquires The Golf Card, a membership organization for golf enthusiasts.
1992	The Good Sam Club, Trailer Life Enterprises, Coast to Coast and The Golf Card are reorganized under the umbrella company Affinity Group, Inc.
1993	Affinity Group, Inc. acquires Woodall Publications, publisher of Woodall’s Campground Directories and regional publications.
1995	Ehlert Publishing Group enters the growing all-terrain vehicle market with ATV Magazine, the world’s largest ATV publication. Affinity Group launches RV Search to assist customers in buying and selling RVs.
1997	Affinity Group, Inc. purchases Camping World retail stores and the Minnesota-based Ehlert Publishing Group’s PowerSports magazines.
1997	The Good Sam Club introduces the Continued Service Plan, a warranty product for RVs.
2000	Affinity Group Inc. holds the first Great North American RV Rally in Gillette, Wyoming. The annual event, now known simply as The Rally, continues to grow every year and is now one of the largest RV rallies in the country. RVtoday airs for the first time on cable television. RV.Net is launched, and quickly becomes one of the most frequently visited RV websites on the internet. The Good Sam Club celebrates its one millionth member. Ehlert purchases Thunder Press, the nation’s leading Harley-Davidson focused newspaper out of Scotts Valley, California.
2001	The Good Sam Club Launches the Good Sam Authorized Dealer Program
2002	Ehlert purchases Boating Industry magazine and Boating E-news from National Trade Publications of Latham, New York.
2003	Ehlert acquires Poole Publications (Trailer Boats, Bass & Walleye Boats, Camping Life, Your Guide to Towing) with staff in Carson, California and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
2004	Ehlert acquires American Recreation Unlimited, producer of three consumer shows in Minneapolis/St. Paul. This acquisition leads to the creation of AGI Events.
2005	Ehlert purchases Powerboat magazine, the world’s leading performance boating publication.
2006	Affinity Group, Inc. launches Camp Club USA, which offers deep discounts at campgrounds across the country. Affinity Group, Inc. acquires Washington based AGS Publishing, an industry leader in the production of Guest Services Guides.
2007	The company launches a new branding initiative, referring to itself as simply, Affinity. Company division names TL Enterprises and Ehlert Publishing are discontinued.The restructuring is designed to streamline the company and make it easier for partners and advertisers to work with it.