Two Evergreen travel trailers without walls, but with cabinets and interior features installed sit on the factory floor as workmen finish up at these work stations Friday, Jan. 10, 2014. (J. Tyler Klassen/ The Elkhart Truth)
MIDDLEBURY — EverGreen Recreational Vehicles in Middlebury, at one time one of the fastest-growing RV companies in the nation, has closed its doors, leaving hundreds of employees out of work.
Rumors about the company's demise began swirling on Tuesday. Company officials did not respond to repeated calls seeking comment on the fate of the business this week. However, employees and county officials said EverGreen shut down its operations on Friday.
The plant grounds at 10758 C.R. 2, just north of the Indiana Toll Road, were mostly empty Friday afternoon with almost no cars in the parking lot.
The company employed about 400 people in Middlebury who are not out of a job.
An employee of the flooring department on Friday evening said several welders were laid off on Monday, then employees were told on Tuesday that they would only have jobs for about another seven to 10 days. However, nearly all the employees were told on Friday not to return on Monday.
Only a skeleton crew will report to work at the plants on Monday to finish building RVs that were in progress on the production line.
The flooring employee said the company was doing well and staying busy all year — employees had been told there was a months-long backlog of orders — so Friday’s news came as a surprise. There had been no talk or rumors of the company closing until this week.
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