The acquisition was not a simple continuation of the existing business. Instead, Camping World utilized a "clean slate" approach:
: The brand was renamed Gander Outdoors , with an initial goal of reopening roughly 70 of the most profitable locations from the original 160-store fleet.
In 2017, Camping World Holdings, the nation's largest RV retailer, transformed the outdoor retail landscape by winning a bankruptcy auction for the assets of Gander Mountain and its boating subsidiary, Overton's. Led by CEO Marcus Lemonis—well-known from CNBC’s The Profit —the deal was worth approximately $38 million for the intellectual property, brand rights, and ecommerce platforms. Strategic Pivot to "Gander Outdoors"
The purchase allowed Camping World to diversify beyond RVs and tap into the broader "outdoor lifestyle" market:
