About S&S Apache
In 1955, Layton Smith and two college fraternity brothers embarked on a 7,000-mile adventure across the American West. Living out of a station wagon packed with camping gear, and with less than a hundred dollars each in their pockets, they visited iconic destinations like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Rocky Mountain National Park, just to name a few. The journey proved to be a formative experience for Layton, that cemented his love of travel and his deep appreciation for the diverse landscapes of the United States.
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Our History
In 1955, Layton Smith and two college fraternity brothers embarked on a 7,000-mile adventure across the American West. Living out of a station wagon packed with camping gear, and with less than a hundred dollars each in their pockets, they visited iconic destinations like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Rocky Mountain National Park, just to name a few. The journey proved to be a formative experience for Layton, that cemented his love of travel and his deep appreciation for the diverse landscapes of the United States.
Fast forward to 1963. Now married with two young children, Layton was working alongside his father in the family insurance business. His wife, Margaret, often expressed her desire to travel as Layton had in 1955, a dream made more complicated by traveling and camping with young children. Determined to find a solution, Layton began researching options and ultimately decided that an Apache pop-up camper from Vesely Manufacturing Company was the answer.
At the time, the RV industry was far smaller than it is today, and there was no Apache dealer in Jackson, Mississippi. Seeing an opportunity, Layton and a friend founded Campers Equipment in 1963 and became the local Apache pop-up dealer. The first truckload of campers arrived already sold or earmarked for customers. Demand quickly grew, leading to a second truckload, then a third, and a fourth. In 1964, nearly a year later, Layton and his wife, Margaret, bought out his partner and re-incorporated the business as S&S Apache Camping Center, Inc, all while Layton continued working in the family insurance business.
Although the Vesely Manufacturing Company and the Apache pop-up eventually went out of business, customers had come to know and trust the S&S Apache name, and it has endured. Over the years, we have proudly carried a wide variety of respected brands in the RV industry like Winnebago, Holiday Rambler, Palomino and Forest River among others. S&S Apache has also been routinely recognized by our manufacturer partners for strong sales performance and an unwavering commitment to customer service.
More than 60 years later, S&S Apache proudly stands as Mississippi’s oldest continuously operating RV dealership. We are honored to serve second-, third-, and even fourth-generation customers. While much has changed over the decades, our commitment to exceptional service and an outstanding sales experience remains unchanged. Thank you for choosing S&S Apache Camping Center to be part of your family’s adventures.