The podcast
with Scott Nielson
Building real businesses, from the first campfire to the empire.
Real stories and practical lessons from a career that started with two used cars, and conversations with people who build things.
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The official trailer · 60 seconds
From humble beginnings in Hurricane, Utah, to cars, RVs, campgrounds and development. Get a first look at the stories, risks and lessons behind Campfire to Empire.
Cinematic preview made with AI narration and selected AI-created podcast imagery.
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Episode 1September 28, 202641:51
With Scott Nielson and Ben Lindquist
Ben Lindquist sits down with Scott Nielson to trace the road from two used cars bought in Riverside, California, to Nielson RV, the sale to Camping World, and Scott's return to the RV business with Glampers RV once his five-year non-compete ended.
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About the show
Campfire to Empire is Scott Nielson's podcast about building real businesses: the deals, the mistakes, the people and the lessons. Scott built and sold Nielson RV, and today runs Glampers RV, Jellystone Park™ Zion (as a franchisee), My Simple Living and Nielson Development.
Meet Scott →How deals really get done: buying right, surviving downturns, selling, and starting again.
The RV business and outdoor hospitality in Southern Utah, near Zion and Sand Hollow.
Land, buildings and the long game of turning an idea into something you can stand in.
Conversations with people who build things, and the lessons they learned the hard way.
Free e-book
Scott and Kristin Nielson Legacy
The family and business story behind Campfire to Empire, from Scott's early years to building Nielson RV and the chapters that followed.
Prepared with John Catron and Legacy Books.
Scott's businesses
The show isn't an ad for them, but they're where most of the lessons come from.
Scott's RV dealership in Hurricane, Utah: new and used RVs, service and parts.
glampersrv.com (opens in a new tab)
Family camping near Zion National Park, next to Sand Hollow State Park: cabins, RV sites and a Water Zone with slides and pools.
Independently owned and operated franchise location.
zionutahjellystonepark.com (opens in a new tab)
Factory-built, steel-framed foldable homes: tiny homes, ADUs, rental cabins, offices and shops.
mysimpleliving.com (opens in a new tab)
Commercial development, destination resorts and custom homes across Southern Utah and Montana.
nielsondevelopment.com (opens in a new tab)
Next-Gen Power Systems RV generators with Yamaha engines and inverter technology, sold through certified dealers.
npsrvpower.com (opens in a new tab)
Ultralight, durable hunting clothing and gear in Skre's own camo patterns, backed by a lifetime warranty.
Scott has since sold the company.
skregear.com (opens in a new tab)
Scott's St. George RV dealership, home of the 22,000 sq ft store with 12 service bays and the original RV Warranty Forever.
Sold to Camping World in 2021.
Now Camping World St. George (opens in a new tab)Never miss an episode
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