Idaho Falls RV and Outdoor Supply Business Marks 100 Years of Operation with Centennial Celebration
State Trailer RV & Outdoor Supply Invites Idaho Falls Community to Help Mark a Century of Business
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — A business with deep roots in the American West and a family legacy spanning four generations is preparing to mark a major milestone. State Trailer RV & Outdoor Supply, which has operated its Idaho Falls location at 2435 North Yellowstone Highway since 2008, is celebrating its 100th anniversary — and company president Mark Hult wants the community to be part of the party.
The Idaho Falls store will host its centennial celebration on May 1 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event will feature raffle prizes given away every 10 minutes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and lunch will be served to guests. The first 100 customers through the door will receive a free meal. The Idaho Falls location is one of five State Trailer stores across Utah, Idaho, and Arizona participating in the centennial event.
“It’s an amazing business to be in,” Hult told EastIdahoNews.com. “We are in the business of helping people have fun and making sure their vacations are trouble-free. I can’t think of a better job to have. It’s been the highlight of my whole life.”
A Century of History: From Salt Lake City Salvage Yard to Multi-State Operation
State Trailer’s story begins in 1926, when Nicholas Julian founded the company on State Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. At its founding, the business operated as a salvage yard that remanufactured auto transmissions and other parts. Julian and his wife Rosa had immigrated to the United States from Italy, eventually settling in Utah after joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With 12 children and a growing interest in the early American recreation industry, Julian — described by Hult as a natural do-it-yourselfer — built the business from the ground up.
The company grew quickly, adding a second salvage yard and a retail storefront. Julian’s children eventually took over operations. Mark Hult’s father, Ray Hult — who was born in Idaho Falls and had strong ties to the region — purchased the company from his stepfather in the 1970s. Ray went on to run 600 head of cattle on a ranch in Heber Valley and was instrumental in expanding State Trailer’s presence throughout Utah and Idaho. He passed away in May 2025 at age 86.
Mark Hult grew up working in the business, starting as a young child sweeping floors, cleaning bathrooms, and bagging screws at the Salt Lake City store. “He started me out at 10 cents an hour,” Mark recalled of his father. “He taught me how to work and that if I put my heart into it and did my best, I’d get ahead. He was a great teacher.” Mark took over as president in the 1990s.
Under his leadership, State Trailer has expanded significantly. The company now operates two locations in Ogden, Utah, stores in Idaho Falls and Pocatello, and two Arizona locations — one in Mesa and one in Peoria — both opened within the last decade. The Idaho Falls location made particular sense, Hult noted, given the region’s strong outdoor recreation culture and its proximity to Yellowstone and other public lands.
“People are so outdoor-focused in that area, it just made sense,” Hult said. “Having a store right at the gateway to Yellowstone and all the other recreation areas just seemed like a good fit.”
Today, State Trailer offers a broad range of parts, products, and services for trailers and RVs. “It’s a broad line of products, but everything for your trailer or RV,” Hult said. “We install the products we sell and service RVs.” The business model reflects the company’s evolution from its salvage-yard origins into a full-service recreation supply operation serving families across the region.
What Comes Next
The centennial celebration at the Idaho Falls State Trailer location will take place on May 1, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 2435 North Yellowstone Highway. Community members are encouraged to attend, enjoy a complimentary meal — available to the first 100 guests — and participate in the raffle drawings held throughout the morning and early afternoon. Hult said he looks forward to continued growth for State Trailer and expressed gratitude to the Bonneville County community for its support over the years. For more on East Idaho business news, visit idahonews.co or the Idaho News Network.