Camping World no stranger to American flag controversy

COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Camping World is no stranger when it comes to showdowns with municipalities across the country when it comes to their giant American Flags.

Recently the city of Coldwater issued a violation notice to the local Camping World in the Willowbrook Village Shopping Center for flying a giant American flag that was installed without the proper permit.

This local issue mirrors a pattern of disputes that Camping World, and its CEO Marcus Lemonis, have had with various municipalities across the United States regarding the size of their American flags. The core of the conflict lies in the balance between municipal zoning regulations—which dictate acceptable flag and flagpole sizes for safety and aesthetic reasons—and the company’s assertion that flying the large flag is an act of patriotism and free expression that should not be restricted.

Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis has publicly maintained a defiant stance, vowing that “The flag is never coming down,” even in the face of accumulating fines and potential legal action. The company argues that the ordinances are an overreach of local government and has fought these battles in several cities, including Greenville, North Carolina, and Sevierville, Tennessee.

In at least one instance in North Carolina, a new state law was enacted that prevented local governments from regulating the size of American flags on private property, leading to the city dropping its lawsuit and accumulated fines. The outcome in Coldwater is still pending, as the city awaits a response from Camping World regarding the violation notice