The RPC Story

Rich’s Portable Cabins, Inc. began as a concept.  Twenty years ago, Rich Daniels was self-employed as a timber cruiser contractor in the ailing timber industry.  As he could see the inevitable “writing on the wall” as far as job security, he decided to venture into a career that was more “sustainable”.  He purchased 75 acres of timber and a portable sawmill, determined to continue his timber worker status with a brighter destiny on the horizon.  While he was honing his carpentry skills rebuilding his home, he chanced upon a conversation at a local building supply that helped to chart his course.  A woman had inquired with a salesclerk about the availability of storage sheds at their establishment and found none available. Daniels later approached her and told her that he could build a shed for her and, thus, “Rich’s Sheds” was born.

Two of “Rich’s Sheds” later became a bunkhouse and a bath house for a couple building their own “getaway” home who had commented that, “if their shed was bigger, they could use it as such.  Rich’s Sheds also branched out into the manufacture of several playhouses built on “spec”. The “Women in Timber” organization bought one to raffle off in a fundraiser and placed it in a parade in La Grande.  The Union County tourism people saw it and later contacted Daniels to build a mobile tourist information booth which took shape as a miniature “cabin on wheels”. Daniels expanded on the idea by building a larger version and discovered, with some accompanying research, that he had built what is considered to be a park model RV.

Further investigation revealed a state certification process and with all the “hoops” successfully navigated, Rich’s Portable Cabins (RPC), Inc. was launched.

Now, twenty years later, RPC, Inc., has outgrown the original shop and expanded into a larger facility to accommodate increased sales.  Although the business suffered a downturn in 2008, as well as weathering much legislation that threatened the park model RV industry in Oregon over the last two years, RPC, Inc. is once again poised to continue offering the quality product for which it has become known.  Thanks in great part to the efforts of our state Representative Greg Barretto and Senator Halsey of Eugene, the legislation has once again been made favorable to the industry.

In addition, the Daniels have also developed and received approval through Baker County for an RV park on their timbered property 9 miles below Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort which offers a variety of their park models and “tiny homes” for nightly rental.  The RV park is part of the Daniels’ long-range plan to transition from the manufacturing aspect of their business into the renting of their cabins.

Continuing the family business, Rich and Lori Daniels’ daughter, Harmony, is continuing on the RPC legacy and helping continue to build a bright future in the Tiny Home Industry.

The journey will come full circle for Daniels when his relationship with timber can be shared with others.  He hopes to entwine ecotourism into the RV development as well as to showcase sound forestry practices, thus further promoting sustainability.