Scott Nielson.Builder, founder,neighbor.

In 1997, at just 21 years old, Scott Nielson borrowed $6,500 from his grandfather and drove to a car auction in California. He bought two cars, hauled them back to Southern Utah, and sold them for a profit. That first investment became the starting point for a career in business, construction, and development.

Born in Ogden, Scott moved to Hurricane at age twelve, graduated from Hurricane High School, and served a mission in Arcadia, California. He earned a two-year associate degree from Dixie State and a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Southern Utah University.

In 2001, Scott and his brother Mike opened Hurricane Valley Auto Mall, selling used RVs alongside cars. Scott purchased Mike’s share in 2004, moved the business to State Street, and renamed it Nielson RV.

Early in his dealership career, Scott also founded Nielson Development to handle his own development and construction in-house. From the groundwork to sales floors, service bays, and storage yards, he built the facilities that supported his growing businesses. His construction work expanded into residential communities, including hundreds of homes in Dixie Springs and throughout Washington County. His development ventures have also taken him beyond Southern Utah to Maui, Hawaii, Montana, and North Dakota.

By the 2010s, Nielson RV had become the largest RV dealership in the region. In 2015, it expanded into St. George with a 22,000-square-foot facility and a 150-foot flagpole, which Scott later donated to the City of Hurricane for a veterans memorial. In March 2021, he sold the operation to Camping World, led by CEO Marcus Lemonis. At the time, the business generated approximately $50 million in annual revenue, with about $67 million in inventory, land, and equipment.

Scott’s next venture took shape on 53 acres near Sand Hollow State Park. There, he built Utah’s first Jellystone Park, featuring eight pools, a lazy river, 252 RV sites, and 34 cabins. In its second season, the resort was named a finalist for Park of the Year.

Next door, Scott is developing the Nielson Commerce Complex. In 2026, following the expiration of his non-compete agreement, he returned to the RV business with Glampers RV.

Nielson Development is the construction company behind these ventures — with more than 250 projects built across multiple states and a record as the general contractor on the resorts, dealerships, restaurants, and custom homes featured on this site.