The City of Sevierville filed a lawsuit against Camping World because the business has refused to remove its 130-foot flagpole, which flies a 3,200 sq. ft. American flag displayed at its location off of exit 407 along I-40 in Kodak.
The complaint, filed in Sevier County Chancery Court on March 19, comes after Camping World has defied notices from the City of Sevierville that the business’ 130-foot flagpole violates the city’s Zoning Ordinance for Arterial Commercial zones, which only permits a 44-foot tall maximum flagpole to be placed on the property.
The Flag will not come down @CampingWorld pic.twitter.com/yciyqaOxE0
— Marcus Lemonis (@marcuslemonis) March 31, 2025
On January 30, Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Sevierville Jacob Mattern sent a letter to Camping World warning the business that it “may not continue to utilize” the flagpole and that it had “30 days to bring the property into full compliance,” further threatening “legal action and/or issuing citations.”
As a result of Camping World refusing to comply with the city’s demands, on March 5, the business was issued a formal citation by the Sevierville Police Department, fining the business $50 per day that it does not fall under compliance with the city’s zoning laws.
Camping World, which has racked up $1,350 in fines as it continues to display the 130-foot flagpole as of Monday, received a court date of April 15 for the citation at Sevierville City Court, which the business’ CEO, Marcus Lemonis, said he would be attending.
In a statement to WVLT, a public information officer for the City of Sevierville described Camping World’s flagpole as an “excessively tall structure” that can “create visual distractions for motorists, pose potential safety hazards, and impact the scenic views that are a vital part of what makes Sevierville a destination for residents and visitors alike.”
The city official said that the City of Sevierville is “not, and never will be, against patriotism.”
Lemonis, on the other hand, has argued that Camping World’s flag “isn’t violating the law,” adding, “One town’s subjective code around size and height are arbitrary. It follows US flag code, complies with FAA.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
