Jack H. Root was an icon in the business world in the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Jack, a Navy
veteran, passed away in October, 2009 at the age of 82.
Mr. Root may be best recognized as the founder of an outdoor store that sat at 6844 North
Clinton Street. That store, Root’s Camp’n Ski Haus which first opened in 1956 as Roots
Camp’n Trail, went on to be one of the area’s premier outdoors-gear retailers. The building,
with its unique outside appearance, was decorated inside to its rustic nature. Jack
personally laid the marble floor in the front room.
Jack Root began selling outdoors equipment when he sold a number of camping trailers at an
outdoors show. Seeing the sale of trailers as a potential business, Jack went on to purchase
the land on North Clinton Street and built the store.
A few words from Jack Root
Just a few words to go with the photo of me and my beloved Irish Setter "Erin". I have a love
affair with this place, 6844 N. Clinton, and always have had for fifty years. It was a dream
of mine to have my own business that would bring happiness to me and all my customers. With
scouting as my background, in 1957 we first built a camping store with only four others in the
USA. A few years later we expanded with a complete ski shop to have a year round business. North
Clinton was a two lane road when we built this. I spent two months on my hands and knees laying
this marble floor. We carried our little campers across the construction. We did camping caravans
in the fall with over one hundred units and five hundred campers. We did forty years of ski trips
all over the world. Another highlight was receiving "Midwest Ski Retailer of the Year". This all
happened because of a wonderful staff. We are most pleased to have sold this store to someone who
really appreciates it and has beautifully restored it. I hope and pray you will have the same success
and happiness here.
Jack Root - 07/30/2007
Jack Root - 07/30/2007
He added snow skis to his line of goods
and renamed the store Root’s Camp’n Ski Haus in 1965. Throughout the years, he added more
outdoors gear to his business
including, tennis rackets, shoes and outdoor apparel.
Jack sponsored WOWO/Majic 95.1 ski trips for 40 years. He did ski trips to Michigan
with as many as 20 busloads. He also made 12 ski trips to Europe and out west with
as many as 80 people on the trips. He did the ski report for WOWO radio for years.
Jack Root was involved in numerous community groups, including servicing as a past
announcer for the Mad Anthony’s Celebrity Golf Tournament, member in the Fort Wayne
Ski Club and a Boy Scout Master for 20 years. Jack sponsored Boy Scout trips over
the region for many years. He was honored by the Boy Scouts with its distinguished
Silver Beaver Award. He took an active part in various business clubs in the city.
He was named Midwest Ski Retailer of the Year in 1986 by the Ski Industry of America
Jack added canoe trips to his business line and took down river canoe trips all over
the Midwest.
His building became a landmark in Fort Wayne and was purchased in 2007 and has since become Turf Service Equipment Sales & Repair. His legacy continues at Turf Service which has restored and beautified the former Root’s building to its original character. Jack wrote several chapters in Fort Wayne history books and wrote a personal letter to the present owner of Turf Service which is attached.
Jack was most content making other people happy. He served God and his country, and would help anybody.
His building became a landmark in Fort Wayne and was purchased in 2007 and has since become Turf Service Equipment Sales & Repair. His legacy continues at Turf Service which has restored and beautified the former Root’s building to its original character. Jack wrote several chapters in Fort Wayne history books and wrote a personal letter to the present owner of Turf Service which is attached.
Jack was most content making other people happy. He served God and his country, and would help anybody.
© 2010 Turf Service Equipment & Repair