Polaris History
An American titan of innovation in the field of ATVs and UTVs as well as snowmobiles and other powersports vehicles, Polaris Industries has a long-storied history of building quality machines that serve their ridership well. They are known worldwide for their products that tackle the roughest of terrains. Polaris of Gainesville in Alachua, Florida, is a proud Polaris dealer, so of course we’re well-versed in the history of this illustrious powersports manufacturer. Here’s a brief synopsis covering the background of Polaris, from their humble Minnesota beginnings to their present-day powersports champion status.
Early Beginnings
Polaris got its start along the northern border of Minnesota in the small town of Roseau in 1954. The Hetteen Hoist & Derrick company had been established in 1945 by three residents: brothers Edgar and Allan Hetteen and their friend David Johnson. This company repaired farm equipment during the post-war years, putting their mechanical skills to good use for farmers in the area. They became Polaris Industries in 1954.
In that same year, David Johnson conceived of the idea to make a better way of accessing remote locations like hunting shacks in the deep Minnesota snows. While Edgar was away, David cobbled together a grain silo conveyor belt, a motor and a pair of skis to make a prototype vehicle that could traverse the snow. Edgar was initially upset by this use of company time and resources and this rudimentary sled was sold. David was not to be deterred, however, and he and other employees, including Allan Hetteen, built another prototype in 1955, christening it the Polaris Snow Traveler. This heavy machine weighed in at over 1000 pounds and went into manufacture the following year.
Finally on board with the direction the company was taking, Edgar decided to demonstrate the usefulness of their snowmobile by taking it into the Alaskan wilderness in 1960. Starting in the western town of Bethel, they plotted a 1200-mile journey through the snow, hauling hundreds of pounds of food and supplies on toboggans behind their snowmobiles to demonstrate their power. While the machines failed to go much faster than 10 mph, the stunt drew media attention and the trip was successfully completed within three weeks, proving that the snowmobile was a viable mode of transport through harsh conditions. Polaris narrowed their focus to building snowmobiles exclusively for the next few decades, continuing to develop their models and add new features all the time.
Expansion Into Today
Polaris branched out into the ATV market in 1995 with their Polaris Magnum 425 ATV. Soon after, the company began to manufacture their own engines in-house to ensure quality and reliability amongst all their powersports vehicles. Their factories in Roseau and Osceola, Wisconsin, still produce the majority of their components and engines, although some off-road vehicle production was transferred to Mexico in 2010. Vehicles are still assembled in Roseau. The company has continued to expand through acquisitions, investments and partnerships with other companies producing motorcycles, engines and other vehicles.
The United States government has contracted with Polaris to produce UTVs and other off-road vehicles for military use, including the MRZR, a diesel-powered utility vehicle used for transporting troops and heavy payloads. Polaris Defense, the military division of the company, also produces the DAGOR (Deployable Advanced Ground Off-Road) vehicle, which offers lightweight and fast transport of weapons and troops.
When you’re seeking a great powersports vehicle, whether it’s a snowmobile or an ATV, Polaris has what you’re looking for. Come down to our dealership today to see our great selection of in-stock Polaris ATVs and UTVs. Polaris of Gainesville is located in Alachua, serving the cities of Gainesville, Jacksonville, Lake City, St. Augustine and Ocala, Florida.