Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis isn’t budging. Faced with a city lawsuit over the towering flagpole outside his Sevierville, Tennessee location, the outspoken businessman is making one thing clear: the American flag stays.
According to the New York Post, city officials in Sevierville are suing Camping World over a flagpole that stands at roughly 130 feet—nearly double the local ordinance limit. But Lemonis, who has flown oversized American flags at his dealerships in almost two decades, says he won’t lower the flag or the pole.
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“This flag is not coming down,” he said on Fox & Friends, adding that it’s not the first time a city has gone after him. “This is the third city in the last several years that tried to sue us to take the flag down. Threatening jail, a variety of other fines.”
Sevierville’s leadership insists the issue has nothing to do with patriotism. In a public statement, they said, “Excessively tall structures 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.”
But Lemonis believes this is about more than city code. For him, it’s personal—and patriotic.
The Flag will not come down @CampingWorld pic.twitter.com/yciyqaOxE0
— Marcus Lemonis (@marcuslemonis) March 31, 2025
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“I wasn’t born in this country,” he said. “I emigrated from Beirut, Lebanon. Came here to Miami, Florida, and had an opportunity to live the American dream in this country. I’ve put a lot of sweat and tears into building this business for my people, for the country.”
He’s not just refusing to take flags down—he’s planning to raise more. Lemonis said his goal is to fly up to a million square feet of flags across Camping World’s 200-plus locations. “It’s my love letter to tell everybody how grateful I am this country provided me an opportunity where it didn’t have to.”
A similar legal dispute is playing out in Greenville, North Carolina, where city leaders also voted to take action against a Camping World flagpole that violates height restrictions. Still, Lemonis says FAA regulations permit the pole’s height and that his flags pose no danger to the public.
“This isn’t about the flag,” he said. “It’s about control.”
As the legal battle unfolds, one thing is certain: Marcus Lemonis isn’t stepping back. If anything, he’s doubling down—one giant flag at a time.
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