By Drew Whitney
Everything about Elite RV & Boat Storage–from its Central Coast California location to premium amenities and five-star operations–make it both picture perfect and a worthy winner of the Toy Storage Nation Facility of the Month Award.
For starters, Elite RV & Boat Storage of Paso Robles, Calif., features all four elements of Class A storage: It’s fully paved and fenced, secured by an automatic gate and has canopied coverage over its full 203 storage spaces. It also provides abundant amenities to ensure the safety of expensive outdoor-rec vehicles and to customize the 
tenant experience via modern conveniences designed to make setting out on RV travel and boating excursions a breeze (see right).
Of all the amenities, there’s one that doesn’t cost a penny–for either the operators or tenants–but makes this facility a Toy Storage Nation favorite. And that’s the friendly staff willing to go the extra mile for anyone who walks through the door, calls on the phone or reaches out via email, social media or other forms of communication.
Friends First
Elite RV & Boat Storage is as much of a story about entrepreneurial success as it is a story of friendship and extended-family ties that bind. It begins with two friends, Kit Kolb and Joe Gouin. The two have known each other for more than 15 years and, according to Kit, the idea to partner together to develop and operate RV and boat storage took root around five years ago, while they were brainstorming ideas for their retirement years.
“We were talking about finding a passive income stream and thought about self-storage or possibly an RV trailer park,” says Kit, adding they explored sites in California and Nevada to determine if they were on the right track.
They also traveled to Las Vegas three years ago for the Inside Self-Storage World Expo (see “How To Succeed in RV & Boat Storage,” right), attending presentations about RV and boat storage. They had already zeroed in on a property in Paso Robles, Calif., which “checked all the boxes” for RV/boat storage, according to what they learned at the expo. That’s when the prospect of venturing into toy storage truly crystallized.
Lay of the Land
Elite RV & Boat Storage sits on 5 acres of land in the town of Paso Robles, a sweet spot in California’s Central Coast wine region, also known for majestic rolling hills and Michelin-star dining. The upscale city is nestled between Highways 1 and the 101, 30 minutes away from beaches and two lakes–Lake Nacimiento and Lake San Antonio–that serve as ultimate destinations for those enjoying camping, boating, fishing, strolling in nature and viewing wildlife.
The property they chose was priced competitively with suitable zoning, and the Paso Robles’ demographics–featuring affluent families and retirees with a propensity for owning RVs and boats–validated the decision for Kit and Joe to lock it in. Other green lights 
included its close proximity to the Paso Robles airport and the fact that only one hybrid facility (with self-storage and RV/boat storage) posed competition for them. “They have been in business about 15 years, but the facility is located in an area that makes leaving the facility difficult because drivers have to cross both north and south lanes of traffic,” says Kit.
The full scope of Elite RV & Boat Storage’s development-to-opening took five years. Construction work–by Gouin Construction with Forge Building canopy systems–was completed within two years.
The unit mix was based on market research during the feasibility phase of the project, dictating a variety of 12×27.5, 12×35, 12×40 and 12×50 spaces. “We didn’t anticipate as many boats,” says Kit, adding that in hindsight they would probably have changed up the mix to include more 12x35s.
The facility opened officially in May 2024. By February of this year, they had achieved 37% occupancy. Kit speculates that they’ll be nearing 70% occupancy by the summer and be full by March 2026. They worked with The Storage Group to develop a beautiful website that handles online rentals while showcasing photos of the facility, amenities, unit sizes, tips for tenants as well as two options for selecting space, list view and an impressive 3D option that shows the locations of every unit on the entire property along with pricing.
In addition to the website, they have leaned on social media and commercials on both TV and radio to market the business, “but seem to get most customers through social media and Google searches.”
The Bigger Picture
Kit and Joe don’t regret their decision to venture into toy storage one bit. “Seeing this morph from a dirt lot into what it is today has just been awesome,” Kit begins. “We are very excited about the RV and boat storage industry, especially because growth seems imminent for the foreseeable future.
“Our clients are just the best! They share their travels and experiences with us, and they’re always in a good mood contemplating their next adventure,” she continues. “And, when we get full, this becomes mostly a passive income base.”
For some, developing and operating one RV/boat storage site would be the ultimate achievement, but for Kit, a former high school teacher who also established a career in property management of multifamily and student housing, why stop at one when they’re having so much fun? The Kolb-Gouin partnership is only just beginning, because they’re already in the process of developing two more facilities along the Central Coast.
Aside from reaping the rewards of this signature site, and speculating on an even-more prolific future in toy storage, Kit cherishes how her friendship with Joe has flourished and how gratifying it is that their two families have practically melded into one.
“We are family run and managed, and I love that most of all,” she says, before listing off the family members who are involved in the business. “We have a power sweeper that Joe and his dad, Bob, run. Joe’s daughter, Cloey, does our marketing, billing and social media. My son, Cary, works in the office a few days a week and I pick up the rest.
“Everyone in the family helps in so many ways and the familial support has been paramount,” Kit concludes. “This venture has taken our friendship to a different level. We have become very close and a pseudo family through our time involved in Elite RV and Boat Storage.”
To learn more, visit the Elite RV & Boat Storage website. To read more stories about award-winning facilities, click here.
Interested in nominating a Class A RV and boat storage facility for the TSN Facility of the Month Award? Visit here.
