Since 1959 R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. Inc. has built the Pilot Rock brand of outdoor park, street and camp site furnishings. Design, quality fabrication and competitive prices are combined to create products that the park user, the park manager and the landscape designer will appreciate and enjoy. Our commercial duty equipment is designed to withstand both use and abuse by humans and nature. Pilot Rock products have also been designed for safety, comfort and convenience to make the outdoor experience more enjoyable. You will find Pilot Rock in use by city, county, state and federal parks, campgrounds, amusement parks, recreation facilities, military MWR operations, businesses, homeowner associations, schools, churches and private individuals throughout the U.S. and in many other countries.
The Pilot Rock product line includes: benches, picnic tables, trash and recycling receptacles and lids, animal resistant trash receptacles and food lockers, bike racks, utility tables, planters, lantern poles, charcoal grills, campfire rings, a complement of wheelchair accessible products, custom signage and more.

What makes RJ Thomas such a unique company?

Steve Thomas, RJ Thomas Mfg. President says "We are a unique company in the fact that we have invested in the future of technology, invested in our employees by providing a great work environment. This makes for a good formula for them to give back to us through loyalty, commitment and quality. These investments combined allow us to produce better products, faster, and more efficiently all while increasing our sales around the world. We really appreciate our employees from top to bottom, we are very proud of them!"

 

What sets RJ Thomas apart from the competition?

"Our ability to customize. Our design team utilizes some of the latest 3D CAD modeling software. We utilize laser cutting and forming for both sheet metal and tube, CNC wire bending, manual & robotic welding, as well as a variety of coating services."

You also offer custom fabrication services?

"Yes, our wide range of capabilities makes us a one-stop-shop for other manufacturers. It is not uncommon to find manufacturers that offer one or 2 of these services, but to find them all under one roof is pretty special. It gives us the ability to build a product from start to finish."

What is one thing that should not be overlooked in park planning?

"Accessibility. Making sure that your outdoor space is handicap accessible is so important, but easily overlooked. R.J. Thomas Mfg. understands the importance of incorporating ADA compliant amenities to all parks and playgrounds. All of our Pilot Rock® brand product lines offer wheelchair accessible options; including picnic tables, charcoal grills, waste receptacles, park benches and more."

R.J. Thomas Mfg. Co. Inc. is a third-generation family-owned business with over 6 decades of experience in both designing and manufacturing, culminating in our complete line of Pilot Rock® brand park, streetscape and camp site products. We have experienced significant growth, yet as a small company we remain responsive to individual customer needs. Building upon our experience, we utilize state of the art technology throughout the company which ensures that we can deliver innovative designs and premier quality.
Link: https://www.pilotrock.com

As seen in LASN magazine, July 2025.