What started as a teenager’s attempt to avoid working in his father’s machine shop has grown into a 33-year Independence County tradition.
This summer, Ronnie Clouse, owner of RC Fireworks, is celebrating the opening of a new permanent fireworks facility at 500 White Drive in Batesville, marking a major milestone in a business that began with a simple summer dream in 1993.
“I didn’t want to work in Dad’s machine shop that summer,” Ronnie recalled. “Dad said, ‘Well that’s fine, but you have to do something. You’re not going to lay by that pool all summer.'”
After considering his options, Ronnie decided a fireworks stand would be the perfect summer venture.
“Mainly, I wanted a fireworks stand so I could do a snow cone and lemonade stand,” he said with a laugh. “That seemed like a perfect summer — fireworks, lemonade and snow cones.”
More than three decades later, that seasonal idea has become one of the area’s most recognizable fireworks businesses.
For the first 26 years, RC Fireworks operated at the Independence County Fairgrounds. Ronnie spent 17 years selling fireworks from tents in the fairgrounds field before moving into the industrial building for another nine years.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a change. The business moved back outdoors, and Ronnie relocated operations to his brother’s shop parking lot rather than continue paying for space elsewhere.
For the next five years, RC Fireworks continued serving customers from tents. While the location worked well, the challenges of weather and setup became increasingly demanding.
“In 2025, we fought weather multiple times a day,” Ronnie said. “There was a lot of work involved with the tent. My nerves and my body told me I was too old for it to be this difficult.”
Faced with the choice of retiring or building something permanent, Ronnie chose to invest in the future.
The result is a custom-built facility that captures the atmosphere and excitement of a traditional fireworks tent while offering the security, convenience and protection of a permanent structure.
“So here I am, 32 years later, doing the 2026 season in my dream structure,” he said.
The new RC Fireworks location at 500 White Drive represents more than a new building. It stands as a testament to perseverance, entrepreneurship and a business that has become part of countless Fourth of July celebrations throughout the region.
For many customers, a visit to RC Fireworks has become an annual tradition. Now, thanks to Ronnie’s new permanent facility, that tradition is positioned to continue for years to come.
What began as a teenager’s plan to avoid spending the summer in a machine shop has evolved into a local success story — one built on hard work, determination and a passion for helping families celebrate America’s birthday.
RC Fireworks is located at 500 White Drive in Batesville and will be opening Saturday 6/13 for the 2026 fireworks season.
