Here’s a Peek at the First Commercial Zero Turn

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A steady stream of landscape pros, curious to learn about the development of the first zero-turn commercial mowers, perused the 50th Year Anniversary Hustler Historical Museum on display at this year’s GIE+EXPO.

The Museum at the GIE+EXPO, transported from the company’s Hesston, Kans., headquarters, was located in a special area adjacent to the Hustler booth that sported a lineup of shiny new yellow commercial mowers. The Museum featured several very early zero-turn units, including the first commercial zero-turn mower. Of special interest to many visitors was a timeline and other artifacts that shared the company’s many mower innovations over the past half century. 

Apart from the first commercial zero-turn (a red, 36-inch, front-mount and still serviceable, we were told), visitors to the Museum appreciated the life-sized cutout of John Regier, the man who invented the commercial zero turn, along with his recorded narration of how why and how he did it.

Hustler is obviously proud of its heritage in the commercial mowing market and found a fascinating way to share it with the largest GIE+EXPO audience in more than 5 years.