A vintage camper set up at Johnson County Park. The park will host the first Vintage Camper Rally this weekend, with campers filling the park Friday to Sunday, and a public festival planned from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.
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At campgrounds across the country, they show up as a throwback to a bygone time.
Quirky and cool, vintage campers eschew the creature comforts of modern models for a retro reminiscence of Americana. The bold colors, contoured designs and fun features have made the trailers icons of travel.
And this weekend, dozens will descend on Johnson County for a celebration like never before.
The Johnson County Park will host its first-ever Vintage Camper Rally, bringing together the quaint and quirky trailers from yesterday for a weekend full of music, yard games, craft vendors, classic cars and food.
In what park officials hope becomes an annual event, the idea is to bring people together to see firsthand the amenities and natural beauty of the Johnson County Park.
“We’re always trying to brainstorm and think of new ideas to bring people down here,” said Kevin Leonard, superintendent of Johnson County Parks and Recreation. “We try to have a wide range of events and activities so we can touch all of the community.”
The idea for the Vintage Camper Rally stemmed from Christy Howe, recreation director for the park as well as a camper and classic car enthusiast. As the recreation director, she works with other park staff to plan and coordinate a wide range of community events and programs for people of all interest.
Howe was contemplating how to showcase the park’s campground, which she considers a hidden jewel in the county.
“While organizing this year’s events, I was asking myself, what is an excellent way to showcase our campground? I wondered what I’d like to see here at the campground,” she said. “The Vintage Camper Rally came to mind, as a way to get people here who have never been to the campground, or people who don’t even know we exist.”
A $2,500 grant from Festival Country Indiana, the county’s tourism bureau, helped pay for the events of the weekend.
The Vintage Camper Rally has two main parts. For camper owners, it’s a chance to spend a weekend among like-minded enthusiasts celebrating their rigs. Themed “Everything About Vintage,” the rally will consist of campers in all makes and models, as long as they were made in 1979 or earlier.
Campers will arrive on Friday for a meet-and-greet, in addition to a chance to socialize and relax around the campfire.
Saturday’s activities bring the entire community into the mix. From noon to 5 p.m., people can enjoy an open house, where both camper owners and the general public can learn more about the vehicles.
“They can come and stroll around the campgrounds, engaging in conversation with camper owners and take in the work and love they’ve put in to display their vintage vehicles,” Howe said.
A classic car cruise-in, featuring vehicles from 1980 and older, will be held in conjunction. The cruise-in has no registration fee and is open to the public.
Food trucks will be open, and visitors can shop at the craft fair. Activities, including a bounce house and yard games, will be set up for people of all ages, while a DJ spins tunes throughout the day.
On Sunday morning, Howe has organized a worship service before enjoying coffee and doughnuts as the event closes.
“We won’t be saying goodbye — we’ll be saying, until next year, happy trails,” she said.
IF YOU GO
Vintage Camper Rally
When: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday
Activities: Vintage camper open house; classic car cruise-in (1980 and older), no registration fee, no awards, open to public; access to food trucks, craft market, rock painting, yard games, inflatable bounce house and DJ. Open to the community.
For campers only: Arrive Friday evening, relax around the fire and socialize. Saturday evening, recap the day and enjoy a pitch-in dinner. On Sunday, worship service followed by doughnuts and coffee before embarking. Inquire about camping by calling the park office at 812-526-6809.
