Alumapalooza 9 With their shining silver skins, Airstreams are not only iconic, but have nearly a cult following. Their history has something to do with it since Airstream was the only travel trailer builder out of a field of 400 or so to survive the Great Depression and continue after World War II. The company once called California home but in 1952 the company relocated its factory to Jackson Center, Ohio. For nine years now, Airstreamers have been landing at that factory - sometimes affectionately referred to as the Mothership - for an event called Alumapalooza.
The five-day festival takes place annually the week after Memorial Day. Alumapalooza is no mere rally; it’s a celebration full of hands-on workshops, VIP Airstream factory tours, charity events, entertainment, and of course 18
By: William Flood
time for socializing with fellow Airstreamers. Activities like stargazing, morning yoga, and even live music were daily happenings as were informative seminars on topics like winterizing, polishing Airstream aluminum, and even riveting. Airstreamers came from as far away as Los Angeles, Ft. Myers, Boise, and Denver. By the first day, over 60 trailers were berthed at sites surrounding the main factory while 22 more took up residence in a second location about a half-mile away. Show promoters R&B Events were prepared for as many as 190. Wednesday morning was quiet as campers rose to greet the day. American flags, holdovers from Memorial Day decked the town and grounds while lawn chairs under trailer awnings awaited their owners. Retro touches “glamped” assorted vintage trailers like the plastic flamingos that jazzed up a ‘65 Ambassador from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Terri Larson Baxter and family
www.vintagecampertrailers.com
are the fourth owners of the camper which was originally manufactured for a lumber baron in South Dakota. Meanwhile, near the main tent, Wally and Stella Byam’s Kim Hayes from personal Airstream St. Louis was already open for once served at Naval Air Stabusiness in her pop-up shop tion Pensacola along with a called The Kabine (Ger- 1971 Sovereign from Indiana man for ‘hut’), aka A Tiny on its flank. Shiny Shop housed in a ‘65 Safari. Alumapalooza pro- Many visitors take advantage moters are encouraging of the Airstream’s excellent Airstreams-turned pop-up service center while attendshops and food trucks to join ing Alumapalooza. A 20-foot the event. Silver bullets were spread as far as the eye could see. This year, modern rigs conspicuously outnumbered vintage trailers, yet there were plenty of classic Airstreams to see. Not to be missed were several oneof-a-kind trailers the company owns including an original Bowlus Road Chief and the gold-toned personal trailer of company founder Wally Byam and his wife Stella. Nearby sat a 70’s era Airstream Classic Limited that
1950’s-era Pacer 70’s era Argosy motor coach was about to be pulled into a bay. Argosies were Airstreams first motorhomes, manufactured from 19741979 on Chevy P-30 truck chassis. Nearby, another motorhome, an 80’s-era Classic