(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, November 14, 2012 ) San Francisco, CA- Chad Carlson developed the idea for “urban camping” during a trip with friends two years ago.
The Grand Rapids resident and several friends camped in their Air Streamers in downtown Rockford, Ill., thereby enjoying their campers and the city.
The campout also generated interest from passersby in the Air Streamers themselves, said Carlson, whose family owns Woodland Travel Center, the oldest Air Streamer dealership in the world. “While we were there we literally had hundreds of people come through to check out the trailers,” he said.
That gave Carlson an idea. Why not plan a weekend “urban camping” experience to benefit campers, the city they camp in and Air Streamer dealers? Hence the birth of Urban Air in Eaton Rapids.
More than 30 Air Streamers from throughout Michigan took up residence in the city’s downtown on Oct. 26. According to Carlson, the community extended a warm welcome to campers. “We went to them and said, ‘We’d like to storm your city and see what Eaton Rapids has to offer.’”
The offer was received positively, said Deb Malewski, member of a 12-person committee that helped organize the event. “This isn’t just for the Air Streamers. It’s for the city as well.”
Event co-organizer Kirk Mackeller, an Airstreamer owner and resident of Dimondale, said campers hoped the event would benefit the local economy by attracting visitors to the town over the weekend.
“We expected to get a lot of resistance,” he said, of the urban camping proposal. “Instead of resistance they championed the whole thing.”
The event featured a community fire pit, an outdoor movie, and musical performances.
Overall, readying the downtown area for campers was a simple affair, said Malewski. “It’s not been overwhelming.” She added that organizers believe the event drew favorable attention to the city’s core. “We have a lot to offer here and don’t want people to forget about Eaton Rapids.”
Carlson said he thought the event would make a fine annual tradition. “As long as they welcome us back, we’d love to be there.”
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