Airstreams to return to El Dorado in 2019
It may have been rainy, but inclement weather did not drive away air streams or the crowds that visited them in September in Downtown El Dorado.
Not only was the first Airstreams on Main in El Dorado — and Arkansas — deemed a success, but members of Arkansas Razorbacks Air Stream Club have announced that they plan to return in 2019 and bring more air-streamers with them.
The club worked with Main Street El Dorado to organize the event, and as a thank-you, club members recently presented MSE with a check for $1,000.
“We know the money will be spent to make your great city even more wonderful for residents and visitors like ourselves,” said Mark Magie, president of the Arkansas Razorbacks Air Stream Club.
Magie made the comments during a Main Street board meeting Nov. 13. He was accompanied by club members Jan and Charles Heavener.
Over the course of three days and nights, Airstreams surrounded the Union County Courthouse for a nontraditional camping event that is designed to promote the Airstream lifestyle and help stimulate economic vitality in smalltown America.
Between Sept. 20 and 23, 21 Airstreams from Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia set up camp in El Dorado and invited local residents to tour their shiny, aluminum rigs.
“We are here to express our gratitude for allowing us to close your streets, add to downtown congestion, create traffic jams and party like kids in the rain for three days,” Magie told Main Street board members with a laugh.
During their stay in El Dorado, air-streamers participated in a bevy of ancillary events that were coordinated with Main Street and help from the Downtown Business Association, the Murphy Arts District, El Dorado and Union County governments, the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, South Arkansas Historic Preservation Society, Hepco Inc., Lawrence Electric and others.
Razorback club members and Main Street board members said air-streamers received a warm welcome from downtown merchants, who constantly checked in with the campers throughout the duration of their visit.
The group participated in a spaghetti supper, Baggo tournament, Pub Crawl, Thursday Night Live in the Griffin Restaurant, a Flock Party (street dance) and a host of other activities that were open to the public.
The spaghetti supper also served as a fundraiser that raked in $800 for Relay for Life of Union County.
In a further effort to be “good temporary citizens of El Dorado,” Magie said the Razorback club donated “a truckload” of canned goods to the Salvation Army food pantry.
Canned goods were the price of admission for the Airstream open house tours.
Air-streamers also spent $2 bills at local business, several of which reported an influx of $2 bills during that time.
Magie said the Razorback club spent more than a year organizing Airstreams on Main with Main Street, civic leaders and city and county officials.
“What we discovered was forward-thinking community leaders who shared our adventure and wanted us in El Dorado,” Magie said. “The support was tremendous, and we thank you for that.”
The Razorback club will return to El Dorado Sept. 19, 2019.
Beth Brumley, executive director of Main Street, said Sept. 19 is the weekend of the 2019 SouthArk Outdoor Expo.
Brumley said Main Street is on the lookout for partnership opportunities, and Airstreams on Main is a likely draw for the type of crowd that attends the expo.
Magie said Airstream organizers have met with Main Street to assess the inaugural event and gauge what improvements can be made for next year.
He said the Razorback club hopes to bring more Airstreams from more states to El Dorado in 2019
“The next question when we have our next meeting is how big do you want it to be?” he said. “We heard from a group in Florida yesterday who wants to come and they said, ‘Just send us a date.’”
“We need to see how far we can go with electricity and when we will need generators. Anything we can do,” Brumley said.
Womack and Brumley were presented with certificates and named honorary members of the Razorback club The club also presented Main Street with a flag bearing the club’s logo.