It's official now!
The rally will be October 14-17 in Chattanooga, TN at Camp Jordan ( www.campjordan.com )
More info and registration form at www.BusConversions.com/rally/
Location:
The park is perfectly located at the junction of I-75 and I-24. Very easy access that is 100% bus friendly.
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Activities & Meals:Friday the 14th will be arrival day and we'll have an ice cream social that evening to get things rolling. Monday the 17th will be departure day.
Saturday & Sunday there will be seminars, crafts, vendors, swap meet, live entertainment, impromptu jam sessions, horseshoes, and almost any other outdoor activity folks want to do. There is a small man-made lake on site that allows catch & release fishing. It has ducks and geese that are hams for attention and feeding. There is also a creek running behind the campground that has a place suitable for launching canoes and kayaks. No rapids or anything, just the ability to explore the creek and enjoy the time with boat in the water.
There is a large maintained grassy area adjacent to the campground. There are professionally maintained softball fields in the park, if there is interest, we can secure one for our use.
Weather is generally very comfortable here at that time of year. Usually by mid October our leaf change is getting started and given the wet spring and summer we've had so far, it should be a spectacular one. There is a beautiful scenic walking trail in the park.
If there is enough interest expressed on the registration forms, there will be a charter bus tour of some of the local historical sites, antique malls/stores and/or other points of interest.
And of course outstanding food. Marc Nickelson and his wife are local bus nuts that run a BBQ restaurant & catering service. They will be catering the Saturday and Sunday night meals. A vegetarian dinner option will be available on the registration form (vegetarian option must be requested on the registration form to ensure the caterer having it at the rally). There will be a continental breakfast available Saturday - Monday. A light self serve buffet lunch on Saturday & Sunday will be available (e.g. sandwiches, chips, etc.) Attendees are also welcome to put together their own pot-luck luncheons too (please let us know, and invite us
).
On Saturday and Sunday the seminars, meals and most of the entertainment will be indoors in a climate controlled building (The Camp Jordan Arena). Inside the Arena building there is also free WiFi broadband Internet access so y'all can get online and post photos and talk about the great time being had.
Bus clubs (regional or brand related) are welcome to schedule gatherings within the rally. Please contact us so we can plan for it and publicize it.
For those so inclined, Sunday morning at the Amphitheater on the opposite end of the park (about 1/4 mile) there will be a worship service led by Rev. Jerry Millwood, a local bus nut, followed by a Gospel Jubilee featuring Gospel performers and groups, and anyone that wants to participate. I know we have several gospel groups that are on this forum and/or subscribers - contact me, we'd love to have you on stage. The Way FM (a national Christian radio station network) will do a live remote covering this Jubilee. (Note: All other rally events are exclusive to registered attendees, but the Gospel Jubilee will be open to the general public.)
Camping Facilities & other accommodations:With over 130 hookup sites, there will be enough for everyone that wants a hookup site. Total capacity is over 300. So there will be room for everyone that wants to come have a great time. The sites are on a graveled surface. Each hookup site has 30A electric and city water. There is a convenient easy access dump station in the campground.
For those that either don't have a bus yet/still or just can't bring it, there are over a half dozen motels of various types within a mile of the park. And restaurants of every kind. Also a grocery store, Dollar General, Camping World, and a flee market within a mile. Wal-Mart, Harbor Freight, and a second flee market within 3 miles. Also Walgreen's & Rite-Aid pharmacies within a couple miles. And the Choo Choo Express Garage is within about 2 miles for anyone that wants to get there bus serviced while here or needs any repairs done.
PetsPets of course are very much welcome! When outside they must be on a leash and the owner is responsible for poop scooping if the relieve themselves in a public area.
Rally & Camping Fees:Rally fee: $125 per bus - this includes all of the above mentioned activities, entertainment, & meals for up to two people. Additional adults are $50 each. Kids under 12 are free (well, we all know that ain't quite true, but they do get into the rally, meals & activities for free
)
Camping: Dry camping is $6/night (includes dump station access). Hookups sites are $20/night.
Bus Conversion Workshops before and after the rally:We are also setting up bus conversion workshop classes the 4 days before and the 4 days after the rally. There will be classes covering most areas of bus conversion and some on bus ownership related topics. These classes will be available a la carte at $150/day or in "bundles" of 4 days for $500. More detailed class synopsis & schedule will be available on our site in a few days, but in general the classes planned are:
Electrical
Plumbing
Interior layout planning, carpentry & cabinetry
Basic welding
WVO (Waste Vegetable Oil)
Bus Preventative Maintenance needs
Bus Shopping 101 (things to look for and look out for)
Safe driving & operation of buses (taught by a professional bus driver, charter owner/operator)
Workshop classes will be held at the Choo Choo Express Garage. There will be dry camping available for six buses and 30A hookup sites for two (both the dry/hookup sites available on a first registered basis). There will be access to fresh water and waste dump. Password secured WiFi Broadband Internet access in the area around my bus for those with laptops. Continental breakfasts and buffet lunches will be provided on-site. There are a wide variety of restaurants and motels nearby.
