Wednesday, July 18 – We spent the day with Angie and Rick sightseeing in Indiana Amish Country. We stopped at the Amish Acres in Nappanee, IN, to see the displays and have a country style lunch. Amish Acres is a 138 year old Amish homestead
We visited several of the historic buildings.
It was a family style Amish home cooked meal and was delicious.
We played an old-time game called the Ring Game. The object was to toss the ring onto the hook. Here is a picture of the losers.
Rick, Paul, Angie
Now for the All-Time Winner…Marsha
Angie did finally succeed in putting the ring on the hook but only after a coaching lesson from Marsha…hehe.
After lunch we drove over to the RV/MH Hall of Fame.
The entry fee is $7 for seniors. We spent about two hours walking through the antique RVs and enjoyed climbing in many of the trailers and old motor homes. It's a pretty nice museum and we felt it was worth our time and entry fee.
The have an Exhibit Hall showing the newest items for the RV lifestyle.
The RV Founders Hall displays trailers, photos, and memorabilia reaching back to the very early 1900's.
Starting in the mid 1910s, Gilkie was probably the first successful manufacturer in Indiana and one of the first in the country.
1932 Gilkie Kamp King Tent Trailer
1913 "Earl" Travel Trailer…oldest travel trailer in the world. It has a dining table that seats four, then converts into a double bed.
1931 Model AA Ford Housecar
Great heating system
The unique low design, with a rear entry door and drop down area in the floor where standing was possible, provided the advantage of being able to store these trailers in a conventional residential garage.
Look how easy it is to get into…not!
1957 Serro Scotty 12' Travel Trailer
Rick can't stand up or he hits his head.
One of the first trailers of the "bunkhouse" design with a second story bed function. It also had a tiny bathroom with shower, sink and stool. Bathing and toilet facilities were rarely included in a camper trailer.
1966 Mustang Travel Trailer
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Built for Paramount Studios to present to Miss West when she left vaudeville to make movies for the studio in 1931.
Mae West's 1931 Chevrolet Housecar
The Spartan Aircraft Company was recognized as the finest mobile homes available in the late 40s and early 50s.
1954 Spartan Imperial Mansion…8 x 42' Mobile Home
There are so many more great opportunities to explore RV/MH from the past. We highly recommend stopping at the Museum. The Hall of Fame honors the inaugural class of inductees into the RV/MH Hall of Fame. We just happened to know a few.
Bob Tiffin – founder of Tiffin Motor Homes
Joe and Kay Peterson founders of the Escapee Club that we belong to.
We then returned to our campsite on the hill overlooking the Lake of the Woods, where we enjoyed watching some deer graze in the field and talked with Angie and Rick. We sure had a great two days with our friends and will be sure to see them someday “down-the-road.”
Angie and Rick in front of their newly-painted Alfa See Ya.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!
I never knew there was an RV/MH museum..the stories those old beauties could tell?
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of the RV Hall of Fame... why not... looks like a great place to visit, lots of history. It is now on the bucket list!
ReplyDeleteOf course we know who the all around Winner would be!! Neat photos of the round barn. Interesting place that RV/MH Museum. Sure have a heritage shown there, don't they? Glad we're able to enjoy these more modern coaches, aren't you? Paul does look right at home there though, doesn't he? Did they want to keep him?
ReplyDeleteWhen I visited the museum a couple of years it sure made me appreciate the progress that has been made on comfort and convenience. I didn't see one unit I wanted to trade for.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in all things Amish and I would like to visit the RV Hall of Fame. I enjoyed seeing your pictures, as usual!
ReplyDeleteThey've come a long way, baby! I guess those early models were luxurious compared to the covered wagon! Hard to believe that the people using the oldest campers did so wearing dresses and suits, ties and hats. Do you remember seeing pictures of spectators at a baseball game in the 50's wearing white shirts, ties and hats?
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a real nice visit with your friends.
Great tour of the RV Hall of Fame. Some of those old coaches and trailers sure seem tiny! Not so sure I'd want a wood stove for heating!
ReplyDeleteI guess Marsha will be in the Hall of Fame for ring tossing?
What is an Amish Dinner anyway?
That 1954 Spartan Imperial Mansion made me think of "The Long, Long Trailer." I love that movie. I'd like to visit that museum.
ReplyDeleteWe really liked the Amish Acres. We never made it to the rv museum, maybe next time we are in the area. Be safe
ReplyDeletewow great museum....we sure have come along way with RVs....Mae Wests was very nice to see..imagine...I will have to put that on our someday bucket list..that museum..thanks for sharing-glad you had a great time with your friends...thats what rving is all about...
ReplyDeleteWish I had known you were going! We have two free tickets we won at a rally. If anybody reading this wants them, email me with an address. The museum is wonderful as Marsha has demonstrated.
ReplyDeleteWe really enjoyed the museum while we were there and definitely all things Amish - especially food. Way to go Marsha!!
ReplyDeleteLove the Amish country! We too had no idea there was an RV/MH Musuem. Looks very interesting.
ReplyDeleteNow THAT is a museum I would REALLY like to go to!
ReplyDeleteWe really enjoyed the RV museum, too. Always like seeing older ones.
ReplyDeleteHOF is neat and Amish food is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWhat neat old RVs ... and look at how far the industry has come.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been to the museum but have sure read alot about it. Maybe we'll visit one of these days. It would certainly be interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great time you are having!! We were in Indiana Amish country in September of last year and loved it!! Didn't make it to the RV Hall of Fame though. Will have to catch that next time as it looks really interesting.
ReplyDeleteHope you continue to have fun. Be safe!!
Great tour. We really enjoy that area and have been back several times:)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your tour.......Congratulations Marsha!!
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