RV Hall Of Fame

One of the places we wanted to visit in Elkhart Indiana was the RV/MH Hall of Fame.  Just so you know, the MH in the name stands for Manufactured Home NOT Motor Home.

Plan on allowing at least three hours so you can take your time here. Price is $10 or $8 for Seniors. They also have some other discounts so check the website.link above.

The RV display area is laid out like you are traveling down a road. This is an overview of park of it taken from the upstairs balcony.

They have RVs on display starting with the 1920s and 1930s. Some of the really old rare ones allow you to see inside but not go inside.

Other RVs are open for you to step inside and imagine yourself traveling in them.

This early tent trailer had an extra bunk reachable from the outside under the canvas when it was pulled out.

Earlier trailers had wooden screen doors and lots of wood inside.

This small one had the door on the backside.

This gent invited me to sit down for a game of cards.

Check out the stove with fuel tank and the water pump in the kitchen.

This stove sat on the counter.

The RVs that have you cooking outside are enjoyed a resurgence these days with people who want something really small to tow.

This is Mae West's RV. They used it to transport her to sets rather than for camping. It included a back porch where she like to sit.

It did have some kitchen facilities inside.

These weren't big but they looked heavy.

Check out the bathroom right behind the driver.

This bullet shaped RV had the door in the back and a boat shaped front.

Early motorhome.

More unique plumbing.

Looks like a living room chair for the driver.

After you check out all the RVs, you can go upstairs and read to your heart's desire. Lots of RV publications here from over the years. There is also a hall where RV people are recognized for their contributions to the industry. Another hall has exhibits.

 

You will also find a manufactured home on display behind the building as well as a motorhome. There are spaces for parking RVs in the parking lot and you can also overnight there if you can do without any hookups. There are also back roads to get to the Hall of Fame without going on the toll road so be sure to ask at your RV park.

 

If you enjoy this museum, you will also like the RV Museum in Amarillo Texas which is courtesy of Jack Sizemore Traveland RV. It is free and includes many RVs on display.

3-4 Aug 2010 - Indiana Stops - Elkhart and Fishers

My next stop after bidding family goodbye in Port Huron, was Elkhart.  Elkhart is supposed to be the epicenture of the RV world but I think the population there may have lost sight of that.  I know that the RV industry was hard hit over the last few years but I had to ask about 6 people before I could find anyone that had any idea where there was an RV park.  I know--I should have found McDonald's and hauled out the Internet and done a google search but this was Elkhart.  I finally found the Elkhart Campground, a pretty large and decent place to stay.  Asking for a pull-through, I was sent off to what looked like a field that was only pull-through if no one parked in front of you.  Since the campground was less than half-full and there were plenty of much better sites that were easier to get in and out of and more convenient all the way around, I went back to the office and asked for a different site.  The roads in the new area were gravel and the site had a picnic table and was much better.

Willy, Gretchen, and Harley took me on a tour around the park.  They had the usual amenities but we really didn't get to try them out.  We did have several nice walks before bedtime.  There was storm that night but  we had A/C and none of the branches fell on the truck or RV so we were just fine.  The next morning, the staff was out cleaning them up.

Finding the RV Hall of Fame the next day was equally challenging.  They moved into a new building a couple of years ago and the first 5 people I asked either didn't know anything about it or thought it closed a few years ago.  This could partly explain why they are not getting the visitors they anticipated and need to survive.  If you are in the area with an RV rally or other group, you are fine.  Traveling alone--not so much in terms unless you have all the information before you arrive.  The RV Hall of Fame has parking areas specifically for RVs which was really nice.  I waited out another rainstorm and then headed in for the tour.  The most interesting part of the museum, at least for me, were the RV exhibits.  They have examples from very early RVs to more modern ones and they are laid out along a rambling roadway.  I really enjoyed it and recommend you allow plenty of time to browse.

Once we were on the road again, we let "Hillary" plot a course for Indianapolis, more specifically Fishers Indiana, home of my long-time friend Mary Beth Lech.  Mary Beth met me in a Walmart parking lot and we went off to dinner together.  It was not the greatest Walmart and didn't look like a good place to stay.  After dinner I followed Mary Beth across town to a Super Walmart close to her house.  Unfortunately there were no overnight camping signs posted.  I explained that it is the town rather than Walmart that won't allow parking so Mary Beth had another idea.  She led me just across the highway to a Super Meijers.  Turns out they were across a county line so when I went in and asked the manager about parking, he said sure--just park on the side of the lot and he would notify security to keep an eye out for us.

Mary Beth asked if I would stay long enough to go out for breakfast with her in the morning.  I also got to meet her cousin so we had another great visit.  It is always great to meet up with friends.