Rachel Greco

Lansing State Journal

EATON RAPIDS - Nearly 100 Airstream travel trailers will roll into the city on Thursday for what's become a fall tradition in Eaton Rapids — a massive urban camping experience downtown.

But the event, known as "Urban Air" won't be unique to Eaton Rapids for much longer. Next year the concept will be executed in at least one other downtown, said Chad Carlson, although a new city has not been selected yet.

Carlson helped bring the iconic, aluminum Airstream trailers to Eaton Rapids five years ago. It was a joint effort with last year's event director Kirk MacKellar. Carlson said it was always their intention to bring the event to additional cities.

"We've been approached by a lot of towns, a lot of cities, across the country," he said. "Basically we're going to multiple cities next year. We're looking for towns that have more real estate signs and store fronts than they have stores. We aim to make people want to stop when they go through a downtown."

The event will continue locally where it got its start though.

Carlson, whose family owns Woodland Travel Center in Grand Rapids, calls the partnership with Eaton Rapids city officials "divine intervention."

He remembers helping to pitch them the idea for a gathering of Airstream owners that could benefit not only the "campers" but the community they visit several years ago.

"They jumped at the opportunity," Carlson said of officials. "It really worked out well."

In 2012 about 35 Airstream travel trailer owners brought their vehicles to the city's downtown for three days of camping on Main Street. They sat in lawn chairs outside their Airstreams, ate at local restaurants, shopped at local stores and invited local residents to tour their distinctively shaped mobile living spaces.

Jon Stoppels, the city's manager, said Airstream owners enjoyed the first "Urban Air" so much they lobbied to come back the next year.

"They said, 'When are we going back?'" Stoppels said. "So now, Eaton Rapids is where it's at."

The urban camping experience has had a positive impact on the local economy, he said. Last year officials estimated the gathering of Airstream owners spent between $50,000 to $60,000 at local businesses, including restaurants, stores and gas stations.

This year, the festival runs from Thursday, when Airstream owners from as far away as California begin arriving, through Sunday morning.

Activities include music, community campfires and s'mores making, face painting and inflatables and a showing of "The Jungle Book" at the city's amphitheater. Other community events are taking place at the same time too, including the Eaton Rapids Historical Society's Heritage Festival at Miller Farm off State Street.

Eaton Rapids host to nearly 100 Airstream trailers

Troy Stowell, the city's Quality of Life director leads the "Urban Air" planning committee. The group has been working for 10 months on the event, he said, and the activities aren't just for Airstream campers.

"This is a community event and, oh, by the way, we've got 90 to 100 Airstreamers parked downtown," he said. "We want people to come check it out."

Carlson said he plans to continue participating in the planning of the Eaton Rapids event next year, while he helps to launch more "Urban Air" efforts in other cities throughout the country.

"It's been a great canvas to develop what Urban Air looks like," he said. "It's even morphed into something more than we first thought of."

Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at (517) 528-2075 or rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ.

About Urban Air

Eaton Rapids will host Urban Air, a gathering of nearly 100 Airstream travel trailers from 17 different states and Canada who will camp out downtown, from Thursday through Sunday morning. Activities planned during the three-day event include live music, kids activities, campfires and an outdoor movie. For more details visit the event Facebook page at "Urban Air/Wake Up Downtown," or visit urbanairwakeupdowntown.com for a schedule of events and updates.

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