RAGBRAI makes a stop in Griswold, Iowa, bringing riders into 'National Lampoon's Vacation'

GRISWOLD — This isn't the typical Griswold family vacation. This is RAGBRAI.

Fans of the classic movies "National Lampoon's Vacation" and "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" found themselves in a Griswold family haven in the aptly named Griswold, Iowa, the meeting town on RAGBRAI Day 2 .

Griswold celebrated the family at the heart of the movies for its theme as about 18,000 registered riders rolled through the small rural town of just under 1,000 people on Monday. After all, the river-to-river trek on bicycles is probably just as zany as the cross-country family road trip to get to California's Wally World in the 1983 hit movie.

Griswold the town was decked out with a larger-than-life cutout of the one-and-only Clark Griswold, where cyclists took a break to hang out in the shade.

Riders could pose for a photo with a replica of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster, the infamous pea green station wagon with wood paneling that took the Griswolds across the country. Even Aunt Edna was on the car roof.

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And a live Cousin Eddie, in nothing but a robe, cowboy boots and a winter hat, stood in front of an actual camper, recreating the iconic character from the 1989 Christmas version of the movie.

Riders were given Sharpies to sign the camper and could take a photo with Cousin Eddie, real name Ron Schroeder. East of Omaha, a music venue and restaurant right along Griswold's Main Street, set it up and one side of the camper quickly filled up with riders' signatures.

Jake Huitema, 36, came from Thornton, Colorado, to participate in his first RAGBRAI. He was excited to leave his mark on the camper.

"It's only my second day, but it's living up to the expectations I had," he said. "I absolutely love the Griswolds and I had to sign the van."

Mandy Collins, 47, and her husband, Greg Collins, 60, came from Colorado Springs for their first RAGBRAI after recently becoming empty-nesters. And, as fans of the movies, they found the town and its festivities exciting.

"We love the movies," Mandy Collins said. "We're going to send all of these pictures to our kids."

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: RAGBRAI makes a stop in Griswold, Iowa, bringing riders into 'National Lampoon's Vacation'