Vintage camper lovers converge on Spring Mill for 2024 rally

Jody and Stacy Kress relaxed in front of their 1956 Airstream Safari camper Saturday in Spring Mill State Park. The Noblesville couple acquired the camper just three weeks before attending the 2024 Vintage Camper Rally , although Stacy Kress said they have been going to camper rallies for around 6 years.

The Kresses were in good company at the campground, which held an "open house" of sorts on Saturday so visitors could have a look inside the sometimes rare campers.

One of those special campers was David Beck's 1968 Ultra Van. Beck, a Brownsburg resident who was participating in the rally for the second time, said the Ultra is built from aluminum and fiberglass, making it very light.

According to Beck, a California resident named Dave Pederson made his own molds to create the components, and used a Corvair engine and drivetrain. The engine only produces 110 horsepower, but the vehicle is so light, that is adequate power. Pederson created two of the vehicles for himself, along with several others. His company was bought out, and the Ultra was then produced in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Inside Beck's Ultra, the back alcove has the original cabinetwork from 1968. The air-cooled Corvair engine is also housed in the back, below the platform that makes the bed.

Beck belongs to an Ultra Van Club in Michigan. The URL for the club is ultravan.org .

Another camper, Evansville resident Bob McCarty, said he spent four years restoring his 1947 Aero Flite Falcon.

"It was gutted when I got it," said McCarty, who was attending the rally for the first time.

An information sheet posted on the front of the camper said the company that built the camper only existed for four years, making just 120 units. Of those, around 25 still exist. The campers were originally built at Van Nuys Airport in the factory where Aero Services built aircraft.

Most of the camping spots were decorated in a color-coordinated manner, including one camper who went with a pink flamingo motif.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Vintage camper lovers converge on Spring Mill for 2024 rally