"It's amazing for volunteers to carry out a show of this magnitude. For them, it's a passion."
Nancy Oty of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., sits at the wheel of a Winnebago on display at the Springfield RV, Camping and Outdoor Show in West Springfield.WEST SPRINGFIELD – David Spillane, owner of Travel Town Trailers in Southwick, says his father started the family business in 1963 selling little Scotty Trailers for $795.
Today Travel Town sells “destination campers” that stay in one place year-round. Today Travel Town sells “destination campers” that stay in one place year-round. They can cost over $50,000, and feature sofas, bedrooms, full bathrooms, upstairs landings, grand windows, mock fireplaces, microwave ovens and all the comforts of home.
Visitors can see such marvels for themselves at the 50th annual Springfield RV, Camping and Outdoor Show, which opened Friday and continues through Monday at the Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield.
Admission to the show is $10, with discount coupons available at www.springfieldrvcamping.com and in newspapers. For seniors and the military, admission is $5. Children under 12 get in free. Doors open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and close Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m., Sunday at 6 p.m. and Monday at 4 p.m.
The show features 200 exhibits of everything from motor homes to Tupperware to drinking-water purifiers, canoes, Quickpitch tents, telescoping flagpoles and campground information.
Country Club Enterprises of Greenfield has brought its golf carts, and Judecraft of Chicopee has a booth for its specialty foods.
Artist Sandy Holden, of Montague, is selling her slate garden signs bearing portraits of dogs – every imaginable breed – and a product called OdorGone.
Live entertainment and instruction will be offered throughout the run of the show, as will seminars on such topics as outdoor cooking, hiking essentials, hot destinations and entertaining children without TV.
At a ceremony before the opening, officials celebrated the 50th anniversary of the show, and expressed admiration for the professionalism of the all-volunteer group that runs it.
The show is produced by Pioneer Valley Chapter 8 of the North American Campers Association, based in Granby. Members Angelo and Karen Zeni, of Enfield, Conn., served as chairmen this year.
“It’s amazing for volunteers to carry out a show of this magnitude,” said Wayne McCrary, president of Eastern States. “For them, it’s a passion.”
He said the event draws about 37,000 visitors a year.
State Representative Nicholas Boldyga praised the relationship-building skills and “customer care” it takes to sustain such a show for 50 years.
As part of the ceremony, Travel Town Trailers was honored for being an exhibitor from the very beginning.