When the Arkansas Razorback Airstream Club reached out to Main Street El Dorado in 2017 about the possibility of El Dorado becoming the first city in Arkansas to host an Airstream event, club members did not know if the community would be receptive to the idea of RVs camping out for several days in the city's central business district.
That notion was quickly extinguished upon club members' first meeting with local groups, Razorback club member Jan Heavener told MSE board of directors this week.
Heavener and other club members attended the regular monthly meeting of the MSE board Nov. 12, during which the club donated $2,000 to the MSE program.
Heavener said the group's first meeting with local civic and community leaders was held in the same room as the MSE board meeting: the Charles H. Murphy boardroom in the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce office.
"When we got here, there was hardly anyone here and we thought this might not work out. But then more people started coming and then more showed up and pretty soon, this room was packed," she said, drawing a laugh from MSE board members.
"This has been the most accommodating community we could have ever picked," Heavener said.
Airstream groups work with local communities to host the nontraditional camping events in downtowns across the nation to help boost traffic for mom-and-pop retail shops, raise money for local charitable organizations and to interact with the residents of those cities by exposing them to the Airstream lifestyle.
The second annual Airstreams on the Square/Main Street was held Sept. 5-8 and drew airstreamers from several states, including Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina and Ohio.
Heavener said 11 states were expected to be represented at this year's event, but there were some cancellations, including Florida airstreamers who were affected by Hurricane Dorian, which struck the Sunshine State in early September.
"We had one of the best rallies we could have ever dreamed of," Heavener said.
Other airstreamers expressed similar sentiments in a poll that was taken by the Razorback Club, she told MSE board members, adding that "El Dorado hospitality" was the most oft-repeated commendation in the poll.
"'This town is so welcoming.' 'Local residents made us feel welcome.' Those were just some the things they were saying," Heavener said.
Board member Bruce Butterfield asked if there were any questions, concerns or recommendations in the poll that could help Main Street improve the event.
"Did someone see anything here or there, logistically, that we could do to make it better?" Butterfield inquired.
"The only thing we heard was, 'Could you do something about the weather?'" Heavern answered with a laugh, referring to sweltering temperatures that blanketed the area in early September.
MSE and the Downtown Business Association coordinated several ancillary, public activities during the airstreamers' stay in El Dorado, including incorporating the Razorback club's mascot, the Flamingo, into First Thursday activities for September.
On the first Thursday of the month, downtown merchants host activities and stay open later to promote and draw more foot traffic to retail shops in the Union Square District.
The theme for September was "Let's Flamingle."
A spaghetti supper was also held as a fundraiser to benefit Union County veterans. The American Legion, Auxiliary Post 297, of Junction City, assisted with the supper.
Local residents were able to tour the travel trailers that surrounded the Union County Courthouse. The price of admission was a donation of canned goods that were donated to local food pantries.
Airstreamers also participated in the SouthArk Outdoor Expo, which was held the same weekend.
"It worked out pretty good for everybody," said Beth Brumley, executive director of Main Street.
It worked out so well, the Razorback club and MSE have already announced dates for Airstreams on the Square 2020.
Airstreamers will return to El Dorado Sept. 10-13 next year and Heavener said the club will start the registration process earlier in hopes drawing more participants.
To help promote the 2020 event, there was some talk about the club coming back sooner to enter an RV in the El Dorado Christmas Parade, which is set for Dec. 12.
"Let's grow it. We'll support it," said Greg Withrow, vice chairman of the MSE board of directors.