The fourth annual Airstreams on the Square kicked off Thursday, and by late afternoon, the Union County Courthouse was surrounded by the aluminum campers and their occupants.
Steve Pace travelled from Texarkana, Texas for the second year in a row to attend the three-day event.
"I love it here," Pace said. "This event brings a lot more people than our normal rallies."
Organized by Main Street El Dorado and the Arkansas Razorback Airstream Club, Airstreams on the Square is part of a campaign to bring "urban camping" to cities across the country and stimulate small town economies.
Three hours into their stay in El Dorado, Mike and Jacque de Sosa had already hit a few downtown shops, and Jacque said she was planning to visit more local businesses today.
"I plan to check them all out," she said, referring to downtown shops.
The de Sosas call Texas home, but the couple has actually lived in their Airstream for about eight years, so they travel often. Mike said he learned of the Airstreams on the Square event earlier this month, while he and Jacque were attending the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Teresa and Jack Blakely, members of the Arkansas Razorbacks Airstream Club, came to the event from Fayetteville. Teresa noted that Airstreams on the Square is unique, since it puts campers so close to so many amenities.
"This is so different from the camping we usually do," she said.
Usually, Pace said, he camps with his wife, sometimes joining his daughter and son-in-law on their excursions. This year, his wife had a girl's trip that coincided with Airstreams on the Square, so he came just with his Yorkie-poo Lily, though his daughter's family is also attending the event.
Pace said it was his daughter that actually brought him to the "Airstream lifestyle." While she hated camping growing up, he said, after she got married, she reached out to him to find out if he knew anything about renting campers.
"'Who are you?' I asked her," Pace recalled with a laugh Thursday.
When she couldn't find a camper to rent, Pace's daughter decided to look at buying a camper, and eventually settled on an Airstream. After a while, she convinced her parents to try one too.
Pace's Airstream is a 2000 model that he bought about four years ago. He said he put about $3,500 worth of work into it -- reupholstering the furniture and re-modeling the cabinetry -- and he expects to get a return on his investment when he does finally decide to sell it.
However, for now, he's looking forward to his retirement, when he'll have more opportunities to travel. The farthest he and his wife have travelled in the Airstream so far is north-central Kansas, he said.
"One of these days when I finally retire, we'll take some longer trips," he said.
On Thursday, Pace was really looking forward to tonight's Styx concert at the Murphy Arts District. He also was enjoying El Dorado's historic downtown.
"I wish Texarkana had a downtown like this," he said. "I've always really admired what they've done downtown here."
This was the de Sosas first time attending Airstreams on the Square. They've resided in their 27-foot 2014 model camper for about eight years, Jacque said; they decided to join the "Airstream lifestyle" when they retired nine years ago and were empty nesters.
"It gives us an opportunity to see things we might not normally," she said. "The Airstream community -- he calls it a cult -- you know they're going to be good people. We've met long-term friends."
Mike clarified that the Airstream community is a "good cult," and said he has enjoyed being able to travel across the country over the past few years. He hiked the Appalachian Trail, he said, with Jacque following in the Airstream; every few days, he'd meet her in the camper for a night's rest before re-starting his hike.
"The Airstream is what makes it possible," he said.
The Blakelys had already made friends just a few hours after they arrived, with Mary and Randall Colston, of Nesbitt, Mississippi; the two couples gathered outside the Blakely's 28-foot 2019 model with Clyde the dog.
Randall said he and his wife had just joined the Arkansas Razorbacks Airstream Club on Thursday, but last year, the Airstream club local to Mississippi attended Airstreams on the Square as a group. He has family in Huttig, he said, which was part of the draw for him and Mary to attend again this year.
"I want to thank El Dorado. This is really great," Rnandall said. "We'll do everything we can to support."
It was the Blakelys first time to attend the event, but Teresa said she had been to El Dorado before, and was impressed with the city's growth.
"It has changed so much, grown so much," she said.
In the few years they've had this Airstream -- they previously owned a 1966 model, then a 1985 Driving Bus model -- the Blakelys have used it quite a bit. Jack said he spent five months camping in Alaska in the camper, and they also drove from Texas to Disney World in it.
"It's been used extensively," he said. "(When we drove to Disney World), everyone that passed us waved at us."
Both couples noted that Airstreams on the Square is one of the most well-organized events of its type. They commended MSE Administrative Assistant Holly McDonald on a job well done.
"We'll be coming back," Randall said.
