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Club on wheels rolls into town

By BETH N. GRAY
Published February 5, 2007

BROOKSVILLE - A not-so-small city is moving into Hernando County this week. Some 2,000 homes, actually, with no planning and zoning permission required.

That's because they are homes on wheels. They won't be staying very long, but while they're here their 5,000-plus resident owners are bringing plenty of business to the county.

The 26th annual Southeast Area rally of the Family Motor Coach Association is packing it in Wednesday through Sunday on 35 acres of temporary tie-downs at the Hernando County Airport.

"They literally build a community out there," said Pat Crowley, executive director of the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce.

"Look at the magnitude," Crowley said. "They feed them; they entertain them; they provide them with information about the community. Until you go to that event, you don't realize all the visitors."

For those visitors, chamber members are providing some 2,200 welcome bags, stuffed with discount and complimentary-glass-of-wine coupons from area restaurants, mints tacked onto brochures touting local real estate opportunities, pencils from a local manufacturer and more advertising goodies, said George Schipper, vice president for the Southeast Area of the Family Motor Coach Association.

Also on hand to welcome visitors will be 24 volunteers staffing a table for Hernando County Tourism Development, said director Sue Rupe.

They will offer a 20-page welcome book of maps and phone numbers, information on how to reach such attractions as the mermaid show at Weeki Wachee, the Heritage Museum in Brooksville, a walking tour of historic downtown Brooksville, the observation tower at Jenkins Creek, Boyett Grove and area golf courses.

Also included is information about such services as mechanics for motor home repairs, beauty salons and barber shops, hospitals, post offices and government offices and menus from area restaurants.

Quoting the event's theme, "It's a sweetheart of a rally," Rupe sees it as a sweetheart deal for area tourism as well.

By last week, owners of 1,800 coaches from around the country had made advance reservations for the rally here.

But reservations are not required.

"We'll have drive-ins," Schipper said. Last year's visiting coaches numbered 2,005.

The cost of gasoline, Schipper said, could be "making some people hold back."

Although the price has dropped in the past month, RVers generally make travel plans more than a month in advance, he said. Still, some will arrive on short notice.

Locals move in, too. Hardly the throw of an orange away, some campers are coming from as close as Spring Hill Drive and Barclay Avenue. It's the camaraderie and past friendships made that attract the RVers, wherever they live, Schipper said.

Among the 235 vendors are local entrepreneurs and civic organizations that count on the rally, which is put on with the help of 700 volunteers.

The Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill and Knights of Columbus staff a popular food both with an extensive menu to feed the campers who generally don't choose to cook on site, Schipper said.

Nestled in the food court will be local restaurants Dory's and John's and newcomer Little Havana from Broad Street.

The vendor tent, Schipper said, will have items that will appeal to campers - and also those who enjoy fishing and golfing.

Ensuring that such attractions are not confined to the campers, the rally offers a $5 day pass that admits visitors from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

While the price of the most luxurious of the RVs are off-putting to some who still want to go over the road and are now opting for pull-along trailers, Schipper said, "The big coaches are still selling."

Among the biggest on display, the stuff of dreams, will be two of the Superbus line, 42- to 45-footers.

"We're talking a million dollars," Schipper said.

Another eye-opener is expected to be a Honda race car.

"Honda and Toyota are just getting into the race car business and Honda wanted to show off here," he said.

Fast Facts:

If you go

What: Southeast Area rally of the Family Motor Coach Association.

When: Wednesday through Sunday. Open to the public for a $5 day pass 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Hernando County Airport, entrance off U.S. 41 south of Brooksville.

Information: Call the association office at 796-0154.

[Last modified February 4, 2007, 21:20:33]