Michigan Tin Can Tourists Coming to Harbor Beach July 22

Tin Can Tourists

Members of the vintage camper group Michigan Tin Can Tourists will be rolling into Michigan’s Thumb Wagener County Park Campground near Harbor Beach from July 22 to 25th 2021. The event is called the 2021 Thumbs Up Rally. The event has occurred annually, more or less, and was formally at Port Crescent State Park. It’s estimated over 68 vintage trailers and RVs will be in at the Rally.

The Tin Can Tourist is a vintage trailer enthusiast group first formed in 1919 in Tampa Florida. The organization is composed of over 1000 members all of the United States, Canada, and Japan. The rally is regularly held at Port Crescent shows some of the best-restored motor coaches and travel trailers in the region. More information about Tin Can Tourists can be found on their website

The Michigan Tin Can Tourists visits the Port Cresent state park just about every year.

Below is a sample of the vintage camping trailers at Port Crescent State Park taken in 2012.

The Tin Can Tourists were organized at Desoto Park, Tampa, Florida, in 1919. Their guiding principles were clean camps, friendliness among campers, decent behavior, and secure plenty of clean, wholesome entertainment for those in camp. The group grew rapidly during the 1920s and 1930s. The Michigan Tin Can Tourist group makes its way to the upper Thumb about every other year.

What is A Vintage Camper?

A camper is considered to be vintage if it’s at least 25 years old. These RVs and campers are highly prized if they are a design or model that was highly popular in its era. One such example is any well-kept Airstream. Typically these travel trailers have been restored to almost new condition by their owners and stored inside.

Port Crescents Ghost Town Camp Ground – Port Crescent State Park is one of the largest state parks in southern Michigan. Located at the tip of Michigan’s “thumb” along three miles of sandy shoreline of Lake Huron Saginaw Bay, the park offers excellent fishing, canoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing, birding, and hunting opportunities. However, a little-known aspect of this park is that it sits on the location of a ghost town.

Gibby’s Fries is a County Fair Treat Not to be Missed – Gibby’s Fries are fresh-cut homemade French fries that can only be found at carnivals, festivals, and fairs during the summer months. We dropped in on the Huron Community fair during Sunday’s setup. Gibby’s was already doing business, and the fryers were hot.

Smuggling Whiskey in Michigan During Prohibition in Michigan – On the eastern edge of Michigan’s Thumb lies the lonely and rocky cove of Whiskey Harbor on the shore of Lake Huron. The remote area sits on a layer of limestone that makes it hard to build on so it remains undeveloped to this day. It’s hard to imagine that this beautiful remote setting was the site for criminal activity during the time of Michigan Prohibition for over 12 years.

Michigan Thumb Webcams – These live Michigan Thumb webcams are strategically located in various spots along the shore and within the Thumb region. It is a great place to check out the weather and lake conditions from the comfort of your home or even at work.

6 Top Camping Sites Near Caseville Mi – Caseville Michigan is the avowed, “fun town” in the Upper Thumb. It has four major festivals; one for each season. The Winter starts with Shanty Days, late Spring has country music and BBQ fun with Ribstock. The late summer has its massive Cheeseburger in Caseville and the Fall is wrapped up with Pumpkinfest. There is also mini-golf, a giant slide, ice-cream shops, gift stores, pubs, a brewery, and a distillery. There is certainly plenty to do. Those looking to camp out and enjoy the festivals, fine fishing and beaches are in luck, there are over 650 campsites within 10 miles of Caseville Mi Camping.


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Paul Austin

Paul is a writer living in the Great Lakes Region. He dabbles in research of historical events, places, and people on his website at Michigan4You.When he isn't under a deadline, you can find him on the beach with a good book and a cold beer.

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