Campin' the Cumberland hauls vintage campers south to Burnside Island in 2023

Sep. 22—Talk about a bunch of happy campers.

Friday's clear skies and warm but restrained temperatures made for perfect conditions for the seventh-annual Campin' the Cumberland Vintage Camper Rally, held for the first time this year at General Burnside Island State Park.

In the past, the event for vintage campers — the units that traveling individuals pull along behind their vehicles and set up at campsites to sleep in, which tend to evoke a sense of nostalgic Americana — has been held at Pulaski County Park, off of West Ky. 80. But this year, the event — which is tied to Somernites Cruise — found its way down to Burnside, as has the Cruise's Friday Meet & Greet event this year. And whether a coincidence or not, the result has been a Campin' the Cumberland that's growing and thriving in 2023.

"Everybody's loving the location change, the weather. They've been pleased," said Traci McClendon of Somernites Cruise. "We have an open house for people (from outside) to come in. (Participants) put their campers on display. They let people (look inside them). They enjoy it. There are a lot of groups that go to different rallies and things."

The open house took place on Friday afternoon, but the campers were set to stay throughout the weekend, and some of them will be in downtown Somerset Saturday for the main Somernites Cruise car show event.

At least 44 vintage campers (the exact total wasn't available on Friday) were registered to participate, noted McClendon, which is up from last year.

By "vintage," it's meant that the camper units are 25 years old or older. Most of the ones that McClendon spoke to on Friday were models from the 1950s and '60s.

Campers came from far and wide to participate. All the way from Alabama hailed Brian and Emily Wilbanks, who brought a 1965 Shasta Airflyte travel trailer that was decorated with a fun fall motif.

"We've had this one for about four years," said Brian. "It had been about 90 percent restored when we got it. (Emily) didn't really want one that was perfectly restored. We kept the outside pretty much original, but we re-did the inside completely."

It was the first time at Campin' the Cumberland for the Wilbanks, who get to use the Shasta about four or five times a year. "We have friends that are local here in our car club, so we run into each other a lot at different places and we thought we'd come up here and visit them and their stomping grounds," said Brian.

Speaking to the appeal of vintage campers, Brian said, "It's unique. It's like the old cars. ... We have a blast with it. You get a lot of thumbs-up going down the road. I'm sure people remember them from their childhood; 'Oh, we had one like that when I was growing up,' that kind of thing."

Closer to home, Walter and Katherine Adams came from Corbin, Ky. with their 1968 13-foot-long Serro Scotty Sportman, set up with a front porch feel, a canopy outside, and even a mini-front yard with fall decorations and a little mailbox with their name on it.

"I love it," said Walter of Campin' the Cumberland, an event they've participated in for four or five years. "Good atmosphere, good weather, good people. ... I like it here (at Burnside Island) better."

The Adams' decorated their camper themselves — with a very distinct division of responsibilities. "She told me what to do, and I done it," quipped Walter.

Also returning this year, Janice and Freddie Spears of Perryville, Ky., brought a restored 1948 Federal "Rat Rod" truck that they together, with parts from other vehicles, including a 1977 Suburban frame. It pulled a shiny 1969 Airstream trailer, which is "pretty original," and the porch-like set up out front.

"Everybody laughs because they (say), 'I can't believe (that truck) pulled that," said Janice Spears. She added that this is their fourth time doing Campin' the Cumberland, having found the camper at an estate sale.

"We like the vintage stuff," she said. "We have a log cabin, and we're kind of into primitive and antique stuff."