Watching the wheels: Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival cruises to 10th year
Jun. 10—Tim Watson is a trail guide at the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival. He leads drivers through the woods, often on uneven terrain.
When it came time to propose to girlfriend Kirsten, he knew the perfect location.
"We have a love of Jeeps and a love of each other," said Watson, of Cranberry. "There's no one I'd rather experience the ups and downs of life with other than Kirsten. We are on this ride of life together."
The couple was engaged at the first festival in 2011. They married the following year. He proposed during a trophy presentation, getting down on one knee and handing her both a ring and a trophy engraved with "Will you marry me?"
Watson drives a Jeep Wrangler and Kirsten a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk. They will be one of thousands of Jeep enthusiasts at the event, which celebrates its 10th anniversary Friday through Sunday.
The festival, hosted by Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association, is held in Downtown Butler and Cooper's Lake Campground near Slippery Rock. It was canceled last year because of the pandemic.
Tim and Kirsten Watson's marriage is thriving just like the event.
"The festival has a following because there is a deeply-rooted Jeep culture," Tim Watson said. "There is a connection among owners of the brand, and interest is picking up quite a bit. And the fact that the granddaddy of all Jeeps started right here in Butler County keeps people coming back."
As noted by the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, the American Bantam Car Company located there invented the Jeep.
In 1940, the U. S. Army asked 135 tractor and auto manufacturers to design a four-wheel drive, 40 horsepower, 1,300-pound reconnaissance car that could haul soldiers as well as heavy artillery.
Bantam and Willys-Overland Motors of Toledo, Ohio, responded.
Bantam won the contract, but couldn't meet production demands of 75 vehicles per day. The Army gave Ford and Willys the Bantam's blueprints and they produced the vehicles — 600,000 Jeeps for World War II.
The three-day event was created by Butler County Tourism. Festival director Patti Jo Lambert was working for Butler County Tourism at the time.
"I didn't know much about Jeeps back then, but I learned," she said. "We are still growing and this is going to be our biggest year yet. I think people are looking for a way to get out and do something."
Lambert said the military history is a big part of the Jeep's appeal. But owners also enjoy all of the activities and events the weekend offers, from a parade to more trail rides because of newly acquired land, and a competition as well as food and entertainment.
A list of activities can be found here.
"Jeep owners share a common thread," Lambert said. "There is a camaraderie."
Lambert expects 15,000 to 20,000 people to attend.
Ten percent of proceeds from the event benefit local charities.
They had 675 Jeeps the first year. There are 2,600 jeep owners from 30 states registered for the festival, which is the biggest pre-registration in its history, including a lot of first-time attendees, she said. There will be 135 vendors selling items to customize the vehicles.
"The Jeep community has its own culture, like Harley-Davidson has with motorcycles," said Lambert, who drives a Jeep Wrangler. "They do things as a group, from going on scenic drives to raising money for charity."
There are 600 volunteers.
Bill Ringeisen, of Evans City, has volunteered every year. He said he has been a Jeep guy forever because it was "built in our neighborhood."
He helps bring interesting Jeeps to the festival.
His favorite is the "flat fender," the original design.
"I am old school," he said. "This festival is wonderful and I believe it will keep going because there are so many Jeep people."
Rodney Schaffer, of Clearfield Township, Butler County, was the first Friends of the Bantam Jeep Festival president, an organization he and six others helped create. He is handling traffic, food and operations for the event.
"A Jeep is not just a car," he said. "I remember the first time I drove my brother's Jeep around and people were waving at me. I thought they recognized the car and knew my brother. But no, all Jeep owners do that. It's a lifestyle. It's a driving experience like no other. Owning a Jeep gives you freedom."
Admission is for $10 for adults and $3 for children.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne at 724-853-5062, jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter .
