Escapees RV Club 59th Escapade

Escapees RV Club Celebrates Successful 2019 Escapade
Attendees enjoy an educational and community-building rally

TUCSON, Arizona- March 2019

Last week, more than 2400 RV enthusiasts came together in Tucson, Arizona, for the 59th Escapade. As the annual rally for Escapees RV Club, this event attracts RVers from Canada, Mexico, and everywhere in between. With RVs camping on-site and additional walk-in attendees, Pima County Fairgrounds was bustling with activity!

The week’s events included approximately 80 seminars that covered topics from solar power to travel destinations and even educational science sessions offered by staff from University of Arizona. One of the best attended sessions was presented by Shawn Loring, CEO of Escapees RV Club. This presentation, referred to as “Club Talk” included announcements of several new and updated benefits for members, each of which was met with excitement. Kidscapade, a kids-only event hosted during Escapade by Fulltime Families, entertained the youngest of RVers while parents and grandparents attended seminars.

Inclusion of a wider range of seminars, more activities for children, and more social opportunities for their parents attracted a record number of Xscapers to this year’s event. Several stepped up to present seminars on topics such as boondocking, full-time travel, minimizing paper clutter, and researching healthcare options. Still others hosted events for fellow attendees including a First-Timers Meet & Greet and several happy hours and evening campfires. Some even took the stage to participate in Escapade’s Got Talent, the event’s annual variety show.

Further strengthening their recently announced cooperation with Escapees, product development staff from Winnebago attended Escapade and offered several sessions to give RVers the opportunity to speak directly with those who design and help produce many of the rigs currently on the road. In their Ask the Manufacturer session, Nick Davis, Product Planner for Winnebago, fielded questions from attendees about both Winnebago RVs and regulations for manufacturers. Later in the week, attendees were invited to participate in additional discussions hosted by Winnebago staff, focused on evaluating possible solutions to current concerns with RV designs and layouts.

As is an Escapade tradition, many of the week’s activities included a charitable element. The DOVEs, a birds-of-a-feather group of Escapees RV Club members, hosted a blood drive during Escapade and collected 36 units of blood for the local blood bank. Several fundraisers were held for CARE, a non-profit assisted living program for RVers, raising more than $6,500 through the Hair-Raising Chili Cookoff, Donuts for CARE, and more. Donations of non-perishable food were also collected for the local food bank.

During Thursday’s closing ceremony, attendees were introduced to staff from the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs, Wyoming. Escapees RV Club is excited to bring the 60th Escapade to Rock Springs June 21-26, 2020! These staff members attended the Tucson Escapade to learn more about the Club’s members, the event, and to explore how their facility can improve the attendee experience. More information for the 2020 event will be available in the coming months.

Brock Brinkerhoff leads seminar RVing in Alaska

Escapees RV Club member Brock Brinkerhoff, together with Janine Vance, leads seminar RVing to Alaska. 

Xscapers gather Escapade 2019

Xscapers members gather for the Taco Tuesday social at the 2019 Escapade in Tucson, Arizona.

Escapees Celebrates Successful 2019 Escapade 1

RV Country welcomes Escapade attendees to browse RVs for sale while enjoying complimentary Happy Hour drinks and snacks at the 2019 Escapade.