2017 Quartzsite Gathering - Quartzsite AZ

2017 Quartzsite Gathering Hosts: Scamp Owners International - Greg and his Co-Host Earl.

This gathering is for all brands of Molded Fiberglass Trailers!

Dates: Feb 6-12

  • February 6th to 9th  - Early bird Quartzsite Pre-Gathering (Mon thru Thurs)
  • February 10th to 12th - Main Event (Friday thru Sunday)

If you can attend the Main Gathering, the Pre-Gathering, or the entire Quartzsite Gathering we’d love to have you come and enjoy the good times. Some even stay for a Post-Gathering for a few days if you’re so inclined.

Where: Same location as always, Dome Rock area, Quartzsite Arizona. Approx. 5 miles west of Quartzsite on I-10, south side of highway next to the frontage road.

MAP OF QUARTZSITEGATHERING LOCATION

GPS: 33.643617,-114.304752

Who Can Attend:  Owners of all Molded Fiberglass Trailers brands - Casita, Scamp, Escape, Burro, U-haul, Bigfoot, Lil’ Snoozy, Compact Jr., Trillium, Boler, Parkliner, Eggcamper, Perris Pacer, etc. This gathering has always been, and will continue to be, a melting pot of all molded fiberglass trailer brands.

Registration: There is no pre-registration, as this is free BLM land. We will have a registration/signup table at the Host Trailer in the main loop. This is just first name(s), town, state and trailer type. Make sure you stop by the Host Trailer because not only do we want to meet you, the first 300 registrations will receive a FREE 2017 Quartzsite Gathering 10 year Anniversary button! (Our Canadian friends called this a Pin)

Camping: Free BLM 14-day dry camping (no facilities) on hard packed dirt. Market, water and dump station are all located in Quartzsite, 5 miles to the east. This is “Boondocking” with no hookups. If you are unfamiliar with how to setup your trailer for Boondocking you can read theses excellent resources on Boondocking.

  • What to Bring: Full Water Tank, Extra Water in Tow Vehicle, Empty Gray and Black Tanks, Generator or Solar Charging options, flashlight to see as you walk at night, can of non-cream based soup for the soup event, a dessert for the dessert event, and firewood (optional).
  • BLM Permit: A BLM permit must be obtained and displayed on your trailer. These are available free of charge from the BLM host trailer located a mile or two from town on the frontage road.
  • Campfires: Campfires are allowed. Please bring some firewood if you can help out. We will have central fire pit activities/concerts on Friday and Saturday night.
  • Generators: Generators are OK, however quiet ones are even better. Please try not to run them too early or late. Respect your fellow campers.
  • Check-in Check-out times – None. Come in and leave when you want to. Maximum stay in this area is 14 days. Best of all there is no bill and nothing owed when you leave!
  • Pets: All pets must be kept on a leash while within the camp area. You are responsible for cleanup and sanitary disposal of your pet’s waste.
  • Trash: You are responsible for your trash. We only leave footprints when we depart. Trash may be dropped off at the landfill for free Sunday through Wednesday at this location: Quartzsite Transfer Station Location: 2 1/2 miles N of Quartzsite on Hwy 95, West Side, Quartzsite, AZ 85346
  • Tips of things to do in Quartzsite

Activities: The Quartzsite Gathering is traditionally not highly scheduled with activities. The few activities we have are on Friday and Saturday.. Check the activity whiteboard at the host trailer for updated times and activities.

  • BYOB Happy Hour to kick off the Quartzsite Gathering for early arrivals. Monday night Feb 6th. We will have an informal BYOB happy hour at the host trailer to get acquainted and start the week. Bring your chairs, favorite beverage and snacks. We'll provide a table and firepit.
  • Concerts with Pete and Jackie: Several days durning the week we will be having evening campfire at the host trailer with music by our good friends and musicians Pete and Jackie. Any aspiring musicians can join in to play along. Check the activity board for times and bring your chairs over. 
  • Friday Night Campfire and Dessert Event: New this year we will have a dessert event at the central campfire. Starting at 4pm everyone bring a favorite dessert to the tables, along with your chairs, for a taste of dessert while enjoying a campfire concert by Ukulele Mark and students. All musicians are invited to join in with Mark and students for a great evening of music. UPDATE! The Dessert Event has been moved to Saturday night.
  • Ukulele Lessons and Friday Night Campfire Concert: Our resident Ukulele professional, Mark Baker, will be offering Ukulele workshops for a nominal fee during the week (Check event whiteboard for times and updates) culminating in a concert on Friday night at the main loop campfire. To read more about Mark and contact him if you are interested in lessons or playing (anyone who plays any instruments is invited to join in and play) in the Saturday night concert, contact Mark directly for details at markbaker53@gmail.com and check out his website http://markbakermusicaz.com/
  • Saturday Ladder ball Tournament: At 10:00 a.m., right before the Soup Thing. Great fun to be had at the Quartzsite Gathering Ladder ball Tournament. Never played? Not a problem. It is quick and easy to pick up the game and compete for great prizes. Last year’s tournament was quite an event and drew as many spectators as players. We have moved this event to morning so it will be cooler. Join the fun and sign up your team at registration.
  • Saturday Soup Thing: If everyone would bring a can of soup (Not cream style) they are poured into a couple of large pots and shared with everyone on Saturday afternoon. Snacks are welcome.
  • Quartzsite Flea Markets: Throughout the town of Quartzsite, the Flea Markets run in the winter months during the influx of RV winter visitors and are quite interesting to spend a day or two rummaging around and finding treasures. Check the heading for current vendor information. 

White Board: Check the white board at registration for all activities and approximate times.

Vendors: No outside vendors will be allowed without prior approval from the hosts. We are on BLM Land and their regulations do not allow vendors to sell goods on BLM Lands, so we have to be very careful on what is allowed.

Currently approved vendors:

Dome Rock Swap Meet Quartzsite Gathering Saturday, Feb 11, 2017 8am - 10am:

This is your opportunity to recycle those camping items you no longer use!

SELLERS:
Items must be camping-related...basically anything having to do with RVing. This can also include books, CDs, electronics, etc. -- stuff you'd use when traveling. No clothing items, please.

  • Purchase a box of small envelopes at the Dollar Store (I'll also have some on hand). 
  • On the front of the envelope, write: 1) Your name, 2) the item name, 3) the price, 4) your cell phone number
  • Affix the envelope to the item you wish to sell and leave your item(s) on one of the tables at the Swap Meet.
  • You must be willing to accept either cash or check.
  • Buyers will place their payment into the envelope and then deposit it into a box designated as PAYMENTS.
  • At 12 noon, sellers will be expected to come back to the tent to claim their payment(s) and/or item(s).
  • There will be a table for FREE STUFF. No envelopes necessary; however, the items must be camping-related and reclaimed by noon. 
  • DO NOT LEAVE THOSE ITEMS FOR OTHERS TO DISPOSE OF!
  • If you have a table or ground cover we can use for a few hours to display items, please bring it along.
  • No need to stick around if you don't want to since someone will be there keeping an eye on things.

BUYERS:

  • Acceptable payments will be by cash (correct change appreciated) or check.
  • Buyers may write their name and cell number on the envelope before depositing it into the box if they have questions for the Seller.

MISCELLANEOUS
No outside vendors are permitted without permission from Greg A., the rally host.

I will have A-Z Casita Owners Guide CDs and the following decals on hand: Jack Frame under Here, Battery Charge, and Fresh Water Tank Gauges.

Questions? Suggestions? Email me at lovemycasita@ymail.com

Eileen

From the Hosts:

Post any questions you have on this thread or to just say “Hello, we’ll be there”! We look forward to meeting many new friends and visiting with many old friends at one of the best gatherings of Molded Fiberglass Travel Trailers (All brands are welcome) in the country. It's our 10 year Anniversary!

 

mk evenson
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Joined: 01/18/2017 - 18:29
Beautiful sunsets

Thanks for sharing. YES, very beautiful sunsets. Here in Lander it is 26F but a full moon! Ya'll enjoy the rest of the gathering!

Mark

Thanks for making us feel so welcome.
If you have a choice, Please buy, "Made in America"

JA-Admin
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Quartzsite Concerts

Ukulele Mark gave lessons to his students all week (yellow shirts) and tonight they performed a concert at the Quartzsite Gathering!

Here is a pic from one of their mid-week practice sessions:

And all throughout the week the Quartzsite campers got to enjoy the music of Pete and Jackie, joined by several talented musicians. 

As the music played, Phillip and Catherine enjoyed a 30th Anniversary Dance!

 

sprout
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QUARTZITE

Looks like it was and still is a beautiful event.  We are sure sorry that we weren't able to be there.  Hopefully we will see all of you next year.  Jim's hip replacement went well and we are two weeks into recovery and he is doing awesome.  All the pictures that were posted are just beautiful.  See you all soon.

 

JA-Admin
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Saturday Events at Quartzsite

Today was overcast with some light rain, but we forged ahead with our schedule of events.

The ladderball tournament is always a lot of fun. Our "Ladder Master" Earl (yellow shirt) explains the rules of the game.

The course is set up and ready.

Let the tournament begin!

 

 

Scorekeeping is important!

Winners!!!  1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, with their prizes (walking sticks, SOI gear, etc.)

Following the Ladderball tournament, we had "The Soup Thing."  Everyone brings a can of soup and we warm it all up in big pots.

 

In the early evening, the campers gathered together for a dessert potluck and campfire, followed by a glorious sunset.

.

 

Greg A
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Quartzsite 2017 Recap

Quartzsite was as always a wonderful get together of old and new friends! This year was especially enjoyable for me as it was the 10 year Anniversary of this unique gathering in the AZ desert.

Here's the official attendance numbers:

144 total trailers officially registered

80 - Casita's;  27 - Escape's; 17 - Scamps; 5 - Bigfoot's; 3 - Oliver's; 6 - Other incl Lil Snoozy, Trillium; and 6 - SOB's (Some Other Brand)

Attendees from 28 US states and 4 Canadian Provinces.

TX, SD, AK, AZ, UT, CA, WA, MO, MI, CO, GA, NV, AL, VA, TN, ID, NM, MN, KS, KY, WY, PA, NC, OR, NY, MS, FL, AR

Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and British Colombia

A great big THANK YOU to all who pitched in and volunteered to work the registration table, soup line, ladderball, dessert table, weekday Happy Hour concerts with Pete n Jackie and all musicians joining in, concert with Ukulele Mark(students and musicians), campfire attendants. We really appreciated your contribution to making this an incredible gathering this year!

A special THANK YOU to our co-host Earl A who also is our secret button/pin maker and Ladderball Master.

  

Recap of the Activities:

Weekday Happy Hour Concerts @4pm M-Th: This was a really enjoyable social hour with great music provided by all the musicians. Ended every evening with the gorgeous Quartzsite sunsets and off to dinner and nightly socializing.

  

Friday night concert with Ukulele Mark and students: Ukulele Mark did his usual outstanding job teaching his protege's at the Wed Ukulele workshops and putting on a great concert on Friday night at the central gathering spot. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed and attendance was huge at this event.

  

Saturday Ladderball tournament: Over 28 teams were entered into this years single elimination ladderball championship overseen by Ladder Master Earl A. Fighting hard into a light AZ rain were the eventual winners. 1st Place: Dave n Sue; 2nd Place: Frida n Susan; 3rd Place: Bill n Mark Honorable Mention: Lance n Kamala

  

The Great Soup Thing:   The rain ended with the Ladderball championship and the focus turned to the great soup event. All the donated cans of soup were carefully crafted by our SoupMaster Chefs. The cool weather made the soup especially good this year and there wasn't a drop left at the end.

      

Dessert Pot Luck and Campfire:  First year to try this officially at Quartzsite and it was a huge hit! Folks brought all kinds of desserts to enjoy from store bought to home baked. Jon's 80 mile Blueberry Pie went to the folks lined up early waiting for the tables to open.

      

 

A special treat this year a special thanks to the Drone Guys. We called them Black Hat and White Hat, because of the color of the Drones. A rare look at the Quartzsite gathering from the Drone's view.

Great time in the AZ Desert for the Quartzsite 10th Anniversary Gathering. We look forward to seeing and meeting you next year!

Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape

Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:

Fiberglass-RV-4Sale

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