AMERICUS — Americus and Sumter County roadways will be filled with more than two dozen campers as visitors from five states roll into town for the Tin Can Tourists rally Sept. 10-13.
Dubbed the 2015 TCT Southern Georgia Rally, the event will bring visitors in from as far away as Simpsonville, S.C., and Jackson, Miss. Most of the participants hail from Georgia, Alabama and Florida, where the caravan will start.
Campers will be staying at Brickyard Plantation Golf Club & RV Park, 1619 U.S. 280 Highway East. According to Debra Sykes at Brickyard, 25 reservations had been made by the end of August. Vintage models dating back to 1950 are among those whose owners have made reservations.
Founded in 1919 in Tampa, Fla., Tin Can Tourists is the oldest camping club in the world. It even has its own Hall of Fame. The club’s goal is to promote and preserve vintage trailers and motor coaches through gatherings and information exchange.  The Tin Can Tourists’ Vintage Trailer Club will be hosting an open house for the public to tour vintage trailers of various brands and models during its Americus stop. Included will be familiar Airstreams, Shastas and Scotty Trailers, plus one-of-a-kind and rare vintage brands that are nearly lost to history.
Sykes said the “schedule for our rally is arrival on Thursday with a meet-and-greet around the fire pit, on Friday a baked potato bar dinner, on Saturday a pancake breakfast and then from 10 a.m. to noon all the units will be on display for open house. Visitors can come out and view the vintage rigs.”
The campers will depart from Panama City, Fla., and then make a stop at the “Land of Cotton” Antique Mall in Dothan, Ala., where more travelers will join the caravan. The group will arrive in Americus later in the day on Thursday, Sept. 10. Friday and Saturday are days for exploring the Americus area.
Among the sites to be visited are Andersonville National Historic Site, where the Avenue of Flags will be on display, and the Rylander Theatre in Americus. The Rylander will be showing the historical play “Andersonville Trial” during the same time frame. Tickets are $16 for adults and $11 for seniors. Call 931-0001 for information.
“Tin Can Tourists really appreciate all kinds of history,” said Tim Heintz, TCT Southeastern representative, who has been a member of Tin Can Tourists for 10 years. “We are looking forward to the many historical aspects that the Sumter County area has to offer, from Civil War history, architecture, presidential history, as well as the natural history of the area. Come back and step back in time!”
The group will leave on Sunday, Sept. 13 from around Heintz’s trailer.
Local restaurants in Andersonville, Americus and Plains are expected to be busy during TCT’s stop.
For more information, contact Tim Heintz at 850-814-0297 or Debra Sykes at Brickyard at 229-924-4094.
— Submitted by Americus-Sumter County Tourism Council