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DOHENY STATE BEACH
75^th Anniversary Celebration
Vintage Trailer Camping
 June 23 – 25, 2006

Review

Vintage trailers.  Great trailerites.  Good weather.  Beautiful beach.  Numerous informative park activities.  Interesting and enthusiastic visitors.  Astonishing woodies.  Menehune surfing contest.  And more!

 This weekend was a huge success.  Thank you to Doheny State Beach for inviting vintage trailers to participate in their 75^th Anniversary Celebration. This was an opportunity for Doheny to showcase its history and recreational uses. We were part of a vintage trailer camp displaying beach camping from the 1940’s – 1970’s.  We were parked in the parking lot next to the picnic area.  We had access to restrooms, nearby eating establishments (if desired), and a beautiful beach just a few steps away.  Bill Brooks, Interpretive Association Vice-President, was the nicest person to work with; he did a wonderful job of coordinating all the events and was always available for assistance or just good conversation.  Thanks, Bill, for all your hard work; it was certainly appreciated by the vintage trailer participants!

 A public open house was scheduled from 9 AM to 4 PM on Saturday.  However, the beach park opens at 6 AM , so the open house for the trailers began early.  The park closes at 10 PM and people wandered by until bedtime. There were more visitors at this public display of vintage trailers than we’ve ever experienced, so everyone was exhausted by the end of the day.  We did enjoy the genuinely interesting questions and comments from the public.  We learned a broad range of things from them as well.  Many stories were shared. There was such interest in our trailers.  Inquisitive, positive questions and statements were heard throughout each day because the entire weekend was, in effect, an open house.  So many people walk or bicycle the area, surf the waves, picnic with their families, bike, skate, and walk their dogs that there was a continuous stream of nice folks enjoying our encampment. A few of us gathered at one of the campsites Saturday evening to view Doug Keister’s new DVD, Mobile Mansions.

 People were camping at Doheny even before it became the first state park 75 years ago.  Many of the visitors had stories to tell of their family campouts in earlier times.  It is one of the most popular beaches in California .  The designated camping area actually has 122 camping sites.  For every person that is lucky enough to get a reservation, approximately 400 are turned away.  We felt so lucky to be able to explore the area in our vintage trailers and to be so near all the activities.

 Because of the gentle waves, it is an ideal area to learn to surf.  The Menehune surfing contest for boys and girls ages 6 to 16 was a fun sight to behold as their families cheered and supported their efforts.  There was always a multitude of other surfers of all ages to entertain us throughout the day and into the evening.

 Surrounding marine and wildlife life are abundant.  A small aquarium and a tide pool are on public display in the interpretive (discovery) center.  Even the walkway next to the beach is interesting.  There are simple sidewalk paintings, though weathered, of different types of whales (orca, minke, beaked, etc.) demonstrating the whales’ actual lengths to give you an impression of their enormity.

 There were other activities throughout the day such as bird, butterfly, and whale walks and talks; fish demos and feeding; a cake contest; a Native American talk; a S’more demo (you know, those marshmallow, graham-cracker, and chocolate delights) and campfire songs; and a time capsule.  There were also a couple charitable fundraisers.  Although the trailerites were too busy answering questions working with our own visitors, these varied activities were available and enjoyed by the public.

 Displays and booths were also a contributing and ongoing event of the day.  You could find information about park, lifeguard, ranger, surf, and wildlife history; vintage surfboards; grunion; geology; the Doheny mansion; and more . . .  There were also photo exhibits and some area art for purchase including paintings done by local artists. 

 The vintage trailers and woodies were a part of the ongoing exhibits.  The woodies and trailers are pieces of art themselves – each skillfully restored or preserved in different degrees of originality.  There is truly a place for an all-original or an updated vintage trailer depending on one’s needs and use of their trailer.  We treasure and respect that each trailer is unique (just like their caretakers). Television’s Road Trip host, Huell Howser, and his cameraman were there filming some of Doheny Beach ’s 75^th Anniversary events.

 Thanks for a beautiful weekend, Doheny and trailerites.  It’s always fun to share anecdotes and trailer history as well as the personal camaraderie that goes on at these vintage trailer campouts.  We were all honored to be a part of this event.  In a miniscule way, we are now a part of the Doheny Beach history.

 Happy trailering!