Western Motor Home Association
At least 1,300 motorhomes are expected to roll into the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio, California for the 26th annual Western Motor Home Association Rally.
The event kicked off Wednesday and runs through Sunday, January 12. More than 3,000 people — about 1,500 families — are expected to participate in the five-day rally, which includes a parade scheduled for Thursday.
The rally and parade are open to the public. A day pass costs $10.
The Western Motor Home Association is part of Family Motor Coach Association, an international organization for motorhome owners based in Cincinnati. FMCA has nearly 80,000 active member families.
On Tuesday, one big coach after another rumbled into the fairgrounds as volunteers and members readied for the opening of the rally.
“This is one of the largest — if not the largest — in the U.S.,” Rick Ricordati, Family Motor Coach Association, national vice president, western area said. “We’re pretty proud of it.
“This is your home-away-from-home,” Ricordati said, pointing to his tan and burgundy Monaco Lapalma coach.
Motorhome dealers from throughout California will participate in the show. In addition to the more than 100 motorhomes that will be open for display — from the grandiose 40-foot buses with walk-in bathrooms, fireplaces and multiple slideouts, to 29-foot intermediate-size starter models, to the Roadtrek 210 — “It’s a fancy van,” said Dell Jackson, chaplain/sponsor chairman for the rally.
“It has just about everything the big ones do,” Ricordati said. “It’s just that ... you better get along good with your wife,” he said after exiting the vehicle.
Attendees can browse motorhome components, accessories, home products, clothing and accessories at approximately 150 vendor spaces.