Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower Park

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John Neuenburg
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Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower Park

Post by John Neuenburg » Sun Dec 18, 2016 11:33 am

This is an in-depth post, edited 4/16/17. Assume there will be camping cancellations, as usual with events, so contact us for a reservation. Commuters may attend to shop and socialize plus display MVs.

Camp Petaluma, the West Coast Military Vehicle Rally, is the new venue for what was Camp Delta at Tower Park. Location is historic Petaluma in Sonoma County this April, at the San Francisco North/Petaluma KOA, 20 Rainsville Road, just off Stony Point Road north of town. It is officially April 18-23, 2017 with our rates good for days before and after.

Reason for the move to Petaluma is the campground at Tower Park was purchased by Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp Resorts and they are doing a complete renovation including a water park. This is shrinking the number of campsites, making it not work for us for the big April meet (but the Fall Camp Delta meet will return there centered in campground 2). After an exhaustive search for a large enough Spring campground with amenities, the MVCC Board chose this very nice KOA in the Sonoma County dairy and wine region. It has a variety of campsite and cabin amenities, an event building, and great MV driving opportunities on beautiful country roads ripe for excursions! Petaluma hotels, restaurants and antique stores are nearby.

The Military Vehicle Collectors of California remains your host and we will have a 40th Anniversary party on Friday night with food and live music. All welcome. Discounted camping rates are valid for "early birds" arriving as early as the Sunday before. There is a 4 night minimum plus an option for those who can only camp on the last weekend. Details are on http://www.MVCCNews.net to include maps including an interactive campground map where you can see who has what site! Sunday is the traditional "pull out day" but we expect people who have never been to our Spring or Fall meets, so vendors wanting new customers might be happy they stay open to Sunday morning.

Here is what's planned so far:
Two different scenic MV road trips on Friday with lunch stops. See the Activities Schedule on http://www.MVCCNews.net on the events page.
Military radio folks on the air Thursday and ???
Ladies Lunch in Historic Downtown Petaluma with shopping, on Thursday
Thirsty Thursday - BYOB and munchies. Vintage attire welcome
Pancake breakfasts sponsored by the Ladies of the MVCC Friday, Saturday
Friday dinner and party at the Rec Hall. Live big band music sponsored by the MVCC. Vintage attire welcome
MVCC meeting Saturday, all welcome. Officer election nominations, news about the September Camp Delta at Tower Park
Fantastic commemorative T-shirts for sale

As usual for our Spring meet, our own Jo-Ann Lesser is our "Wagon Master" handling campsite and cabin assignments. If you don't have a site, ask a buddy if you can share. KOA has a special rate for that. Most of the sites are long pull-throughs and so have street access from both sides. See who is camping where on the interactive map here: http://legacy.1945gpw.com/mvcc_spring/map.aspx
If you have extra space to share, or if you are looking to share a campsite or cabin to lower your cost, let Jo-Ann know at 408-238-8277 or mamalesser@yahoo.com.

Four wristbands will be given to each camper and you may leave some on Will Call at the KOA office with names on them.

MVs must be parked at your or your friend's campsite or cabin or at a public location approved by Activities Coordinator John Neuenburg at 415-847-2801 or in_garage@hotmail.com or cabin #282. Do not drive on grass if it is soft and will be damaged. If your campsite has some extra MV parking space, or if you are commuting and want to park a MV, contact John. He will put people together. It is fine to drive MVs around the facility.


If you have a site reserved through Jo-Ann but you have not contacted KOA to put a deposit on it, DO SO NOW OR RISK LOSING IT! This is the policy we have been operating under for years.
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Last edited by John Neuenburg on Sun Apr 16, 2017 10:03 pm, edited 5 times in total.
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John Neuenburg
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Re: Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower P

Post by John Neuenburg » Mon Mar 06, 2017 8:58 am

Added many updates to the post.
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Re: Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower P

Post by Sailorman » Tue Mar 07, 2017 10:30 pm

I've visited this campground and the facilities are great! A must see is the Militaria Store and Museum downtown on Petaluma Ave. There are two, count em, two, different lunch convoys to the coast on Friday along the scenic country roads. There is a period bivouac(squad tents) for any reenactors who want to bring their GI cots. See you there! :D

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Re: Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower P

Post by John Neuenburg » Sun Mar 26, 2017 2:05 pm

There are MANY hotels in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Novato.
Last edited by John Neuenburg on Sun Apr 16, 2017 10:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower P

Post by Bill, Idaho » Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:50 am

With all due respect, could someone post the best route for those of us that are not familiar with the area. (I have heard of too many occasions where Google Maps isn't accurate!). The Idaho clan will be coming in on Interstate 80. Is I80 to 37, and then up on 101 the best route? Are there any shortcuts (suitable for large trailers)? Once in town, any easy ways to the KOA?
Thanks for any help, and we'll see ya'll there-if we don't get lost.

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Re: Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower P

Post by John Neuenburg » Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:28 am

Sorry Bill, you can't get there from Idaho.

Seriously, the following info is best read with a map of the north Bay Area handy. From westbound 80, take 37 west, pass the light at 121, take next right on Lakeville Highway. This two-laner goes right into Petaluma. You then have the option of jumping onto 101 North for about 3 miles and exiting to Petaluma Blvd North (Penngrove exit). Go left over the freeway, next right at Henny Penny Restaurant on Stony Point Road. Go about 600 yards, left on Rainsville Road and KOA entrance road is on the right. BUT big trailer rigs are not advised on the entrance drive or in camp, meaning you need to off-load in the lot across from Henny Penny or in one of the big lots across Petaluma Blvd somewhere, and drive the MV to KOA. We are awaiting the news about it being OK to leave big rigs parked in that dirt lot for the duration. Dave Ball or I will post it here.

If you want to park a big trailer rig in your pull-through RV campsite, best to walk the area before driving off Rainsville Road. In the summer there are huge grass fields below the office and pool for parking. We think they will be too soft in April, but won't know until mid-month. This info will be posted here.

I mentioned an option above. If arriving Petaluma between 4 - 6:30 pm, 101 North could be slow with commute traffic. It's not far, but if you are in a hurry or hate bumper-to-bumper traffic, stay on Lakeville Highway, go through town, cross Washington, it runs into Petaluma Blvd North. Go right (north) and after it makes a big bend right you'll see the restaurant and a Denny's. Left on Stony Point and proceed as before.

Coming from San Francisco, 101 North can be slow any weekday after 3:30 pm in several places. It frees up north of San Rafael, then will usually slow down at the north end of Novato. The first Petaluma exit is only a few miles north, so no huge delay there.

But from the East Bay it is probably better to not take 580 across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to 101. Instead, go east on 80 or north on 680, find Vallejo, then go west on 37 as above. A few miles longer but usually faster than 101 north. Again we are talking mid-afternoon to early evening.

Back to Lakeville Hwy - some drivers on 101 in San Rafael approaching Novato wanting to continue north will leave 101 on 37 east, and go left on Lakeville Highway to Petaluma. This can slow traffic on Lakeville and is probably not faster, but it's scenic. So some folks coming down 37 from the east will avoid that by turning north on 121, pass Sonoma Raceway, and at a stop light go straight. You are now on 116. It bends left and is called Stage Gulch Road, goes over some hills, and it turns into Adobe Road. At a stop sign go straight. It turns into Frates Road. This hits Lakeville Highway - right at that light and proceed into town. All this is two-laners and with the hills, not the best for big, heavy, or wide trailer rigs. Better those folks stay on 37, Lakeville, or 101.

One note about LEAVING Petaluma in the mid-late afternoon on a WEEKDAY to go towards I-80. Best to stay away from 37 or I-580. Take that Lakeville-Frates-Adobe-Stage Gulch Rd route, and at that stop light, go left towards Napa on 12. Then on to Fairfield or Vallejo as desired. Reason is there are a lot of drivers exiting Marin County on 37 east, which backs up from the 121 stop light back to Lakeville and even the Petaluma River Bridge. Traffic improves east of 121. Similarly, I-580 east out of San Rafael is slow getting to the Richmond Bridge. They are going to re-activate the long-closed third lane on the eastbound bridge but won't happen until late 2017.

By the way, anybody wanting to buy a ride in a PT-17 Stearman biplane, SNJ-4 trainer, or very rare P-40N two seater, can do that at Sonoma Valley Airport, which is on 121 between Sonoma Raceway and that stop light. Make prior arrangements with Vintage Aircraft Company, 707-938-2444 and tell them I sent you! They are friends of the MV hobby.

Hope this helps.
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Re: Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower P

Post by Bill, Idaho » Wed Mar 29, 2017 2:28 pm

Thanks, I will forward to info to the rest of the guys.

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Re: Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower P

Post by mspeters » Sun Apr 16, 2017 7:08 am

Wht is the final info on trailer parking for small rigs at the Petaluma event ?

I recall reading we have access to some space in the fenced in storage yard behind the KOA.

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Re: Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower P

Post by zepher11 » Sun Apr 16, 2017 8:29 am

Some additional information here:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=281652&p=1656736#p1656736
Zeph

'42 Script GPW Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

'41 Dodge WC16 Restoration Thread: CLICK HERE!

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John Neuenburg
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Re: Camp Petaluma MV Swap Meet, Gathering, Replacing Tower P

Post by John Neuenburg » Sun Apr 16, 2017 12:44 pm

Yes there is trailer parking in the RV storage yard at the north end of the campground beyond the Camping Kitchen. Probably pickups and cars too if your campsite is full of MVs.

See the MVCC website for a lot of info - http://www.mvccnews.net/petaluma_spring.html

The Activities Flyer available at KOA office and posted at the restrooms will have a lot of info too.
Military Vehicle Collectors of California
MVPA 7404
1942 Ford GPW British Special Air Service Regiment Replica
1944 Willys MB
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