Jeb Bartlett
palmettoreport@gmail.com

(York, S.C.) — Campers from across the country traveled to York for the third annual “Silver in the City” rally, April 16-18, to celebrate their love for the iconic Airstream travel trailer.

The boondocking event, which allowed people to camp downtown, was organized by John Leek and Terry Montgomery from the Palmetto State Airstream Club.

“They come from all over, you know, North (Carolina), South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Georgia and we gather on Thursday night, up at the York Place. We had 52 (Airstreams) last night; this is our biggest crowd so far,” said Susan Leek, wife of John.

“We gathered at York Place and all camped up there last night and paraded into town this morning and everybody is parking and ready for the weekend. Going to have some fun,” said Leek.

Wayne Clark, who purchased his Airstream in June 2020, said he has been traveling with it for the last six months.

“We’ve been out now close to 180 days, so close to half the year staying somewhere and we’ll have 12,000 miles here shortly,” said Clark.

“We’ve been RV-ing for years and my partner has always dreamed of owning an Airstream, so we were just kind of looking around, trying to figure out, ‘Well, maybe this is the right time to do it?’ But, we got ours at the end of June.”

Officers from the York Police Department were available to help campers park their Airstreams downtown and streets were closed to facilitate foot traffic during the event’s open house.

Wayne Clark
Airstream enthusiast Wayne Clark shows off his trailer, which he has been traveling in for the last six months (photo: Jeb Bartlett).

“They’re so streamlined and shiny. In nature, they reflect everything,” said one young member of the Palmetto State Airstream Club.

Proceeds from the event were donated to PATH of York County, which helps find temporary aid to people in times of crisis, guides those in need to the appropriate social agencies and operates a thrift store that helps provides goods to its clients.

“Camping, in general, is just kind of fun camaraderie with different people. Getting out and about, seeing different places on the road. Airstreams, specifically, is just a beautiful community of people,” said Clark.

“No matter where you come from, where you are in life, everyone has the same common interest of these silver busses.”