This story first appeared in Kingman Motor News.
Having just returned from the annual gathering of vintage Volkswagen Buses known as Buses By the Bridge, the trip got me thinking about my own history with the event. I’ve been attending BBB for over 20 years and have seen it grow well beyond what I thought was possible. But why keep going to the same event over and over again? Well, let’s see…
Let’s rewind to 2003. I had saved up a modest amount of cash in hopes of buying a VW bus. After seeing an online ad for a Westfalia Camper from a private seller in Kingman, Arizona, I made an appointment to drive down from my home in Las Vegas to check it out. Somehow, I learned the same weekend an event was taking place, it was called Buses By the Bridge in Lake Havasu City. I loaded up my family and we made the trek to Havasu to check out the show. Maybe there would be Buses for sale here, but at least we could get a better feel for the different variety available. After our time at the show that day was over, we made our way to Kingman, where I bought the 1977 Westfalia Camper I still own today.
The following year, I drove my own Bus to Buses By the Bridge for the first time. I was still a relatively fresh VW owner, I didn’t know anyone, other than a few people from online interactions on a VW Yahoo group. When I arrived, I was welcomed into this community of people who even though they had never met me before, treated me as a friend and showed me what the VW scene was all about.
My first full Buses By the Bridge weekend camping experience was 2004, there were maybe 125 Buses in attendance. Since that time, the event has grown to welcoming 500 or more of these quirky, boxy machines every year.
The hosts of the event, the London Bridge Bullis, have presented BBB for 27 years as of 2024. They are a small team of volunteers who manage to organize this massive event. The campout welcomes Bus owners from all over the world to Lake Havasu for four days of festivities at Windsor Beach State Park. Along with the VWs on display, there are several vendors, activities, and food available on site as well. Proceeds from the event benefit local Lake Havasu charities throughout the year.
A lot has changed in the 20 years I have been attending. The campground has improved and become much wider. Buses were once permitted to camp right on the sand, but no longer. Mini-events which once took place, like the slow drags and chili cook-off are gone, but new things like the BMX stunt show, kid’s raffle, lantern walk and cornhole tournament have come along. Of course, the number of people has certainly changed, we’ve seen the number of VWs creep up nearly every year. I still remember when the show hit 200 for the first time…it was such a big deal! Let’s not talk about the year it was over 600…packed like sardines, we were.
However, the absolute best part about attending Buses By the Bridge, whether it’s for 20 years or 2 years, this is the place you get to see the most of your friends all in the same place at the same time. And each year you attend, you make more. Truly, many of these folks really are more than friends, they’re family.
It’s a family reunion, there just happens to be some Buses there, too.
You can check out my photos from Buses By the Bridge 2024 right HERE.
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Eric
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