Scouting Adventures: Reflecting on camping trips with my scout troop across Georgia and northern Florida.
Growing up in the scouting world, I cherished the camping trips we embarked on throughout Georgia and northern Florida. Led by Fred Vickers, our troop explored from the caves in the northwest to museums and watched Apollo Space launches from across the Banana River at Cape Kennedy. The launches were monumental, and we camped just four miles away, with a clear view of the launchpad. The vibrations from 7.5 million pounds of thrust created an immense amount of vibration and sound. The sound waves generated by the rocket engines were so powerful that we could feel them, and the energy would be enough to cause the ground to tremble. Truly awe-inspring.
Family Camping Style: How my father’s dislike for tent camping led to the purchase of a travel trailer for family vacations.
While these trips were a highlight of my youth, one person was usually missing—my Dad. An excellent father in every other way, tent camping just wasn’t his thing. After a particularly challenging Boy Scout weekend at Stone Mountain, which involved a nonstop cold rain and his new company car with a stark white interior becoming a muddy mess, my parents decided on a new way to vacation—a travel trailer. This set the stage for many family adventures in comfort rather than canvas.
Innovative Promotion: The creation of the Coca-Cola GadAbout and its features designed for comfort and brand promotion.
Perhaps it was this shift that inspired the integration of Coca-Cola and camping in my father’s professional life. I’m not sure if the Coca-Cola GadAbout motorhome was his brainchild or a team effort, but he adopted the concept wholeheartedly. Collaborating with GMC, they designed a state-of-the-art motorhome that was as stylish as it was functional, adorned with huge red Coca-Cola signage and a spare tire cover that mimicked a Coke bottle cap.
Vacationing in Style: Our family’s memorable vacation in the GadAbout during the 1976 bicentennial.
The interior featured 1970s style red velour upholstery and shag carpeting. The entrance welcomed guests with “Coke adds life to movin’ on,” and the refrigerator was customized to look like a Coke vending machine. Even the bathroom towels bore Coca-Cola logos, and a rear table featured a checkers board integrated into the design, emphasizing the brand.
Resort Challenges: Overcoming the unexpected restriction at Amelia Island resort with the GadAbout
In 1977, several of these motorhomes were given away, and around fifty were sold to bottlers nationwide. It was fitting that since my father led the project, our family vacationed in a GadAbout during July 1976—America’s bicentennial. We traveled across Florida, turning heads whether at Disney World, Weeki Wachee, or Bok Tower. Our GadAbout was always the center of attention.
Bicentennial Celebrations: A festive July 4th at Amelia Island with Coca-Cola and the standout GadAbout motorhome.
That July 4th, Coca-Cola hosted its annual Bottlers Convention at the newly opened Amelia Island resort. Unfortunately, upon arrival, we learned that motorhomes were not allowed on the resort grounds. Not one to be easily deterred, my father swiftly handled the situation, and soon our ‘resort on wheels’ was prominently displayed in front of our rental home, becoming a main attraction.
We ended our stay at Amelia Island with a grand celebration on the beach, surrounded by family, friends, and, of course, the Coca-Cola GadAbout. It was a fitting tribute to an unforgettable bicentennial celebration, proving once again that nothing says USA quite like apple pie and a Coke.
