2016 hall of fame weekend lodging ideas

[lwb140]

Hello all , Back home this morning, fresh from a fantastic long weekend. Great to see many good friends, familiar faces and a few new ones . Had the opportunity to meet Lincoln ,Kyle and Mark fellow "Deere guys" as well as others. As Brian mentioned in his recap we met these fellows by accident only because of there vintage jd attire and the flying jd flag. I have vivid memories of my first year at the Hall of Fame event . It was 2012 and chris Wilkinson and I were staying at the Rustic Manor hotel on the other end of town. We were the only two live bodies staying there. I remember Friday morning buzzing up and down the power line right of way behind the hotel trying to find our way to the hall of fame when the poker run went by , clearly we missed it , plagued with fowled plugs and a couple other issues we were able to find our way to the museum just in time to miss the brats and get ready for the fish fry.

Veteran "Ride With The Champs" attendees know the ropes, after a year or two everyone learns where things are and how to navigate. However for our group to continue to sustain itself and to grow we need to welcome newcomers with open arms. Making the weekend as enjoyable as possible is very key. Helping people to put faces with names and be introduced to "the group" is what makes this happen. I know that the Whitetail IS the place to stay. it is also booked up a year in advance and there is a waiting list to get a room. I also know many members of our group have stayed there for years and wouldn't give up there reservation there for anything and I respect that 100%.

Would there be interest or value in our group lodging in a central location? If many of us were to stay at a specific location such as the Hearthside Inn or the Rustic Manor would this make it more enticing for newcomers to join our event with us. As the event grows its only going to become more difficult to get a room at the whitetail. Elmer goes out of his way to make everyone feel welcome and well taken care of, but his facility is simply outgrown. Please share your thoughts and ideas. My agenda is only to support the Hall of Fame and the jd sled community and make this event as fun for others as it is for myself wade

[harleysportster]

Wade, I stayed at the Hearthside Inn this year and I will try and stay there the next time I come out. It is only about 3 miles from the White Tail Lodge and the Hall Of Fame is on the way. It's a great place to stay, the main trail is right in front.

[mfd1221]

I have stayed at the rustic manor it's nice and not far from the HOF. Don't know much about Heartside. I am planning on making the 2016 ride so please let me know if there will be a good option to stay if there's no vacancy at white tails. This will be the first time to go on the ride, Thanks Jim


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[Matt]

Just made it home from the trip. Wade, I was thinking the same thing. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Hearthside. It's literally right on the trail, and has gas and multiple places to eat right across the street.

[lwb140]

It seemed to me many of the people I enjoy visiting with stayed different places this year , I missed out visiting with people, lots of quick handshakes and waves across the room but no opportunities for a good old fashioned conversation. wade

[harleysportster]

Wade, one thing to consider, the smaller Inns and Lodges are just that, small and not a large amount of rooms. The earlier the reservation, the better.

[400brian]

Katy and I really like staying at the Whitetail, we have the same room booked for next year. You never know who you will run into in the lobby, or out in the parking lot.

I too feel we missed visiting with many of you this trip, and there are several reasons for that I think.

We chose not to do the poker run this year, and made the trip up to Bent's Camp instead. The intention was to get back to have a brat at the HOF, and certainly to get to the fish fry early, but we did not.

The Vintage Challenge ran late, so we missed that opportunity, and then the inductions went way long, and everyone left at the end of it rather than visit out at the bar.

[jdsledsrgr8]

Wade,

I think this is a great idea. I have always stayed at my in laws cabin about 30 mins away. Thus I missed alot of the exact things you talked about missing. It took me a solid 2 years of the ride to finally meet many of you (much is do to my not real out going self but certainly some due to the lodgin issue).

By no means do we want to dis on the Whitetail, they do a super job and are so accomodating, but to your point we have a great following and it would be very fun to have all of us together to have night time conversations, the fun night before rebuild projects and then coffee in the morning.

I am all for it. We just want to make sure we frame it up right with the Whitetail, we certainly do not want to come across as "elite" or "too good to stay with the rest".

I am in. We better pick a location and get reservations booked.

[lwb140]

Im sure the whitetail will be full regardless of what we do, I mean no disrespect to the whitetail whatsoever. that said ,ive never been able to get a room there myself ive just shared a room with the human chain saw rainville .

[WinnipegStPaul9]

Matt, Wade, and Joe you'll have a tough decision to make in 2016. If you want to run the vintage portion of the I-500 it will be on the same day as the RWTC. At least that is what I was told last weekend but I'll admit I did not talk directly to Brian.
DA

[JDT]

Wade did you forget to pack those earplugs I gave you last year?

[lwb140]

so I called the whitetail this morning. they had 11 rooms left , only 10 when I hung up with them. I booked as room but that can be reversed if we so choose . it kinda seems to me this is the best chance to book a room there ever , as stated before ive asked several times and never been able to get a room there. tell me what you fellows think ? wade

[400brian]

In my opinion, the Whitetail is THE spot. Reserve a room now, or get on the waiting list later. The fact that they are already pretty much booked proves that point I would think.

[I500]

What is the date for this event? Sorry , just saw Dons post with the dates.

[Matt]

Some rooms may come available for next year considering the conflict with the I500.