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One such individual, who is often considered to be one of the first pioneers, was Glenn H. Curtiss. After spending nearly thirteen years designing and developing transportation vehicles in the aviation industry, Curtiss relocated his family to Florida in the 1920’s. It is said that after having built his family home in Miami Springs, Curtiss used his talents to contribute to the building of an airport, a hotel, and the development of the cities of Miami Springs, Hialeah, and Opa-Locka (Who was Glenn Curtis?, 2021). Always in search of his next endeavor, Glenn joined his half-brother’s firm – the Adams Trailer Corporation. Between 1920 and the early 1930’s, the two brothers began rolling out products under the name Motor Bungalow. The products included the 5th wheel trailer hitch, early prototypes of a pullman style camper, and collapsible camping trailers and solid wall travel trailers (Woodmansey, 2022).

 Other sources attribute the invention of the recreational vehicle or motorhome to Roland Conklin. It is reported that in 1915, Conklin and his family left New York destined for California in a “Gypsy Van” custom built by Roland’s own company – the Gas-Electric Motor Bus Company (Young, 2018). Often referred to as a “summer cottage on wheels”, the gypsy van was 25 feet in length, 7 ½ feet wide, and 13 feet tall. Equipped with a generator, fresh water tanks, a shower folding bunks, and a kitchen with electric cooking range (Hinckley, 2020), it isn’t difficult to understand why the gypsy van is often referred to as the first true recreational vehicle.

Although Curtiss and Conklin are often the names that spring to mind when reflecting on the history of the recreational vehicles, others still contributed to the progression of leisurely, comfortable travel in America including George N. Pierce. Between 1904 and 1910, Pierce modified the status symbol Pierce Arrow limousine into a camper van named the Pierce-Arrow Touring Landau (Martin, 2021).  Moving from the early 1900’s through the 30’s, 40’s and even today, inventors and designers continued to make improvements on the early concepts of recreational vehicles making travel more affordable and comfortable for individuals seeking exploration and adventure. 

If you are one of the adventurers looking to explore the great outdoors, why not make your own RV history this summer at Hickory Point RV Park? Call us today at (727) 937-7357 to learn about our summer rate specials and book a reservation.

Hinckley, J. (2020, December 6). Roland Conklin’s amazing land yacht. Motoringnz. https://www.motoringnz.com/car-reviews-and-views-motoringnz/2020/11/29/roland-conklins-amazing-land-yacht 

Martin, T. (2021, October 19). The first production RV was built over 100 years ago. MotorBiscuit. https://www.motorbiscuit.com/first-production-rv-100-years-ago/ 

Who was Glenn Curtiss?. Glenn Curtiss Aviation Museum. (2021, September 29). Retrieved June 9, 2023, from https://glennhcurtissmuseum.org/education/who-was-glenn-curtiss/ 

Woodmansey, A. (2022, January 6). The RVs of Glenn H. Curtiss. RVHistory.com. Retrieved June 9, 2023, from https://www.rvhistory.com/post/the-rvs-of-glenn-h-curtiss

Young, T. (2018, September 4). A Brief History of the RV. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved June 9, 2023, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/brief-history-rv-180970195/#:~:text=On%20August%2021%2C%201915%2C%20the,a%20maximum%20of%20comfort%20while

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The trail will be 4.52 miles long when finished. Development of the trail was started in early 2019 and is expected to be completed soon. The trail is shaded in most parts and weaves through the lush tropical landscape of coastal Florida. The parks that are able to be accessed by the trail currently are Anclote River Park, Anclote Gulf Park, and Key Vista Nature Park.

Hickory Point RV Park is about a 10 minute walk or a 5 minute bike ride from the trail head which can be accessed at Anclote River Park. Call our office or message us on facebook for any questions. We hope to see you out there!

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NEW AT HICKORY POINT RV PARK!

Hickory Point is one of the best places along the Gulf Coast of Florida for paddle boarding. Now with our new paddle boards, you have the opportunity to enjoy this physical outdoor activity and launch straight from the shore of the park.

While kayaking has been a popular activity in the past, our stand up paddle boards offer a slightly different approach to spending time on the water. You can sit. You can stand. You can lay down to catch some sun or you can even do some yoga moves on a paddle board

OUR TOP TIPS FOR PADDLE BOARDING:

• Avoid the wind. Standing on a paddle board your body acts as a sail, which makes it easier for the wind to carry you in one direction but harder to paddle in the other.
• Go with the flow. Because you don’t cut through the water as easily as a kayak, it’s easier to go with the flow of the wind and the water.
• Know where you’re going and how far you’re going. Paddle boarding is a leisure approach to being on the water and is not meant for going long distances. Remember, going as far as you want is optional, but making your way back is mandatory.
• Begin on flat water. Paddle boarding is not made for waves and it’s more likely that you’ll tip over if you try to mount the paddle board in choppy water.
• Bring essentials with you. Use a waterproof bag to bring essentials like sunscreen, water and perhaps a towel and your phone.

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Stressed from 2020?

Getting out and about during a pandemic can be pretty difficult. A survey conducted by the Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association suggest that stress levels are significantly higher now as compared to this time last year. Thankfully, RV’s are the ultimate self contained vehicles that allow people to explore and witness new places responsibly and with minimal exposure to others.

Free Kayak Rentals

How to get away.

A weekend get away to somewhere like Hickory Point RV Park can be just what a family needs if they are looking for a weekend vacation. Staying somewhere new even if you do not live far away, can help you recharge during these trying times. We at Hickory Point RV Park have multiple amenities to help you and your family enjoy a relaxing getaway. We offer water front access, a boat ramp, docks for fishing and boating, kayaks, a doggy park, and multiple other outdoor attractions. We hope to see you soon!

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Dolphins have been seen almost daily from the docks as they cruise through the river in search of mullet.

We have four kayaks for rent and will be adding a couple paddle boards to our inventory soon.

Golfing at the historic Tarpon Springs Golf course is another great outdoor activity. The course is 18 holes and comprised of lakes, dog legs, and open fairways.

Come join us this summer and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of Hickory Point RV Park

Free Kayak Rentals

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Our Hickory Point RV Park is located in the unique city of Tarpon Springs, once called the “Sponge Capital of the World”.  It’s a beautiful, one-of-a-kind area that offers many options for turning your stay into a memorable experience.

Learn more about the history of the city, its Greek heritage, and the Sponge Industry before you come visit us.

City History & the Sponge Industry

Tarpon Springs is located along the Anclote River, from Lake Tarpon west to the Gulf of Mexico. The first settlers in the area arrived in 1876. By 1887, Tarpon Springs was incorporated, with a population of 52 residents. Several accounts state that the name of the city was inspired by the large number of tarpon fish that inhabited the area.

The year 1887 also saw the arrival of the Orange Belt Railway, which made travel and trade easier. The Anclote Key lighthouse helped advance transportation by water that same year.

The city is best known for establishing the most successful sponge industry in Florida, when John Cheyney founded the Anclote River and Rock Island Sponge Company. In fact, by 1900, Tarpon Springs became the largest sponge port in the U.S. For 30 years, this industry was the largest in the state, bigger than citrus or tourism.

Sponge Boat in Tarpon Springs

The sponges, which are actually living sea creatures, were discovered in the Florida Keys in the 1820s. Visiting fishermen from Key West discovered sponge beds off the Tarpon Springs coast in 1873.

Soon people came to this area to harvest the sponges. Although there were Spongers already living in the area, according to Ed Dorsett (in an article by Nicholas Pilugin published in the Tampa Tribune in 1990):

“The old spongers were really the black spongers. We’ve been here long before they (the Greeks) got here. My grandfather was a sponger.”

Greek immigrants expanded and refined the sponge industry, with John Corcoris as the leader. He brought in 500 divers from several Greek islands, and was responsible for the first mechanized sponge fishing boat in the city.

Monument to Sponge Divers

The Greek divers introduced the technology of hard-hat diving, plusinformation about the types of boats used in Greece.  Sponge diving was not an easy occupation, as the men would practically live on the sponge boats for 6-8 months each year. Divers were lost every year due to decompression sickness or the “bends”.

In 1908 the Sponge Exchange was founded, an organized system for grading and buying the sponges. It was established by sponge divers, boat builders, and others involved in the industry.

The sponge industry suffered ups and downs over the years due to the Depression, a destructive hurricane, a blight (that infested the sponge beds), and a red tide.

The sponge beds did survive, and regained full strength in the 1970s. The industry then saw a modest revival, and today there are boats and sponge divers who continue to bring in sponges.

Greek culture has a deep history in Tarpon Springs, and the city claims the highest percentage of Americans with Greek heritage of any city in the U.S.

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, located in the heart of downtown Tarpon Springs, was the first and original Greek Orthodox Christian parish of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

The first St. Nicholas Church was built in 1907, and the domed cathedral located in Tarpon Springs today was completed in 1943, modeled after the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople.

Cross Diver Statue at St. Nicholas Cathedral

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tarpon Springs celebrates Epiphany every year on January 6th with the Cross-Diving in Spring Bayou. The first observance of Epiphany in Tarpon Springs was in 1903, and has now become the largest Epiphany celebration in the country. The famous “Cross Diver” statue is located in the plaza north of the Cathedral.

National Register of Historic Places

Tarpon Springs Cultural Center

The downtown center of Tarpon Springs is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can walk on its brick streets, and stop in antique stores, art galleries, and restaurants in buildings that date from the late 1800s. Tarpon Springs was Florida’s first recognized Traditional Cultural Property.

Learn more about the city’s history at the:

• Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum in Craig Park
• Safford House Museum
• Tarpon Springs Historical Society

Tour the Town

A Mural in Tarpon Springs

Today, tourism is Tarpon Springs’ primary economic activity, although you can still see active sponge boats at the docks. There are many things to do and see, including:

• Greek Restaurants & Bakeries
• Greek and Florida Souvenir Shops
• Dolphin Sightseeing Cruises
  

  Shopping in Tarpon Springs

• Fishing Trips
• Sponge Diving Museum
• Seasonal Festivals & Entertainment

…and of course the Sponge Docks and natural sponges.

You can stay up-to-date on local happenings through the Hickory Point RV Park Facebook Page, where we share the latest Tarpon Springs events and activities.  Let us know if you have any questions before planning your trip, and we’ll be happy to help!

Sources:

http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/culture/articles/14/Tarpon-Springs-Greektown-National-Register-of-Historic-Places-Viva-Florida-Insider.html

http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/cities/tarpon-springs.html

http://tarponspringsareahistoricalsociety.org/

http://www.fivay.org/tarpon_springs2.html

https://spongedocks.net

http://www.stnicholastarpon.org/

http://www.divingheritage.com/keywestkern.htm

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