HERSHEY, Pa. — More than 500 bus fans ranging from families with toddlers to grizzled industry veterans descended on Hershey recently for the Museum of Bus Transportation’s annual “Spring Fling,” far exceeding attendance in previous years.
The two-day event also attracted nearly 50 “visiting” buses – everything from brand-new demonstrators to antiques and motorhomes — to supplement the museum’s fleet of 36 vehicles.
The buses on display included a 1908 Martz Lines White as well as modern MCI, Temsa, Van Hool and Volvo demonstrator coaches, representing 109 years of industry innovation.
There also was a “Tug” donated by ABC Companies and a pickup truck provided by Lewis Bus Lines/Bus Sales.
Coaches were parked inside the facility, all around the museum’s campus and at the George M. Sage Memorial Annex. More than 40 vendor tables offered a wide assortment of bus memorabilia.
There also were awards: A GM Buffalo from the Friends of NJ Transit Heritage won the People’s Choice trophy, while Frank Gonzalez’s Star-Dust Tours took the long-distance trophy for a pristine MC5C that came all the way from California.
The event ended with its first-ever bus parade featuring coaches circling the museum, staged to provide photo and video opportunities for fans.
Warren Sheps, a retired industry executive, referred to the convoy of antique buses that came from New Jersey as a “traveling time warp,” a term even more appropriate for the parade.
David Schmidt, the museum’s new board chairman, attributed this year’s higher attendance to the museum’s rejuvenated website (www.busmuseum.org) and an energetic social media presence.
“But the real credit goes to a huge effort by dedicated volunteers,” Schmidt said. “The museum’s new leadership team is immensely proud and grateful for all their hard work.”
As in previous years, Wolf’s Bus Line provided shuttle service between the museum and the annex, but with a twist. Virtually every bus was filled, and extra runs were added to accommodate the larger crowd.
MCI and CoachUSA donated both people and equipment to help to get the annex ready and Terrapin Blue’s Ryan Kelly donated video, drone and photographic services.
Mark Szyperski, the museum’s marketing chairman, likened Spring Fling to “a homecoming for everyone who loves the bus industry.”
“Fling is a chance for them to be surrounded by the history and people who make it special,” Szyperski said. “We think it was a resounding success, and we were delighted by the hundreds of folks who hung around to the end, apparently having so much fun that they were reluctant to leave.”
Planning already is under way for next year’s Spring Fling, scheduled for June 1-2, 2018.
Meanwhile, bus fans can look forward to the Vintage Bus Rally in Evansville, Ind., Sept. 22-24, sponsored by Bus Boys Collection (www.busboyscollection.org).
