Recreational vehicles from across the United States are expected to start rolling into Mineola as early as Saturday to join the SMART RV Group’s 35th Annual National Muster at the Mineola Civic Center.

The 38-acre Civic Center will accommodate up to 150 RV rigs, one of the largest such rallies the city has seen. Mineola and surrounding towns will be on display during the last two weeks of September as hundreds of RVers venture out from their encampment to experience East Texas and take in the sights.

SMART (Special Military Active Recreational Travelers) brings military veterans, and their families together to share camaraderie, travel, camping, and support. It welcomes as members active, retired, and honorably discharged veterans from U.S. and Canadian armed forces interested in recreational travel. SMART RV Group conducts a national muster each year at a different place in the country. Every year, it conducts a “national muster” of its members from across the country. Last year’s was in Rayne, La., and the 2019 national muster is slated for Urbanna, Va.

City officials hope Mineola leaves those attending this year’s muster with a favorable impression.

“We always hope that when people come to Mineola for any reason, they find a reason to come back,” Mayor Kevin White said. “Whether it’s RV rallies, football games, sporting events, school activities, we always like to have open arms and be hospitable.” He said he hopes the RV’ers have a good experience in the city and that they see Mineola as a place to shop, visit for a weekend or even call home.

Mercy Rushing, Mineola’s city manager and executive director of the Mineola Economic Development Corp., said events such as the upcoming rally bring new money into town without the city having to provide extra services. The spending generates sales tax revenue, and the new dollars turn over eight to 10 times within the community.

From a marketing standpoint, she hopes the city leaves a favorable impression that spreads through word of mouth, “and that’s the best kind of marketing that we can do,” she said.

If people are impressed with the town, they’ll tell their friends about all the places to go and things to see. The ultimate prize would be for people to see Mineola as a place to retire, according to Rushing.

Civic Center manager Nancy Murphy said bringing the 2018 National Muster to Mineola was a two-year endeavor that started with a tip from a local RV enthusiasts who knew of the SMART RV Group. The Civic Center can accommodate 221 RVs with electricity and water. Along with the outdoor acreage, Meredith Hall will be put to good use in preparing meals and hosting numerous meetings and seminars, she said.

Rallies such as this one provide an important revenue stream to the Civic Center, which has operating costs close to $400,000 per year, according to Murphy. The rally also will benefit local stores and restaurants.

“There’re lots of different businesses that we tell them about,” Murphy said.

The Civic Center can quantify to some degree the economic impact such events have on Mineola. The Civic Center offers prizes to its visitors drawn from receipt slips issued by local businesses, Murphy noted. At the end, the receipts are tallied to produce a grand total.

As part of the muster, bus tours have been arranged for Dallas, where the RVers will visit the Dallas Arboretum, Botanical Garden, and George W. Bush Museum. Another tour to Tyler includes stops at the Tyler Rose Museum & Gardens, the American Freedom Museum, and the Goodman-Legrand House and Museum.

SMART RV has listed points of local interest that include the Mineola Depot and Train Museum, Waldo Way Dairy Farm, and the Nature Preserve. Another spot is Gladewater, “The antique capital of East Texas.” In Lindale, the sights include Miranda Lambert’s home, the “Pink Pistol” store, the Parrot Park and Agriculture Museum, and the Tiger Creek Big Cat Refuge east of Lindale. Visitors also are encouraged to visit the “World’s Largest Flea Market” in Canton.

Other activities during the muster include a flag retirement ceremony conducted by local Boy Scouts, a golf tournament at Mineola Country Club, a talent show, a dance, pinochle, pickle ball and much more.

As they do with every national muster, members of the organization have selected local organizations to receive donations. The recipients will be the Kindness Cottage Food Pantry and the Mineola Independent School District.

The opening ceremony for this year’s muster is set for 5 p.m. Sept. 25. The closing ceremony will be 6:30 Sunday, Sept. 30. The last RVs are expected to lumber out of town Oct. 1.