Co-authored by Dave Bennett, 1st Vice President/ Wagonmaster of Maine Wheels, and Gary Dugal, Executive Director at Good Will-Hinckley, this piece offers a heartfelt look back at the “Where It All Began” Rally, held May 29–June 1, 2025, on the historic GWH campus—where the Family Recreational Vehicle Association (FRVA) was first imagined over 60 years ago.
There is something about driving up the long, maple‑lined lane to Good Will‑Hinckley (GWH) that makes time downshift. The proud brick buildings—first raised in the 1890s—still stand watch over sweeping green lawns, just as they did on a warm July afternoon in 1963 when twenty‑six “house cars” rumbled onto campus to watch a total solar eclipse. By sundown, those pioneers had hatched the idea of an association for kindred road‑going spirits, and the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) was born.
Six decades, a pandemic pause, and a fresh name later, the campus welcomed the Maine Wheels Chapter of the newly christened Family Recreational Vehicle Association (FRVA) for its “Where It All Began” Rally. Our mission was equal parts homecoming, hands‑on service, and future planning—and the weekend delivered all three in generous New England measure.
A Campus That Still Inspires
GWH remains a sanctuary for young people, “healing, empowering, and inspiring” students and families since 1889. Yet first‑time visitors quickly discover that the real magic lives in the attitude of staff and students: optimism, grit, and a greeting as genuine as a Maine sunrise. Rally headquarters in the Alfond Visitors Center gave us shelter from occasional rain, hot showers, a tidy kitchen, and—nostalgia be praised—plenty of paved parking. Unlike 1963, not a single rig had to sink its tires into the lawn.
First‑Class Hospitality, Small‑Town Charms
Prescott Hall hosted a banquet that felt more family reunion than a formal dinner, followed by an engaging presentation on GWH’s mission and its intertwined history with FRVA. Between scattered showers, members strolled forested trails, soaked up a docent‑led tour of the delightful L.C. Bates Museum, and explored nearby villages that look as though Norman Rockwell might step in at any moment.
Giving Back to Our Roots
Early Saturday found us at the FMCA Monument, originally placed in 1994 to honor the movement’s birthplace. Clippers clicked, mulch flew, and by noon the stone gleamed like new—our small gift to the campus that once gave us our start.
Why Pilgrimages Matter
Standing in the shadow of that monument, it was easy to understand why travelers the world over return to their sacred mile markers. Revisiting Good Will‑Hinckley rekindled something vital: a reminder that our shared story is less about fiberglass and fuel stops and more about community, service, and wide‑eyed wonder.
Looking Down the Road
Maine Wheels will roll back to campus in late June 2026, and every FRVA member is invited—solo, with friends, or as a full‑chapter mini‑rally. Should life steer you off that path, remember that GWH is also a welcoming Harvest Hosts location, ready to trade a quiet night’s rest for your curiosity about its mission.
Mark your calendars, polish the chrome, and top off those tanks. The road that started it all is calling—and the next chapter of FRVA history is eager to be written on the very same grounds where the first one began.