IA | 2025, Jun 19-22: Pink Elephant Rally

[Kevin A]

2025, June 19 - 22. Pink Elephant Rally

The 2025 Pink Elephant Rally will be returning to the Pike's Peak State Park near McGregor, Iowa. The dates for the rally will be Thurs., June 19 - Sunday, June 22. The park is beautiful and there are lots of things to see and do in the nearby area.

Last year we had a nice group dinner Thursday evening at Huckleberry’s in Prairie du Chien, so we will plan on that again as long as they can accommodate us. We will reserve the stone shelter building for gatherings on Friday and Saturday nights, too. On Friday night, there will be a snack night and wine/beverage tasting. Saturday night will be a potluck dinner. We will also have coffee and light snacks Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings from 7:30-9:00 at our host site (hopefully #39 again).

Reservations for the campground are taken 3 months ahead of planned dates. So, if you want to arrive on June 19, the reservation window will open on March 19. Be sure to plan ahead to reserve your site and maybe even plan to arrive earlier in the week to get the site you want. We intend to get there plenty early! We can't urge you strongly enough to get online when your camping date window (3 months ahead) opens so that you can find a site! Sites are generally back-in standard electric with potable water available at common sites, though there are several pull-thru and full hookup sites scattered around. A link for reservations will be included in the comments section below.

See you in June 2025!

Kevin and Cindy Anderson, Rally Organizers

[Jojo Christy]

We will be attending the Rally in June. Roger and I will be arriving early. Looking forward to seeing you!

[Kevin A]

It’s time to start registering for the Pink Elephant Rally 2025! Depending on when you would like to arrive, pick your date 3 months out and find a site. We will be hosting again in site 39, planning to arrive on June 16 and staying until the 23rd. Hopefully this link will work for you!

https://iowastateparks.reserveameric...Id=610141#sr_a

[Lisa L]

Pete and I just registered and will be on site 42 Wednesday June 18-23rd

[Steve Hague]

We have reserved site #51 for June 18th to 22nd. This will be our 3rd Pink Elephant Rally and second time at Pike's Peak State Park. We are hoping to see more of the nearby Effigy Mounds National Monument this year.

Steve and Beth
1978 Trillium 4500

[Iowa Dave]

The Ranger there was “fired” but I think they got Put back on. He’s a super guy with a genuine passion for the job at hand. Nice hike out to the mounds and pretty country. I first visited in 1958 or 59 in the Fall.
Iowa Dave

[mamaduck71]

Ed and I (Lisa) have booked site 52. Had to phone it in. The website did not let us reserve it. Not sure what was wrong with it. This will be our 1st Pink Elephant.

[LarryB.]

I have attended the Pink Elephant rally three times and Cindy & Kevin do a marvelous job hosting the rally!!

The first two I went to were at the Volga River Recreation area and last year's rally was at Pike's Peak State Park. Last year the (NUMEROUS and vicious) kamikaze gnats were another story: they were trying to out-do themselves by attacking our eyes, ears and mouths. I have fond memories of Kevin lighting the tiki torches and and walking around with his spray foggier.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend this year.

Enjoy!! I hope the weather is great and that the bugs are few.

[revdavid]

We have reserved site 44 arriving on Wed June 18
Susan and David Lorenzen

[CindyL]

Originally Posted by LarryB.

I have attended the Pink Elephant rally three times and Cindy & Kevin do a marvelous job hosting the rally!!

The first two I went to were at the Volga River Recreation area and last year's rally was at Pike's Peak State Park. Last year the (NUMEROUS and vicious) kamikaze gnats were another story: they were trying to out-do themselves by attacking our eyes, ears and mouths. I have fond memories of Kevin lighting the tiki torches and and walking around with his spray foggier.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend this year.

Enjoy!! I hope the weather is great and that the bugs are few.

Thanks for the compliment, Larry! We will miss you!

We will bring our clam, in case the gnats are bad again, and someone needs to get away from them. If they are bad again, we might have to rethink the location. I ate at least one gnat last year and managed to fish another out before I swallowed it just sitting out and talking to people. I don't remember them being that bad when Corky and Darlene had the first one at Pike's Peak though, so hopefully it is an occasional thing.

Cindy

[Iowa Dave]

Gnats come on when conditions are right for a hatch. Sometimes and usually as early May 1 or so and through the spring. The big ornery ones we call Buffalo gnats. They can’t fly that well. so out in the open where there’s a 7 to 10 mph breeze is better than a sheltered spot. They don’t like cold either. If repellants are applied to your skin they will generally stay away. We sometimes use Avon Skin so soft. It’s a little sticky but works. Second is vanilla. Kind of sticky too, but smells nice, kinda like a bakery or Mom’s kitchen after school back in the day. Finally the currently, and rated best by my wife Rita, a product called Bug Soother. Available at Walgreens, big grocery stores, Do it Best hardware and remaining True Values. Pump bottles, environmentally preferred to aerosols, and economical per application.

Also there are ticks of various types that time of the year. No Lone Stars yet but deer ticks and wood ticks. For those we use a permanone based product. One formula for your clothes and one for your skin. We use Sawyer brand products.

To keep dogs safe we use Prescription Bravecto for fleas and ticks and Interceptor for mosquitoes that can cause heart worm.

I used to use a lot of Ben’s repellant, 100% Deet for mosquitoes. Put it on your neck a few times in the morning and you can take a trip and never leave the farm. Quit that quite a few years ago but it might explain a few things.
Hope this helps.
Iowa Dave

[LarryB.]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Gnats come on when conditions are right... repellants ... Avon Skin so soft.... vanilla.... Bug Soother.... permanone based product. One formula for your clothes and one for your skin. We use Sawyer brand products. ...Ben’s repellant, 100% Deet

Iowa Dave

Hmmm... Now that I'm retired from camping, I don't worry too much about all that stuff. If I used all the above, I'd probably be too stiff to stand up straight and move...

[Kevin A]

Larry, thanks so much for joining in on the thread. You know that we will miss you very much at gatherings around this neck of the woods! I see you have marked your trailer as SOLD, so I guess your main contact will have to be online. Stay involved, dear friend!

[Jim B in Wisconsin]

Hello Kevin and Cindy! We booked Site #55 for June19-22. We'll bring some Coffee to your Morning WakeUp! See you there! Jim and Karen B.

[MDValadez]

Hi Everyone!
We are new to this group and have just purchased our 'new' 1981 Burro! My husband is a retired businessman and zealous baseball collector, and I'm retiring the end of June after 30+ years in higher education and 20 years in the field of social work. Looking forward to meeting you all! We'll be in site #40!!
Dan and Marcia