Ordinarily the third weekend in September doesn’t generate a lot of tourism income for Eureka Springs. That is why that weekend coming up was chosen for the Eureka Springs Jeep Jam.
“The third weekend in September was one of our lowest weekends historically,” Laci Moffitt of Eureka Clothing Company said. She and her co-owner husband, Donnie, started the Eureka Springs Jeep Jam in 2021. “We have a lot of customers who are Jeepers. We needed a bump before the craziness of October. We were hoping for 30 to 40 Jeeps, and were introduced to Peterson Outdoors Ministries by Fiona Richards.
“We decided to donate all proceeds to that organization. That group provides outdoor experiences and assistance to veterans and first responders. We found out the first year that Jeepers love veterans, they love a cause, and they love Eureka Springs. We are so different from other Jeep events because of our great scenery, lakes, mountains and the best trails. It is a perfect place to have an event like this.”
The first year she worried about what the Jeepers were going to do while in town after the Jeep events. Were they going to be bored?
“I realized I take what we have for granted,” Moffitt said. “There are so many great things to do in our area. People come here and are really amazed at how beautiful it is. And people want to come back. A lot of people who came the first year also came the second year and are planning to come this year.”
The first year ended up being successful beyond their dreams with the event raising about $30,000 for Peterson Outdoor Ministries, a non-profit organization that provides faith-based outdoor recreational therapy for injured and recovering veterans, and their families, and for people with disabilities or terminal illnesses.
In the second year of the event in 2022, a Facebook post went viral when Jeepers were challenged to beat the record of the Volkswagen parade in Eureka Springs that had 450 entries. ESPD estimated that more than 2,000 jeeps showed up for the parade. That year the event raised $42,910.
“It has been such a great partnership because Peterson sends us a list and pictures every year of what the Jeepers’ money goes for and does for veterans,” Laci said.
“Jeepers are good people. It has dominoed so quickly. It is nothing special I have done. I just posted it on Facebook and Jeepers have made it into the event it is because they love Eureka and love veterans. It is not some special formula. Jeeps and Eureka are a great thing.”
The Jeep Jam has turned into a citywide event. This year hotel and motel sponsors have full occupancy for the weekend. Restaurants and retail outlets are also getting in on Jeep fun.
Laci said merchants and vendors are calling frequently asking to be a part of it. Some are providing gifts for the packet given out during registration. A new coffee company, Bear Mountain Coffee, recently roasted 100 pounds of coffee beans so there will be coffee in every bag. Intrigue Theater is having a special presentation for Jeepers, and there will be tours of dirt roads Thursday.
Registration is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Rockin’ Pig on Friday. The Rockin’ Pig will close its restaurant for an event with live music, food, raffles and other activities. At 8 p.m., Jeeps will leave for a lighted night cruise to Beaver Bridge. Many Jeeps have special decorative lights, including ones on the wheel wells and around headlights.
Saturday the main event starts at the Great Passion Play starting with breakfast at 7 a.m. There will be food trucks and Jeep vendors with parts, radios, t-shirts and caps. In addition to live music and lots of Jeeps to admire and fellow Jeep lovers to interact with.
In 2022, Jeeps were backed up almost to US 62 to get into the Passion Play grounds, and the parade lasted 2.5 hours – which made some people mad about the long traffic delay. This year it is being organized differently to minimize traffic delays. The parade will not go on US 62 and there will be more police directing traffic along the route.
There will also be events Thursdays and Fridays at Lake Leatherwood. Laci said she wanted to support the parks and let people know about Lake Leatherwood. People can take a selfie with the Bigfoot wood carving at the lake, and text the photos to win a prize.
“We just want them to go around our city—not just come and do a parade but discover some things they normally wouldn’t discover just coming here for a weekend,” Laci said.
This year the entry fee has been increased from $40 to $50 with $5 of that being donated to the Eureka Springs Police Department with plans for the money to be used to buy bulletproof vests. Another $5 will go to support youth groups visiting the Passion Play. The other $40 goes to Peterson.
The following are some of the events made possible by the Jeep Jam registration fees in the past year:
- Nine military chaplains and their families were hosted for a three-day turkey hunt and retreat.
- About 50 amputees and their family members were hosted for the Amputee Day at Lodge of Hope that included food and lots of activities like ax throwing, a petting zoo, face painting, etc.
- First responders from California, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri got a three-day retreat and appreciation day. Travel, lodging and food expenses were covered.
- About 30 veterans attended a three-day retreat the first ever National Military Men’s Encounter at Lodge of Hope
- Several hundred people participated in the Festival of Hope, a yearly event where the public is invited to see Lodge of Hope and participate with their families in a day of fun, food, activities, a banquet, an auction and more.
- Nine veterans and several spouses were hosted for Heroes Hunting For Hope Veterans Deer Hunt.