On August 3, 1955, during the Eastern Canada Caravan in Kentville, Nova Scotia, a group of adventurous Airstream owners gathered, led by Helen Byam Schwamborn (cousin to Airstream founder Wally Byam) and inspired by Wally Byam himself. There, amid the rolling landscapes, they founded the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI)—later renamed Airstream Club International—uniting under a shared dream of travel, friendship, and learning on the open road.
Seventy years later, ACI is celebrating seven decades as the world’s longest running single-branded RV enthusiast club. While times have changed and the Club has evolved to meet the needs of modern Airstream enthusiasts, at its heart the Club still plays the role Wally intended of fostering good fellowship and community fun at Rallies and on Caravans across the country and around the world.
The Vision of Wally Byam and Early Caravans
The dream of an Airstream Club really began in 1951 when Wally Byam organized his first International Caravan to Mexico and Central America. That experience eventually evolved into more challenging journeys to Cuba, Europe, and eventually Africa. These expeditions—complete with tow trucks, generators, and forward scouts, all at a time without GPS, email, or cell phones—pioneered the organized road Caravan experience and sowed the seeds for a formal club. By 1955, the enthusiasm of repeat participants led Wally to ask his cousin and confidant, Helen Byam Schwamborn, to personally lead that year’s Caravan to Nova Scotia and found a new Airstream enthusiast club. With little camping experience, no towing experience, and her son Dale “Pee Wee” Schwamborn in the passenger seat, Helen took on the challenge with gusto and helped bring Wally’s vision of a far-reaching Airstream Club into reality.
Growth and Global Reach
As the Club expanded and grew, local units emerged across North America and by the late 1960s, twelve regional divisions were formalized, creating a strong organization structure that supported Rallies and Caravans across the continent. Memberships climbed to a high of about 25,000 Big Red Numbers (or BRNs, which the Club uses to identify members) by the late 1970s with over 170 units in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The Club’s reach eventually extended overseas, with Australia and Europe Units joining in the 2010s. Today, ACI boasts more than 19,000 members across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Milestones and Memorable Moments
Throughout its history, ACI has commemorated numerous highlights. The inaugural International Rally took place in Bull Shoals, Arkansas, in 1958, setting the stage for decades of annual gatherings. The most recent International Rally took place in August 2025 in York, Pennsylvania, bringing together nearly 2,000 Airstreamers in nearly every model of trailer and van. Next year’s event will take place in Minot, North Dakota.
Legendary long-haul Caravans, including the Cape Town to Cairo Caravan in 1959-1960, captured imaginations and proved that Airstreamers could go anywhere their wheels would roll. Wally’s dream was to take a Caravan around the world, but sadly his death from a brain tumor in 1962 left that dream unrealized. One of his successors, Andy Charles, brought Wally’s dream to life with the famous Around the World Caravan of 1963-1964, which traveled through Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and across Europe before finishing at the Atlantic Ocean in Portugal. Over the years, countless regional Rallies and themed Caravans have continued to foster lifelong friendships and unforgettable experiences.
A Legacy of Community, Learning, and Adventure
At its heart, ACI fosters a “home on the road”—a community fueled by curiosity, shared experiences, and the silver trailer that unites us all. And through an inventive partnership between Airstream, Inc. and ACI, new Airstream owners receive a free one-year Explorer Membership that makes it easy to get out and start experiencing the benefits, joy, and camaraderie offered by the Club.
From a meeting beneath Canadian skies in 1955 to tens of thousands of travelers rallying worldwide, ACI’s journey celebrates the power of community, shared places, and open roads. Looking back at the Club's 70th year–from the massive Rallies to regional potlucks to intrepid Caravans—Airstream is proud to partner with Airstream Club International as we fuel the legacy of past explorations and the excitement of finding what’s over the next horizon.
Here’s to 70 years of travel, friendship, and discovery—and all the roads still waiting to be explored.
Learn more about how new Airstream owners receive a free one-year Explorer Membership in Airstream Club International.
