The definitive answer to "Hey, what are they building across from Lane Automotive in Watervliet?" is finally out. Just in time for the 2016 Lane Automotive Cruise-In & Car Show this Memorial Day weekend, that space has been carved out to park hundreds of spectators who otherwise would have no place to go.
For weeks on end now, earth movers, tree cutters, and other heavy-duty gear have been carving up the turf, leveling things out, planing the soil to craft overflow parking space for the incredibly popular auto show that draws seemingly record crowds year after year. Lane Automotive officials hammered together a deal with their neighbors at the Orchard Hill Landfill to craft the new parking space in light of the massive addition to their own building this year which has gobbled up thousands of parking spaces at the rear of their sprawling warehouse facility at the interchange of I-94 and M-140 in Watervliet.
Scott Wahlstrom is Marketing Manager for Motor State Distributing, a Division of Lane Automotive, and he says that the crew at Orchard Hill has been "absolutely spectacular to work with" in helping their neighbors handle what otherwise would have been a true crisis of epic proportions due to the sheer volume of people who turn out for the huge Lane Auto Show each year.
A $30-million expansion which has added more than 214,500 square feet to the massive auto parts complex along I-94 virtually depleted the vacant land holdings of Lane Automotive, which handled a substantial number of auto show spectator vehicles while the front lawn and parking lot were used each year for the massive show and cruise-in.
Wahlstrom speculates that the new lots across M-140 from Lane will provide considerable relief for the situation this year, which will mark the first time that they have had to forego the spacious fields that used to be out back that are now under roof in the sprawling addition.
Lane Automotive's Cruise-In runs this Friday evening from 5pm until 8pm, and the massive car show runs from 9am until 3pm on Saturday, the 28th. Lane is cautioning all show participants looking to place cars in the display area that they will being parking those vehicles at 6am and no sooner. They warn show cars not to show up before 6am or attempt to self-park. Additionally, there will be no accommodations for RV/Camper parking on-site or at any other lot designated for the event so campers are strongly encouraged to find local campgrounds to meet their needs.
Due to space restrictions, they are also eliminating the open header cruise, the chassis dyno, and the noise-fest. The huge car show sale is now active on the Lane Automotive website, and registration continues there as well.
The show at 8300 Lane Drive in Watervliet is one of the most well-respected, well-attended, and well-run shows anywhere in the entire Midwest, and draws from hundreds of miles around, just like Lane Automotive itself…a true destination attraction. Learn more by clicking this link:
