Old Reel Collectors Association members will be gathering this year on the warm, sunny West Coast in San Diego, California, for our annual National Convention. John Elder of CA and Brian Funai of HI will be your hosts for the event. Book your reservations now to join us from September 3 – 6, 2014 for “summer reel camp” (as ORCA member Len Sawisch likes to call it) and prepare for three straight days of the biggest gathering in the nation of reel collectors and their wares. It’s a great way to meet up in person with other collectors that share your interest in old reels and their history. ORCA has the National Convention in different locations of the continental US so that as many members as possible can experience this unique event. This is a great opportunity for members from the Western part of the country, and especially California, to come out and have a great time while supporting ORCA and its mission of preserving old reels and their history.
Convention activities will be held at the Kona Kai Resort and Spa, a beautiful venue located on Shelter Island in the middle of San Diego Bay. Make it a vacation and bring the family as there is lots to do while ORCA members immerse in everything about old reels. We’ll be minutes away from world renown attractions such as Seaworld, San Diego Zoo, Birch Aquarium and San Diego Wildlife Refuge. Venturing a little bit further will get you to Legoland Park and a one and a half hour drive gets you to the Los Angeles area and its theme parks.
Activities will include breakfast with the board, member’s dinner banquet, educational reel displays, seminars on various reel collecting subjects, antique tackle fishing and casting contests, the Stu Lawson Ugly Reel Toss, Saturday tackle show, silent and live auctions of antique tackle and room trading whenever members are available.
Hotel
Kona Kai Resort and Spa
- Hotel Direct: 619-221-8000
- Email: hotel@resortkonakai.com
ORCA Convention Room Rates: $139 per room/per night, single/double occupancy with one king or two queen beds, bay view, Wi-Fi access (be sure to mention that you are booking for the Old Reel Collectors Association for this room rate)
Parking: $5 daily, $10 overnight (reduced rates)
Resort Fee $10 (reduced rate) and Hotel Room Tax additional
Transportation:
San Diego International Airport, 3.6 miles and 11 minutes away, is served by major US airlines and international carriers include British Airways, Air Canada and Japan Airlines.
Freeway access from I-5 South
Local Attractions:
- Historic Old Town
- Downtown Gas Lamp District
- San Diego Waterfront for beach and ocean activities
- Stars and Stripes Sailing Experience
- Seaworld
- San Diego Zoo
- San Diego Bay and Open Ocean Charter Boat Fishing
- Birch Aquarium
- San Diego Wildlife Refuge
- Seaport Village
- Balboa Park
- Belmont Park, San Diego Harbor Excursions
- Seal Tours on the Bay
- USS Midway Aircraft Carrier
- Maritime Museum of San Diego
- Petco Park and the San Diego Padres
- Legoland
Check back soon for more information as plans become finalized.