By Abbey Doyle
The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON, Ind. —
Jon Nelson said it’s a tradition for him and his family to come to the Sno-Castle Cruise In.
They came with four cars this year including his newest — a 1972 Cadillac hearse.
“This is a great event for car lovers because there’s no pressure,” Nelson said. “You just cruise in and get together and have fun.”
Bobby Fetters started the Sno-Castle Cruise In 18 years ago out of a love for old cars. He’s had his 1955 Chevrolet for 26 years and wanted to have another outlet to show it off and get to see other cars. The perfect tie-in for the cruise-in would be his wife Viva Fetters’ business — Sno-Castle.
“It is always a lot of fun,” Bobby Fetters said of the event. “And this year, the North Anderson Business Alliance got together a lot of the Anderson businesses to help sponsor the event along with Northgate True Value Hardware and Sno-Castle.”
The cruise in — from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday — was in the lot of Northgate where the original Sno-Castle is. Within the first hour there had already been more than 140 cars and Fetters expected as many as 500 spectators to walk through the cars before the end of the night.
Christie Pierce of Anderson had just stopped by to get a Sno-Castle but saw the show and decided to walk around. It was her first car show.
“There’s a lot of cool cars here,” she said, looking around. “They are really beautiful.”
The cars were packed into the lot with their streakless windows shining in the sun and their popped hoods providing a little shade.
Richard and Kay Sims have 10 classic cars from the 1950s and ’60s. The Anderson couple brought their 1951 Buick Special to Sunday’s event.
“We just live a few miles from here and come every year,” Richard Sims said. “We try to go to as many shows as we can.”
Kay Sims says her hobby is writing poetry and her husband’s is cars.
“This is a great event for us to get to meet and talk with other car people,” she said. “And it is just a good way to get people out, give them something to do.”
Richard Sims said the area is host to several car shows and cruise ins throughout the years and really enjoys the Sno-Castle Cruise In.
“This is a car town,” he said of Anderson. “We built them for 80 years and now we show them.”
Nelson said events like this one are things people look forward to year round.
“It is a great opportunity for people and families to enjoy a nice night and see a lot of old, classic cars,” he said. “And some different ones too.”
And none were quite as unique as his hearse, which Nelson said he bought a few months ago to promote their haunted house — Elwood Sanitarium.
The proximity to the Sno-Castle icy treats is another bonus to the event, Nelson and Sims both said. Both men had already enjoyed the treat as had many of those walking around.
Viva Fetters said they have a great time at the event every year and know those who attend do too. The cruise-in featured a disc jockey playing ’50s and ’60s music, kids activities and several door prizes.
Contact Abbey Doyle, 640-4805, abbey.doyle@heraldbulletin.com.
