“I got her when she was just six months old… and I love her,” says Toledoan Danielle Ganss, of “Jessie”— her Jeep Sport Wrangler.
Danielle and Jessie will soon join thousands of enthusiasts celebrating the iconic Glass City-born vehicle at Toledo Jeep Fest, on Saturday, August 13 at SeaGate Center.
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Danielle Ganss drives her Jeep "Jessie," a Mango Tango soft-top convertible.
“When we say, ‘It’s a Jeep thing, you wouldn’t understand’ we mean it,” says Danielle. “She is a two-door, Mango Tango, black interior with accents, soft-top convertible with a manual tranny.”
Jessie, who’s “definitely a girl’s Jeep,” has been in a serious accident that required weeks at the “Jeep Doctor,” Danielle recalls. “Someone ran into my husband while he was driving. I had to ground him from the Jeep for a while.”
The Jeep Girls roll into town
Danielle is not the only fan who will be basking in the love of all things Jeep. Brittany and Ashley Hill from Phoenix, Arizona, collectively known as The Jeep Girls, will drive their Jeep to join the conclave. Their blog, TheJeepGirls.com, is a celebration of travel, passion, and all things Jeep.
“People either have a Jeep or they always wanted one,” claims Ashley. “It is definitely a lifestyle. There is something about the fact that the doors come off and the top drops down. For us it is a symbol of freedom.”
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(L-R) Brittany and Ashley Hill taking a pit stop mid-road trip.
Brittany is a bit more philosophical. “In many ways the Jeep Girls project has become a metaphor for us. Jeeps can go anywhere, seemingly do anything. It reminds me that we can do anything we are passionate about. Passion projects, like our travel blog, will prevail.”
The Hill girls are drawn to the Glass City. “When we visited in 2012 we couldn’t help but be impressed by the Jeep plant,” continues Brittany. “Well, first we just gawked at all the colors available for a Jeep. We live colorful lives and all those colors just make me smile. But after that we were struck by the persistence, dedication, and even love that have gone into these vehicles. Generations of Toledoans, whole families, have spent their working lives creating Jeeps. Nothing is more American than that plant, its workers, and the Jeeps they produce.”
General purpose generations
Danielle agrees. “My Dad is a Jeep worker. He retired from the paint shop. My whole life I wanted a Jeep. People would ask me if I felt safe in a Jeep. What is more safe that a Jeep? It can take me anywhere. I have never been stuck or even close to it, not rain, mud, or snow. Plus I love the fact that I proudly flaunt my local roots every time I turn on her engine.”
Ashley’s excitement is infectious. “We can’t wait for our Toledo visit. We get to go out and rip it up on the trails all because of the work your community does.” She closes, like a true believer. “Besides, how can you have a bad day in a Jeep? Jumping into a Wrangler is like jumping into a vacation.”
