What is the Jeep Wave and why it’s so big in Valparaiso?

What is the Jeep Wave…

Valparaiso is a friendly town. Just walk around the Square on a sunny afternoon and count the amount of people that say hello or smile. If you park a few blocks from where you are going, add 20 minutes to your walk… someone will likely engage you in a little chat. Call it a Valpo thing, but we have a thing for the outdoors, fun and friendliness.  Lately, a new wave has taken Valparaiso by storm.  It’s called the Jeep wave. Today, you’ll learn what the Jeep Wave is and why it is so big in Valparaiso.

In last month’s Cool Car…No Boundaries video interview, Jon Costas experienced the Jeep wave while driving a Jeep Wrangler through a roundabout. The hilarious segment left everyone in Valpo asking, what is the Jeep wave?

…why the Jeep wave is so big in Valparaiso

The Jeep wave isn’t exclusive to Valpo… and neither is a warm smile. But spend an afternoon in Valparaiso, and you might think otherwise.

In some towns, it is common to look down, mind your own business and make tracks to your destination. In these towns, you avoid eye contact at any cost.

In Valpo, getting there is half the fun. Maybe that’s why we see so many Jeep Wrangler convertibles. Valparaiso folk love community. We cherish our events, our venues, and our outdoor dining. We smile at strangers. We say hello to everyone and we take it personally when we don’t get a warm response back.

Al fresco dining vs. al fresco driving

In June’s edition of  Cool Car…No Boundaries, we challenged Chef Carlos of Don Quijote to pick which was better, a sunny day in a Jeep Wrangler convertible, or al fresco dining in downtown Valpo. Carlos was Valpo’s first restaurant to offer outdoor dining. Carlos is also good friends with Griegers Motors owner, Dave Rodgers.

We had lots of fun comparing the two…  we asked Carlos to come back and help us discover what the Jeep Wave is and why it’s so big in Valparaiso.

This time, Carlos brought some help, he invited his friends from the Downtown Valpo Restaurant Group. If you thought we had fun in June’s Cool Cars…No Boundaries, wait til you see what happens when these three characters get together with a convertible Jeep on a perfect summer day!

No one could have ever expected what would happen when the Chefs from Radius, Sage and Don Quijote were given a Jeep and told to discover the Jeep Wave!

Revealing the mystery behind the Jeep wave

There seems to be a lot of mysteries behind the origins of the Jeep wave. Was it a WWII thing?  What does it mean and how do you do it?

Today, we reveal to you the mystery behind the Jeep wave and why it’s so big in Valpo.

The mystique behind the Jeep…freedom, the beach, and now Valpo.

Driving a Jeep has always been cool. The mystique behind the Jeep has made it synonymous  with America, freedom, adventure, the beach, and now Valparaiso?

Just look at our downtown and you’ll see every type of Jeep imaginable, especially the convertibles. Next time your dining al fresco on a gorgeous summer night, count how many Jeeps line Lincolnway or cruise the Square. The only thing more popular than a jeep is a friendly smile. So why does Valpo love Jeep so much?

Perhaps it’s Valpo’s pride in America. The Jeep is often described as the secret weapon that helped Americans win WWII and saved the world from Hitler and fascism.

Maybe its because the Jeep convertible is the ultimate beach vehicle. In Valpo, we love going to the beach almost as much as outdoor dining…almost!

The ultimate in Cool, like Steve McQueen

I’ll never forget when my Dad and his buddy traveled to the west coast with nothing more than a Jeep, a pair of Ray Bans, and a sleeping bag. To this day, I remember my dad as a real-life Steve McQueen. He was the coolest…and the Jeep was his ride.

My dad always said that every red-blooded American should own a Jeep before they die. The Jeep embodies the American dream. Even back as a kid, I always remember everyone would wave when we drove by.

Today, the Jeep is bigger than ever, and so is the Jeep wave.

How to do the Jeep Wave.

 

The history of the Jeep Wave

No one exactly knows where the wave started but online discussion has led to the following possibilities. After WWII, the majority of early Jeep (CJ) owners were veterans. Here is one theory. The WWII veterans had been through hell and back, and anyone that fought in the war had a brotherhood worthy of the wave.

The next theory of the origins of the Jeep Wave is that Jeep owners believe the Jeep’s coolness differentiates it from all other vehicles. It represents a sporty lifestyle that separates its owners from everyone else. Owning one is membership to a brotherhood of Jeep owners.

Chef Joe Gaal from Sage has the best theories… or maybe I just like them better because we had so much fun driving around Valpo on a gorgeous day while Joe shared his adventures as a Jeeper. If you didn’t see our video above, do so. Joe is a trip!

What jeeps can jeep wave?

Is the Jeep Wave only for Wranglers? What jeeps can jeep wave? Who gets the jeep wave? Can only older Jeeps wave? To answer this, we turn to Griegers Motors Brad Hallal.  Long before Brad was the GM at Griegers, he was a Jeeper.

According to Brad Hallal, the Jeep wave was originally practiced by owners of the Jeep CJ, Wranglers and Wranglers Unlimited. Now it extends to all Jeeps, including the Jeep Cherokee, Renegade, Compass, and the newest, biggest Jeep ever, the Jeep Gladiator.

Jeeper Hall of Fame nomination goes to…

As a Butler University student, Brad had a passion for his Jeep, his guitar and his marketing classes. It was at Butler that he fell in love. Fortunately for Brad, the love of his life turned out to be the daughter of Dave Rodgers…  the owner of Griegers Motors and Valparaiso’s  Jeep dealership.

Brad ended up marrying the love of his life and is now raising a family of Jeepers while working for the family business.

Griegers is now the #1 volume Jeep and Ram dealer in the region while Butler was just named the No. 1 Midwest Regional University by U.S. News & World Report.

Just saying!

The cast of characters.

Chef Chris Pavlou is the charismatic owner of Radius. His restaurant’s name derives from being positioned at the Radius, or center, of everything going on in the Vale of Paradise. If you’re a “Jeeper” and love checking out the view of all the cool Jeeps that cruise the Square,  outdoor dining at Radius is must see entertainment.

Chef Joe Gaal might just be one of the most entertaining people you’ll ever meet. Joe is both owner and Chef at Sage in downtown Valpo. His outdoor dining can be experienced at both Central Park and on Lincolnway.

Chef Carlos Rivero is a living legend in Valparaiso. His don Quijote Restaurante set the standard as a unique culinary experience and was the city’s first to offer al fresco dining. Carlos is a Jeep owner and claims he has bought hundreds of cars from his good friend Dave Rodgers at Griegers Motors. Carlos would never exaggerate!

What is the Jeep Wave Owner Benefits

According to Brad Hallal at Griegers Motors in Valparaiso, the Jeep® Wave 2 is an exclusive membership program with some cool benefits and perks created to bring our customers special care packages with dedicated 24/7 support. When you purchase or lease an eligible Jeep,  your Griegers rep will enroll you in a 24-month Jeep Wave membership. Learn more: Jeep Wave benefits 

Jeep_® Wave membership benefits include exclusive owner support, maintenance services, VIP treatment at special events across the country, peace of mind with trip interruption protection, first-day rental coverage, access to an exclusive Savings Network that provides up to $500 in annual savings and a unique website. Contact Griegers Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram for more information. Learn more.

Schedule your own Jeep Wave on a test drive at Griegers Motors in Valparaiso. To check out real-time inventory or start your home shopping experience, just check out this cool Jeep offering page.  For Griegers Certified Pre-Owned and used Jeeps, you’ll want to check this page out. Learn more.

More Reading:

 Cool Car….No Boundaries. Your Blog for Fun things to do in Northwest Indiana.

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• Winter-driving tips: How to keep your family safe in Northwest Indiana
• Car maintenance tips for winters in Northwest Indiana: Cold Cars…No Boundaries
• 11 Simple Tips for Winter Car Care: Cold Car…No Boundaries?
• 5 ways to have fun with a Jeep… even if you don’t have one.
• What is the Jeep Wave and why it’s so big in Valparaiso?
• Jon Costas Says Goodbye: A Drive Down Memory Lane in a Jeep.
• 15 best day trips from Northwest Indiana: Cool “daycations” by Car.
• Best things to do in Valpo… secrets to a Summer to Remember in the downtown!
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• 3 Fun Things to do in Northwest Indiana: Cool Car… No Boundaries

A special thanks to Joe, Chris, and Carlos for helping me discover what is the Jeep Wave and why is it so big in Valparaiso. It couldn’t have been more fun!

Written & Produced by Jim Jano Janesheski

JANO, LLC

 

Tags: don quijote, Grieger's, Jeep, Radius, Ram, Sage, Valparaiso, Valpo, wave
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