Past event · May 14–17, 2026. Four days of dunes, trails, driver workshops and Raptor community in Mears, Michigan, with Silver Sands Hotel and Resort as the published base camp.
Past event
Venue
Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Mears, Michigan · Base camp: Silver Sands Hotel and Resort
This event has passed. Silver Lake Shakedown was the May 14–17, 2026 Raptor Junkies weekend at Silver Lake Sand Dunes in Mears, Michigan, combining dunes, scenic trail runs, meals and community time.
The published program welcomed new and experienced off-road drivers, with experienced Raptor leaders guiding dune and trail sessions. The original poster specified Ford Raptors only and promoted guided dune tours, beach bonfires, a Traxxas track and base camp gatherings.
This page preserves the published event plan and original artwork, not a post-event report. The poster’s registration invitation is part of the original promotion; signup is not available on this past-event page.
Dates, venue and schedule
Thursday, May 14 through Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Location: Silver Lake Sand Dunes, Mears, Michigan.
Published base camp: Silver Sands Hotel and Resort.
Times below are local to Michigan: Eastern Daylight Time.
The source marked the schedule subject to change. Locations that were still to be announced are retained as unconfirmed in the published plan.
Thursday, May 14 — Bonus Day
12:00 PM — check-in and tech inspection
2:00 PM — trail run
5:00 PM — first dune session
Evening — no-host group dinner, with the location to be announced.
Friday, May 15 — Welcome Day
10:00 AM — check-in, welcome packet pickup and tech check
12:00 PM — drivers meeting followed by dunes
5:00–6:00 PM — no-host dinner supporting local businesses
7:30 PM — town parade and sunset cruise
9:00 PM — late check-ins and bonfire, with the location to be announced.
Saturday, May 16 — Main Event
8:45 AM — drivers meeting, with the location to be announced
9:00 AM — Group A on dunes and Group B on trails
1:00 PM — Group A on trails and Group B on dunes
6:00 PM — dinner, awards, raffles and challenge coin ceremony
7:00 PM — sunset dunes and night play
Evening — optional night cruise and bonfire.
Sunday, May 17 — Farewell Day
9:30 AM — open play with a choice of dunes or trails
10:00 AM — drivers meeting
12:00 PM — event teardown
2:00 PM — final play or departure for home.
Ticket options
The source listing shows General Admission at $295, with event T-shirt size choices from Small through 3X. Pricing is retained for reference; no tickets are sold on this past-event page.
General Admission
$295, USD
$295, as shown in the source listing. The advertised package included event merchandise, specified Saturday meals for two, and dune and trail time with experienced Raptor leaders.
Lodging and dune access
Accommodation was not included. The source required a separate Silver Lake State Park ORV Dune Tag for dune access.
Published ticket inclusions
Commemorative challenge coin.
Official event T-shirt.
Curated swag bag.
Event truck placard.
Raffle ticket.
Saturday dinner for two, with the menu to be announced.
Saturday grab-and-go breakfast for two.
Guaranteed dune and trail time with experienced Raptor leaders, as advertised by the organizer.
Base camp and original requirements
Silver Sands Hotel and Resort was named as the event’s base camp. Participants arranged and paid for their own accommodations.
The original event required online registration, an electronic waiver and a separately purchased Silver Lake State Park ORV Dune Tag. The poster specified Ford Raptors only. Check-in, tech inspections and drivers meetings were included in the published schedule.
These are the event’s original arrangements. This past-event page has no active registration, waiver submission or surveys.
Driver workshops
The listing advertised two driver workshops:
Recovery Techniques — Keith Mandoske.
Spotting 101 & Vehicle Awareness — Jason Meredith, Raptor Junkies.
Workshop times were not specified in the source.
Event partner
The original listing credited Offroad Alliance with “Fueled By” recognition.
Original event information
Content and original artwork are from Raptor Junkies’ Silver Lake Shakedown listing, reviewed September 5, 2026. The schedule, ticket benefits and activities above reflect that published plan.
