Every outdoorsperson has entertained the fantasy of living out of a camper. But before you begin selling all your furniture on Craigslist, it helps to know what kind of four-wheels resident you want to be.
Perhaps surprisingly, Airbnb is a good place to start.
Airbnb, an online marketplace that lets members list or rent vacation homes, now includes recreational vehicles among its 1.5 million worldwide listings. Might you prefer a motorhome? A conversion van? A travel trailer? After all, a diehard knows that not all campers are created equal.
This month we meet two siblings who have taken their brand loyalty to the next level. Whether you want to commit a little or a lot, get ready. A glimpse into these subcultures of camper life just might stoke the flames of your freewheeling fantasy.
A Renaissance
Across the slough that separates Chickamauga Lake and Dallas Bay, just past the ranger station, campsites 43 and 44 come into view like a colorful invitation. Chester Frost Park-goers slow down to get a better look at the two vintage Serro Scotty campers painted turquoise and white, bedecked with Scotty dog decals and polka dots and trimmed by baubles, parked by the lake. There are pastel-painted window boxes sprouting paper flowers, a life-size flamingo wearing a wreath of neon-colored leis and signs on each of the doors that read "Livin the Life."
"Welcome to Flamingo Road!" Catherine Crossen says to the curious passersby who pull their cars over, perhaps mistaking the campsites for a beachside souvenir shop.
Over two days, Crossen spent five hours designing the sites for the two dumpling-shaped trailers. One belongs to her; the other belongs to her brother Joe Foster and his wife Kim.
The siblings, both in their 60s, are not alone in their enthusiasm for these retro recreational vehicles.
Beginning in the 1960s, the Serro Scotty travel trailer became a campground phenomenon across the country. Now, with baby boomers behind the wheel, the camper craze seems to be making a comeback.
The Rise of the Recreational Vehicle
The Serro Scotty trailer was introduced in 1957 and featured one model: a 10-foot long teardrop camper called the "Sportsman" which sold for about $495.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, campers across America became more and more popular, bolstered by the baby boom and subsequent rise of family vacations as well as John Steinbeck's 1962 best-selling novel Travels with Charley, in which Steinbeck and his poodle travel across America in a camper.
Compared to other RVs, such as the Winnebago or Airstream, early Serro Scotty trailers were valued for their convenience. Compact and lightweight, they could be towed by a 4-cylinder vehicle and stored in the garage. Serro Scotty continued to manufacture new campers until 1997 when a plant fire permanently shut down its operations. By then the company offered a variety of models, including motorhomes. Today, used Scotties range from $1,500 to about $15,000, depending on the model and condition.
Nineteen years after the last new Scotty trailer was assembled, demand for the compact campers is only increasing.
In July, trailer manufacturing company Little Guy Trailers announced it had purchased the Serro Scotty name and will make the iconic camper again beginning in 2017.
The National Serro Scotty Organization, a network of aficionados founded in 2005, attributes the Scotty resurgence to baby boomers who are now retiring - like, for example, Crossen and Foster.
In an era when tiny houses are trending and mobility is more valued than ever, the new line of Scotty trailers looks promising - though Crossen and Foster have no plans to trade in their Scotties for newer models.
Crossen's camper was built in 1977; Foster's was built in 1967. Since purchasing them last year, the siblings have thrown themselves into outfitting their campers with all things vintage. The trailers' interiors are just as colorful as their first impression. Inside are plush pink flamingos, turquoise linens and string lights shaped like old-fashioned teardrop trailers.
Crossen and the Fosters, who brought along their Jack Russel terrier Bella, plan to camp at Chester Frost Park for six days, though both of their homes are a mere 15 minutes away should they want to sleep in a real bed one night. To entertain themselves, they bring games: Frisbees, hula-hoops, even a soccer ball. At dusk, they hook up an old box TV fixed with rabbit ears and watch static-y shows around the picnic table.
"If you came to a campground in the '70s or '80s, this is what it would look like," says Foster, proud of his and Crossen's retro-renaissance, their nostalgic celebration beckoning to all who pass by
*****
Within 100 miles of the Scenic City, Airbnb lists six different campers in which to stay. Here is a sneak peek at some of your closest options.
Off-the-Grid Glamping
Mentone, Alabama
Miles from Chattanooga: 47
Sleeps: 4 Cost: From $55/night
Rating: 5 stars, 36 reviews
Nestled in the forested foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, this listing is ideal as an artist's retreat. The rental property boasts a 35-foot RV, functioning as the living quarters, and a log cabin located 50 feet away, which serves as studio space.
"... Having a solitary environment in nature is a great place to finish up creative projects," says Cathy, a nondenominational minister who owns the property with Ted, her fiddle-playing husband.
The couple's private home is located 100 yards from the RV. Between the two sites there is an open pasture with a communal fire pit and a stage.
Cathy says one reason she loves being an Airbnb host is that it's a way to connect with people she might otherwise have never met: a couple from Belgium, a sheikh from India, a musician from the UK who Cathy says filmed part of his music video on that stage, for example.
The only complaint Cathy says the retreat has ever received is that it feels too isolated.
A camping trailer rented out through AirBNB on the Hidden Hills Farm & Saddle Club is seen Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, in Ooltewah, Tenn.Down on the Farm
Ooltewah, Tennessee
Miles from Chattanooga: 18
Cost: From $65/night
Sleeps: 2
Rating: 5 stars, 54 reviews
Pastoral and serene, this Casita camper helps visitors relax away from the hubbub of city life - as long as those visitors don't mind squawking chickens or bleating cows and horses. Located on a 500-acre working farm and owned by homesteading honeys Mike and Tina, the compact camper is described as "perfect for the vertically challenged."
The property around it features sprawling gardens and hiking trails. Visitors are invited to enjoy both.
"I even had an opportunity to see Mike milk a cow. Good stuff!" an Atlanta-based guest wrote in his review.
When Tina and Mike first learned about Airbnb in August 2015, Tina says they listed the camper on a whim. Since then, she says, "I can count on my hands how many times it hasn't been booked for a weekend."
A Cozy Room On Wheels
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Sleeps: 2-4
Cost: From $65/night (does not include campsite reservation fee)
Rating: 4.5 stars, 36 reviews
The most unique feature of this Airbnb motorhome is that it's mobile. Husband-wife owners Drexel and Matt, both U.S. Navy retirees, give guests the option of choosing between two locations: Harrison Bay State Park or Holiday Travel Park.
The first option is ideal for outdoor lovers looking for a taste of RV life. The second choice, which is located next to I-75 near Camp Jordan, is great for tourists looking to do the downtown thing, says Drexel.
While Drexel says the façade of the 35-foot camper is nothing special, she describes its interior as "very Pintrest-y," channeling the charm of a cozy, contemporary bed-and-breakfast.
"Cute" sells: During the month of July, Drexel says the camper helped supplement the family income by nearly $2,000.