Jim and Melinda Pritchard were invited by friends to their first vintage camper rally in 2016 at Pomona State Park in Kansas. They were hooked on camping and owned their first vintage trailer within a few weeks.
Jim joined Green Country Vintage Glampers, a Tulsa, Oklahoma, area group that was started by Dale Turner. Dale later turned the group’s leadership over to Jim. GCVG became very active, and the Pritchards now camp 15-20 weekends each year in Oklahoma and the surrounding states. They host several themed campouts each camping season. One of the group’s favorite campouts is the fall annual Christmas rally.
A 25’ 1953 Airstream Cruiser
In June 2023, the Pritchards camped at the Hot Springs, AR, rally and saw Jim’s dream camper. A 25’ 1953 Airstream Cruiser with a door in a door and original interior. The trailer had made the trip to the rally from north Arkansas. It had 13 panels on the endcaps and was beautifully preserved. Mark and Melissa McClendon had owned the camper for 19 years and had completed extensive restoration work.
The interior had been removed, the subfloor repaired, and electrical and plumbing updated. New flooring was installed, and the walls were painted with Zolatone. The original interior and standalone SunRay stove were reinstalled. The SunRay is in perfect working condition. Jim kept admiring the camper and told Mark he wanted to buy it if he decided to sell it.
A 7-year tradition
Fast forward two months and The Pomona, Kansas, rally (the one that had started the vintage camper craze for the Pritchards) was only two weeks away. Jim didn’t have a new camper, breaking the 7-year annual tradition of taking a different camper to the rally each year. While perusing camper ads online, Jim saw his dream camper, the 1953 Airstream. He called Mark, telling him Melinda would make the 4-hour drive to pick it up. Later that day, the Airstream Cruiser was heading to a new home.
New life for an old trailer
With only nine days left to get ready for the Pomona rally, frantic preparations began. The rear twin bed mattresses were removed, and a frame for a queen bed was installed over the twin bed framing. The queen can easily be removed, and the twins restored. The Marvel refrigerator needed a complete rebuild, so it was removed and a retro refrigerator and microwave were installed. New tires were mounted, and Jim polished the exterior skin to a fresh shine. “Cruiser”, as their grandson calls it, was ready for the 8th annual Pomona, Kansas rally, enabling them to continue the tradition.
Special features
The Cruiser features a click-clack sofa bed, a fold-away table, and a writing desk in the living area. The bedroom has a large bunk above the bed and a medicine cabinet on the wall. The kitchen has a double sink and a beautiful SunRay stove with a working clock. The original water heater is still installed. It is roomy and spacious, with plenty of storage cabinets and closets.
The long, long trip
The longest trip the Cruiser has been pulled was the 2023 Vintage Camper Rally in Waco, TX, a distance of 386 miles. It will be back on the road soon, traveling to the campouts and rallies, a central part of the memories and friendships being made.
This trailer was featured in the Vintage Camper Trailers magazine. Click here for more info.
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Thank you, Paul! 🙂 Interesting story, but a different camper for seven years?!?!? That is a lot of trading, or buying, or restoration! Whatever it is, that is a lot! 🤔😯 Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
Many of the vintage guys have this problem! It becomes a bit of an addiction. I myself fluctuate from having too many, so I sell, sell, sell, and then find more cool ones and buy, buy, buy! I am guilty of usually having a different trailer at most rallies. (I’m getting better, we are down to about 10 trailers we are focusing on!”)
Ten?!?!? That is a lot. I can barely stay on top of all the care that our one requires. 😉 Safe travels! 🙂