Located a half mile along the highway from historic downtown Bisbee sits a trailer court that looks straight out of the 1950s. And that’s because the trailers there are straight out of the 50s.
The Shady Dell Vintage Trailer Court boasts 1940s and 50s era travel trailers, a 1947 Chris Craft Yacht and a 1947 tiki-themed bus. The trailers (and the bus and yacht!) are available to rent by the night. The property also offers a public gazebo and sitting area, a throwback restaurant called Dot’s Diner (a prefab Valentine Diner) and its counterpart, Dashes Bar (a 1955 converted Airstream). It’s a trip through the senses to a period of iconic Americana.
It’s not your typical resort stay – the trailers are furnished with vintage decor and items, like a percolator and old-school televisions. The lamps, curtains and furniture are not from this decade. Showering means guests must take a short stroll to use the amenities.
The park opened as Thompson’s Motor Court in 1927 to provide trailer and camping spaces to travelers along Highway 80, which stretched from Savannah, Georgia, to San Diego, California.
According to its website, “Highway 80 was a center of travel, exploration and family getaways in the early portions of the 20th century.” Thompson’s became the Shady Dell in the 1950s, and the concept of the vintage trailer hotel started in 1994.
Justin Luria took over for the previous owners in 2007 and has added eight trailers in the past decade. He does the decorating himself with furnishings he’s collected over the years.
“All of the trailers were acquired by finding them throughout the country,” Luria said. “Many times, people would call us and say they have a trailer that belonged in their family that they would love to see at the Shady Dell, so we acquire them that way, too.”
Items guests can find within the trailers include vintage magazines and books, record players with vinyl records, and old-fashioned couches and lights.
On-site is an eatery created from a midcentury American steel diner that opened back in 1957. It’s called Dot’s Diner – named after its first cook, Dot Bozeman, who ran the kitchen from 1998 to 2000.
Dot’s serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts. There’s also a 1955 Airstream converted into a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails. There’s a stage where the Dell hosts live music performances on the weekends.
Busy season runs from January to June and September through November, so make sure to book in advance. Trailers start at $105 per night. For more information, visit theshadydell.com.
