Spotlight on Glamping Structures - The RV
WE’LL EXPLORE THE ORIGINS OF THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, DIVE INTO THE DEBATE SURROUNDING THE INCLUSION OF THE RV IN THE GLAMPING WORLD, AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR BUCKET LIST GLAMPTUARYS WHO OFFER FANTASTIC RVs TO STAY IN.
Location - “El Cosmico” - Marfa, TX
To Glamp, or not to Glamp, that is the question…RV enthusiasts and glampers have been asking for years about the inclusion of the “recreational vehicle” as a glamping accommodation.
I feel confident in saying this isn’t a heated debate. I believe most folks who enjoy RVing, glamping, and staying in an RV while glamping, are probably fun-loving adventurists who enjoy discussing things around a campfire. And once the fire dies down, the conversation does as well…and then everyone retires to their RV site and/or glampsite and dreams of a world where things are clearly defined in an orderly fashion.
Speaking of getting things in order, lets try and define what an RV is…and when it came into existence (supposedly).
RV is an acronym for “Recreational Vehicle.”
As defined by FEMA:
Recreational Vehicle
A vehicle which is:
Built on a single chassis;
400 square feet or less when measured at the largest horizontal projection;
Designed to be self-propelled or permanently towable by a light duty truck; and
Designed primarily not for use as a permanent dwelling but as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, travel, or seasonal use.
To be fair, there are other types of vehicles that fall under the term “recreational vehicle” which are: ATV’s, boats, motorcycles, snowmobiles, dune buggies, and golf carts. For purposes of this article, we’ll stick to RVs that you can physically lay down in.
Now that we know what type of RV we’re talking about and what it is - when was the first RV created?
Well…there is another debate to settle.
Some would say that the “covered wagon” was the first RV. You could lay down in it, and it was pulled by horses and moved from camp to camp. To me, that qualifies.
To streamline things (and because we’ll do an entire article about covered wagons on this blog), we’ll table the covered wagon for now and stick to RV’s that are either pulled by or self-propelled with a combustible motor.
So now, the question is where and when did this magical vehicle come into existence?
The birthplace seems to be Montreal, CA. Ucal-Henri Dandurand bought a 3-ton Packard truck and converted it into a motorhome that could accommodate up to 11 people. It also boasted a toilet, an icebox and a small salon which is impressive considering the first truck was introduced in 1896.
The first RV - Source - RV Share
There were some other iterations that followed for sure, but it’s commonly accepted that the “Gypsy Van” of 1915 was the impetus for the RV becoming a reality that inspired what we have today.
The Gypsy Van - Source - RV Business
Credit goes to Roland R Conklin for birthing the RV as he launched a cross country trip that originated in Long Island, NY and ended two months later in San Francisco, CA - all done in the “Gypsy Van.” The heavily documented trip was covered in the press, which led to raising awareness about this new type of “a home on wheels.” The vehicle slept up to 17 passengers. It boasted electricity, cold drinking water, incandescent lights, a bath + shower, stove, pantry, and a roof deck, among other amenities.
Since this infamous trip, there have been major developments in technology and engineering over the past 110 years that have led to the evolution of the RV. A couple of key moments were the invention of the airstream and the winnebago.
Wally Byam built the world’s first Airstream in 1929 which paved the way for the RV version on a trailer.
Winnebago is synonymous with the RV and that came into existence back in 1966 - birthed by John K Hanson and his love of motorhome vacations with his family. The first model was called the “F17” and it was a 17 foot motorhome on a ford chassis.
Since Airstream and Winnebago rolled into the scene, the evolutionary curve as settled a bit. Sure, there have been improvements in designs and amenities but for the most part - RV designs have reflected these two pillars of innovation.
Now, to settle the debate about whether RVs should be included as a glamping structure…I pose this argument: If the RV has been converted into a stationary structure - then that structure is now considered a glamping accommodation.
I offer up these Glamptuary sites in support of my argument that feature amazing RV’s for your glamping pleasure (and I’m also adding these to my bucket list of Glamptuarys I’d like to visit):
Location - Hicksville Trailer Palace - Joshua Tree, CA
Location - AUTOCAMP - Various Locations Across the United States
Location - June Bug Retro Resort - Asheville, NC
Location - The Vintages - Dayton, OR
Location - Sou’ Wester - Seaview, WA
This collection of Glamptuarys have taken their RV upgrades to an entirely new level. And they carried their designs throughout their properties which creates a true 360 degree Glamptuary experience.
RVs are predominantly in the US although you may find some elsewhere around the globe. If you do, remember that it all started with a love of vacationing with family across the US of A.
Safe travels everyone!
I truly appreciate your time and if you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read - please share with your network.
