Monday, May 23, 2016

America on the Move - Vintage RV's and Route 66

Location: Tenkiller State Park, Oklahoma

 

We left Winnie with the VW Dealer in Amarillo and went for a 10 mile bike ride. Our destination was the Jack Sisemore RV Museum. It was chock full of vintage RV's from the 20's thru the 70's.

 

 

Several years ago we had cruised by, but decided not to go in. We thought we were going to get the hard-sell from an RV Dealer. This wasn't the situation at all. It's just a really cool warehouse, behind the RV dealership on Route 66, showing the evolution of RV's and camping trailers.

 

 

This one was one of my favorites. It was the actual RV used in the Robin Williams' movie, "RV." It's a 1948 Flxible Bus.

 

It was so fun because with most of the RV's we were allowed to go inside and poke around. Here's the interior of the one above.

 

 

Another favorite was seeing the very first Airstream that was ever built - from $5 plans in Popular Mechanic magazine.

 

 

The inside was pretty cool. Hard to believe this is the oldest existing Airstream in the World!

 

We loved playing around all the vintage trailers. (Elaine, I kept thinking how much you would love this place!. Your trailers would fit in perfectly.)

 

 

I can just imagine tootaling along in vacation mode in one of these old timey trailers.

Only thing missing is my Manhattan.

(This is the inside of the above trailer).

 

Check out the trolley roof on this baby. It's a 1941 Westcraft Trailer. This particular trailer was used by a defense worker in WWII. It was located in a special worker's camp.

 

 

 

The inside was deluxe!! I can just see Harry Truman sipping a bourbon in one of these big soft leather chairs. Notice the phonograph player and big cabinet radio. This was really traveling in style.

The picture is of the battleship Sigourney used in WWI and WWII. It has been signed by the last 17 Presidents of the U.S.

 

Here's the very first Itasca motor home ever made in 1976. It was housed in the Winnebago showroom until recently. It only has 2000 miles on it.

 

 

 

Megan, you got competition with your "Pimp my Ride" RV. The Itasca inside was over the top 1970's.

 

I have sooo many more photos to share! But, alas I won't go on. When we get home I'd love to show them to you.

The Museum also housed tons of vintage motorcycles and Route 66 memorabilia. Dad, this one is for you.

 

 

Our own Winnie just clocked over 160,000 somewhere in Oklahoma today. We bought her at 40,000 miles. Someday, we think the ol' girl deserves a place in this museum too! This is our 8th trip across the U.S. and every now and then she needs a little TLC, but she's definitely loved and appreciated.

We're camped in the Eastern Hills of Oklahoma on a bluff overlooking a lake. We have the campground to ourselves. We're definitely appreciating the quiet before the craziness of Memorial Weekend.

I spoke too soon, a Whippoorwill bird is serenading us with great enthusiasm, about 10 feet from our camper.

 

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