S  Retro in the Desert By Mallory Gleich ocated 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. This is not your typical stay at a resort – the trailers are furnished with vintage decor and items, like a percolator and old-school televisions. The lamps, curtains and furniture? Not from this decade. Shower capabilities? Not inside the trailers – guests have to 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 court opened in 1994. “Thompson was long gone in 1994,” previous owner Ed Smith said. “He’s actually buried in the Evergreen Cemetery, next to the Shady Dell. He ran the park for 25 years, then a man named Monroe had it for another 25. After that it went through a number of hands until we bought it in 1994.” Smith and his then-partner Rita Personett were antique dealers who decorated the trailers with the furnishings they already had or found along their travels. “I started dealing and collecting ‘Americana’ right after high school,” Smith said. “In the summer of 1993, Rita and I were at a car swap meet in California and we came across a 1950s home-built trailer for sale. We bought it and that started the collection.” Justin Luria took over for them 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.” “The bus came from Sacramento, as did the yacht,” Smith said. Items guests can find within the trailers include vintage magazines and books, record players with vinyl XXXX The Shady Dell offers guests a vintage way to stay L PHOTOS COURTESY OF JUSTIN LURIA 1950 Hollywood Trailer.

records, and old-fashioned couches and lights. “It’s like spending a night in a vintage store that is a trailer,” Luria said. “Some of our most popular are the Tiki bus, Chris Craft Yacht, and our 1957 Airfloat. Most people come to stay to experience the park itself.” On-site is an eatery created from a 1957 midcentury American steel diner. It’s called Dot’s Diner – named after its first cook, Dot Bozeman, who ran the kitchen from 1998 to 2000. Smith found the diner in Pasadena while searching for antiques. It was crumbling in someone’s backyard – so he bought it, shipped it to Bisbee and fully restored it. Luria ran the eatery for a spell after he became the owner. 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. For those ready to explore, Bisbee offers its own historic experience. Nearly 50 years since the last mine closed, Bisbee still has an allure that keeps bringing visitors back. “Bisbee has various art galleries, Victorian architecture, a mining museum and tour, turn-of-the-century historic bars, food and entertainment in the downtown area. Bird watching and nature hiking are popular activities,” Luria said. When you’re ready to rest, The Shady Dell will be waiting. “The popularity of Shady Dell is that it’s a unique, fun stay that is more of an experience than just a regular hotel to sleep at,” Luria said. He plans on adding more trailers and accommodations. In the future, an outdoor movie screen will be added so the Dell can host movie nights for its visitors. Busy season runs from January to June and September through November, so make sure to book in advance. Shady Dell allows guests aged 15+. theshadydell.com 5 Highway 80 was a center of travel, exploration and family getaways in the early portions of the 20th century.” Dot’s Diner. 1947 Chris Craft Yacht. The Shady Dell mascot, a 1950s era Chevy pickup. 1947 Tiki Bus. 1955 Kropf Trailer.