About a half mile down the highway from historic downtown Bisbee is a trailer park that looks like it came straight out of the 1950s. And that’s because the trailers there are straight out of the ’50s.
The Shady Dell Vintage Trailer Court features trailers from the ’40s and ’50s, a 1947 Chris Craft yacht, and a 1947 tiki bus. The trailers (and the bus, and the yacht!) are available for nightly rental. The property also offers a public gazebo and seating area, a nostalgic restaurant called Dot’s Diner (a prefab Valentine Diner) and its counterpart, Dashes Bar (a converted 1955 Airstream). It’s a journey through the senses to a time of iconic Americana.
It’s not a typical resort stay – the trailers are outfitted with vintage decor and items like a coffee maker and old-fashioned TVs. The lamps, curtains and furniture aren’t from this decade. To shower, guests must take a short walk to the amenities.
The park opened in 1927 as Thompson’s Motor Court to provide trailer and camping sites for travelers along Highway 80, which ran from Savannah, Georgia, to San Diego, California.
According to the hotel’s website, “Highway 80 was a center for travel, exploration and family getaways in the early 20th century.” Thompson’s became Shady Dell in the 1950s, and the vintage trailer hotel concept was born in 1994.
Justin Luria took over from the previous owners in 2007 and has added eight trailers over the past decade, furnishing the place himself with furniture he has collected over the years.
“All of the trailers were found all over the country,” Luria said. “Often people would call us and say they had a trailer that belonged to their family and they would like to see it at Shady Dell, so we get them that way too.”
Items that guests can find in the caravans include old magazines and books, record players with records, and old-fashioned sofas and lamps.
There’s a restaurant on-site, converted from a mid-century American steel diner that opened in 1957. It’s called Dot’s Diner – named after its first chef, Dot Bozeman, who ran the kitchen from 1998 to 2000.
Dot’s serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts. There is also a 1955 Airstream that has been converted into a full bar with beer, wine and cocktails. There is a stage where the Dell hosts live music performances on the weekends.
Peak season is January to June and September to November, so be sure to book in advance. RVs start at $105 per night. Visit theshadydell.com for more information.
