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Vintage Trailer Vacations at Sou’Wester Lodge


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Do you love vintage travel trailers? Then you’ll definitely love the Sou’Wester Lodge because they have over 15 vintage travel trailers you can rent by the night, though they have many other attractions as well.

The Lodge also has rooms in its historic main house, a series of small cabins, a self-serve gift shop stocked with local foods, art, crafts and music, a sauna/steam room, and it hosts concerts and art events. All that, and a great location within walking distance of the beach in Seaview, Washington, a few hours from both Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

I’ve visited the Sou’Wester twice now, staying in three different travel trailers, and I wanted to make sure the tiny house community knew about this unique resource. For fans of small spaces, it’s a fantastic way to get design ideas and to see how a trailer feels and functions. The trailers have been lovingly and stylishly restored with special touches like locally made soap, champagne flutes or mason jars in the kitchens, and some even have record players and come stocked with records. Their biggest trailer, the African Queen, has two floors, four separate beds, and a full bathtub!

Each one is amazing in its own way. They are all truly vintage, and each trailer I’ve stayed in had its own set of quirks – but that’s a genuine, vintage trailer for you! It’s a great way to see what works and what doesn’t for your particular needs, especially if you’re considering buying or living in one.

Tiny Vintage Travel Trailer Hotel

Vintage travel trailers at the Sou'Wester Lodge.

Images © Billy Ulmer

The Lodge acquires new trailers and redecorates existing trailers regularly – as their website notes, they’re all “works in progress.” On my most recent trip, they were so booked up for an event that they let me stay in a trailer that wasn’t quite finished, but was still adorable! Here are some photos and descriptions of the trailers that I’ve stayed in.

The Picnic

Classified as a “Standard Park Model”, the Picnic has a full kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and separate living room with two love seats and a record player, complete with a great selection of loaner records. The main lodge is in the background.

The Picnic Trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge Picnic-bed The Picnic Trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge The Picnic Trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge

The Arrowhead

The Arrowhead is classified as a “rustic trailer,” with a kitchen, bed, sitting area, and bathroom with toilet, but no shower. Hidden storage was everywhere to discover – above the refrigerator, behind the headboard, and under the bed.

The Arrowhead trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge Arrowhead-bed Arrowhead-interior The Arrowhead trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge The Arrowhead trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge The Arrowhead trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge The Arrowhead trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge

The Aristocrat

The Aristocrat is so new that it isn’t on their website, and isn’t even fully finished yet. But the Lodge let me stay there in a pinch, and I don’t think they’d mind me sharing photos of it in progress because it’s already so cute. This small trailer has a bed, sitting area and kitchen. There’s a closet that once held a small bathroom, but it’s been removed, so I used the common, private bathrooms and showers in the Pavilion, about a 15 second walk from the trailer.

The Aristocrat trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge The Aristocrat trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge The Aristocrat trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge The Aristocrat trailer at the Sou'Wester Lodge

Images © Billy Ulmer

To learn about the totally charming and unique lodging available at the Sou’Wester Lodge, visit their website. For more stories about my experiences with the tiny house community, check out my Life in a Tiny House Ebook.

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Billy Ulmer

Writer at PAD Tiny Houses
Billy Ulmer is the author of the Life in a Tiny House Ebook, a collection of photos and in-depth interviews with people who designed and built their own tiny homes. He is a co-owner of PADTinyHouses.com.
{ 12 comments… add one }
  • Lynnette
    August 25, 2015, 7:31 pm

    I love the vintage travel trailers! This is so cool!

  • Timothy
    August 26, 2015, 5:26 pm

    I love vintage trailers. Is a dream of mine to fix one of these up. My dad had an old Volunteer that looked like the Aristocrat seen here. fun camping trips.

  • Kristina H Nadreau
    August 26, 2015, 7:18 pm

    look more carefully…. these trailers have not been repaired. they are shabby. sorry to state what should be obvious

    • Jen
      August 27, 2015, 3:03 pm

      You have to click on redocorate link on page to see upgrades.

  • Jen
    August 27, 2015, 3:01 pm

    The redos are incredible!! Beautiful! They should post photos side -by- side. Some readers didn’t click on the redecorate link and think they are still shabby.

    • JanneZack
      August 25, 2016, 2:04 pm

      I hate to burst your bubble, but the “redocorated” model is NOT one of those pictured herein. It has a bump-out (as in a modern RV). These old vintage trailers did not have bump-outs. (That re-done trailer is really pretty though).

      These vintage trailers are really shabby…if redone, they could be really cool, but I’d not pay money to stay in these…I don’t even know if I’d let someone pay me to stay in one.

      For those of you who don’t realize it, you can’t get a Queen-size bed in any of these vintage models unless the bed touches both side walls…the largest bed shown here is probably a “full” size. I know many people slept on full size beds for many years, but most slept in 2 singles (think “I Love Lucy”). Just saying if you are accustomed to a Queen or larger, I wouldn’t try to vacation here.

  • James
    August 29, 2015, 10:30 am

    I’ve always enjoyed these jems it’s so cool that they have them set up to stay in. Too bad it’s so far from where i live. But a great idea never the less.

  • Victoria Larue
    August 25, 2016, 6:54 pm

    There is a similar concept at the Shady Dell, on the edge of Bisbee, Az. The late original owner collected vintage trailers of all sorts, which are for rent. There is an adorable vintage diner, Dot’s, right next door and a laundry onsite. The town is one of my favorites.

  • ZACHARY E. MOHRMANN
    August 26, 2016, 12:41 am

    I really like JanneZack’s comment…!

  • Jim Smythe
    August 27, 2016, 2:04 pm

    Well, JanneZack, I guess it’s all a matter of perspective and what you like. I I think the trailers are fantastic! I love them just as they are. If you’re into the new sleek renovations, I guess that’s what you like. Personally I find the renovations sometimes sterile and cold. I love the old look and feel and if they can keep it as original as possible, all the better.

  • Jim Smythe
    August 27, 2016, 2:45 pm

    Well, I guess it’s all a matter of perspective and what you like. I I think the trailers are fantastic! I love them just as they are. If you’re into the new sleek renovations, I guess that’s what you like. Personally I find the renovations sometimes sterile and cold. I love the old look and feel and if they can keep it as original as possible, all the better.

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