Camping, Vegas style

Airstream trailers right at a Strip resort offer a hip, retro alternative to hotels

Steve Marcus

An Airstream trailer, complete with picnic table, propane grill and plastic flamingos, sits at the Kampgrounds of America at Circus Circus.

By Mike Trask (contact)

Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Steve Marcus

Showgirls Janell Lewis, left, and Johanna V. peruse copies of "Airstream Life" magazine.

Think of it as Mobile Easy Sightseeing Housing (1-26-2000)

Map of Circus Circus

2880 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas

The newest wrinkle in tourist accommodations on the Strip is an overnight trailer court.

At an asphalt campground alongside Circus Circus, Airstream has delivered 10 of its iconic, silver-bullet-shaped travel trailers for overnight rentals.

Honey, pack up the kids, we’re going to Vegas and staying in a trailer!

It sounds almost poignant, maybe even vintage, possibly even appropriate, given how Airstream started building the trailers in the 1930s when America was trying to claw itself out of a depression. What is it about hard times and trailers?

These 25-footers will rent for $45 a night through February, although Airstream executives see a day — say, busy NASCAR weekends — when the trailers will fetch $150 per night. Fast cars, fast trailers.

The Airstream trailers are parked at a 366-space KOA park, long a popular destination for RV owners who would rather live in their own vehicles than cart their luggage into a hotel.

It’s actually cheaper to stay at a hotel than an Airstream, given how prices at the mid-level and lower-tier resorts on the Strip have been slashed to 35 bucks or so.

But then, a trailer vacation has certain benefits.

Housekeepers won’t be bumping their vacuum cleaners up against your door at 8 in the morning.

There won’t be kids running up and down the hallways.

You can park right next to your bedroom. In and out in 20 seconds, without having to navigate through a smoky casino.

You can play your TV as loud as you want. (The Airstream comes equipped with two Toshiba flat screens and yes, the RV park has cable-TV hookups.)

You can cut down on the cost of eating out. (The Airstream galley comes with microwave, stove top, refrigerator, dishes and utensils.)

You can grill up a burger on the propane grill just outside your door.

And then you can hail your neighbors grilling their hamburgers and launch a happy-hour party among your new friends.

You might even fall in love with the trailer and decide to buy one for $50,000.

Indeed, Airstream has a lot more in mind than $45 a night. “It’s a great chance for our dealers to send people out to spend a few nights in one,” said Bob Wheeler, president and chief executive of Airstream.

But you cannot drive away with one of these. The security guards are told not to let any leave the premises.

Wheeler said the trailers don’t compete directly with hotels because the Airstreams offer a “different lifestyle experience.”

This experience would include sitting in front of the trailer admiring the pair of plastic pink flamingos outside the window.

This newest Strip experience isn’t unique.

Chic trailer parks in the style of boutique motels have popped up around the country, including in California, Texas and Arizona.

Airstream has also made a similar “experience” available in Key West, Fla., where some trailers are being rented for more than $200 a night. In May it plans another offering, in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Van Hefner, chief executive of the Nevada Hotel and Lodging Association, said he can see the idea working in Las Vegas, where people search for all kinds of experiences.

“It’s a cross between a pop culture experience and today’s Las Vegas choices,” he said.

Discussion: 12 comments so far…

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.

By acrosby85254

Jan. 26, 2009

8:19 a.m.

Suggest removal

Um, ok....this is ghetto.
By rocket_car

Jan. 26, 2009

9:06 a.m.

Suggest removal

location, location, location...if the trailers were set up somewhere with a spectacular view then I can see how it would be possible to have a fun and novel experience. Parking them next to the I-15 in the Circus Circus parking lot, however, would not be my location of choice...but hey, to each their own!
By LasVegas2009

Jan. 26, 2009

11:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

Watch and see how many people get robbed in those little trailers. The bad guys just have to set in the parking lot and see when you leave and walk right over and pry open the door with a screw driver. No security at all in those things. You can actually pull hard on the doors and they will open right up. Trailer invasion will be the new thing!
By 2zero

Jan. 26, 2009

1:40 p.m.

Suggest removal

Oscar Goodman later said we could do the same thing at the downtown RV park owned by Main Street Station and offer legal prostitution?
By getalife

Jan. 26, 2009

3:58 p.m.

Suggest removal

Why not just put up tents and give the homeless free drink coupons. I think they would have more fun.
By johnevegas

Jan. 26, 2009

5:01 p.m.

Suggest removal

Vacation home rentals are cheaper if you want privacy, and you're not stuck in the back parking lot of some casino. Anyone looking to save money when they come to Las Vegas should consider it. It's great for families. In fact, staying in a vacation home was what gave me a taste for the Vegas suburbs and convinced me to move here. Highly recommend it!
By vegasj

Jan. 27, 2009

6:48 a.m.

Suggest removal

Maybe a nudist resort, where old 50-80 year olds could let it all hang out. Oh yeah, and do some campin...coo coo coo coo.
By johnevegas

Jan. 27, 2009

7:12 a.m.

Suggest removal

"Oh yeah, and do some campin...coo coo coo coo."

I think that's "Giggity giggity giggity!".

Huh. Strip on The Strip. Not bad. :)
By lasvegasbk

Jan. 27, 2009

11:12 a.m.

Suggest removal

You know it's funny that all the comments here are against the idea except one. This is Las Vegas and if this is gonna work it's gonna work here. And the guy that talks about the doors being opened by pulling real hard sounds like he has some experience in robbing trailers. Maybe he lives in a trailer park ? Could be. And the rest of you are just mad because you didn't come up with idea. And if you read the article they are located in the KOA campgound North of Circus Circus. And yes it is a parking lot but it does have security on duty 24/7
By rocket_car

Jan. 27, 2009

12:48 p.m.

Suggest removal

I'm not against the idea, I just think it's execution could be better. I've stayed in a wide variety of accommodations in the Las Vegas valley, from the Golden Gate and Golden Nugget downtown, vacation homes in the suburbs, the Bellagio and Venetian and others on the Strip, etc., etc. But I don't find this opportunity to be compelling; just me, however, I think it will find its audience.
By SilverPalace

Jan. 28, 2009

9:02 a.m.

Suggest removal

What a creative way for the Airstream Company to market their product during an economic downturn. The RV Industry has taken a downward turn, yet Airstream has thought of a way to offer people an opportunity to try out their coaches, without any obligation. Airstreams have been on the road since the 1940s and are the only coach to make this claim. As an avid Airstreamer and a gypsy-at-heart, way to go! ps - RVing isn't for everyone, but is appreciated by many. Don't knock it till you've tried it!
By terrence123

Sept. 14, 2009

5:25 a.m.

Suggest removal

Nice comment.
Terrence
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