Oregon resident Ann Kruger
used to joke around to her family
that she was going to buy a pink
trailer one day and stick it in
the front yard with a “Trailer
Trash” sign. Now she has fulfilled
her dreams with a gorgeously
glamped out 1959 Aloha named
“Whim Dixie” and yes, she does
have the sign too!
Having done several family and solo
camping trips in a Coleman Popup for
the past twelve years, and in a two-room
tent prior to that, fifty-five year old Ann
says that she found herself longing for a
vintage trailer.
“I guess I was looking for something
that was all mine: a retreat” says Ann
“I just love the charm, size, and
character of these old trailers. It doesn’t
matter the condition or color or style
of a vintage trailer. People just seem to
brighten up when they see them”.
One day she saw the cute pink
15-foot Aloha for sale online in a post
in “Vintage Aloha Trailer and Friends”
and contacted the seller straight away.
Although one other person had called
about it already, she was the first to
actually go and see it. Making the trip
with her sister through Washington State
wine country to meet with the owner,
she saw that the trailer was in fairly good
condition for a 1959 model and just
needed some cosmetic work. After a bit
of negotiating, Ann happily purchased
the Aloha for just over $4,500.
Along with the vintage pink and
white stripe wallpaper over the gaucho
bed that Ann says was “too sweet to
ignore”, the name “Dixie” had been
written on the inside of the front door.
Ann decided to call her trailer “Whim
Dixie” because she bought it “on a whim”.
Using the colors of the striped
wallpaper as a starting point, Ann set
about decorating and updating the
interior of the Aloha. She started by
covering the brown burlap dinette seating
with white fabric before taking them to
Kempler Upholstery in downtown Tigard
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