In 1959, a spark was lit in the Casagrande family that would grow into a multi-generational love affair with vintage camping. That year, Steve Casagrande’s neighbors, Mary and Tom, brought home a brand-new white-on-white 1959 Shasta Airflyte. Steve’s mother, Anne, was instantly smitten. Just two weeks later, Steve’s father, A.E., and neighbor Tom headed back to the dealer in Bakersfield to buy the exact same trailer for the Casagrande family.
With five energetic boys in tow, the Shasta became the family’s mobile summer sanctuary. Steve remembers the trailer being well used—and well worn—after years of camping trips, backyard sleepovers, and even serving as his personal study hall during dental school.
Years later, Steve returned to his childhood neighborhood and discovered that Mary, the neighbor who inspired it all, still owned her original Shasta. She agreed to sell it to him, and Steve spent the next eight months meticulously restoring the trailer to its former glory. He even gave it a fresh coat of blue and white paint to match his family’s 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Beauville station wagon—the very same car that once towed the original Casagrande Shasta to Yosemite and beach towns up and down the California coast.
Now lovingly restored, the Shasta became the centerpiece for new adventures with Steve, his wife Diane, and their growing family. From children to grandchildren, four generations of Casagrandes have created cherished memories in that trailer. For Steve, the joy came from passing down the magic of camping. “There is no better feeling than sitting at the table in a 1959 Shasta with the glow from the propane lantern,” he once said.
Though Steve has since passed, his beautifully restored Shasta lives on. It’s now looking for a new caretaker to continue the journey. This heartwarming story—and additional photos—can be found in the book Vintage Camper Trailers on page 164. For more information, a video tour, and details on purchasing this trailer, click here to see the ad.
A trailer may be made of wood, metal, and rivets—but it’s the stories, families, and memories it holds that make it truly priceless.
