After years of camping in Volkswagen vans, Sue and Basil Owen of Minneapolis decided it was time to move up to a small trailer. Their plan was simple—start with a fiberglass camper and eventually graduate to a vintage trailer in retirement. But fate had other ideas.
Basil stumbled across a Craigslist ad for a 1959 Pathfinder that had been stripped down to the frame and rebuilt. One look inside and they knew they had found their dream. The warm birch paneling, clever storage, and inviting layout felt like home. A deal was struck, and Penelope joined the family.
The heavy restoration work had already been completed by the previous owners, Dave and Cindy, who replaced rotted ribs, installed new flooring, and even added a vent system for a free-standing AC unit. Sue and Basil added their own touches: new cushions and bedding, fresh curtains, upgraded LED lighting, and solar power with a deep cycle battery to keep everything humming. They also modernized the brakes while keeping the original axle and hubs intact.
To complete her look, Marti’s Awnings crafted a cheerful red-and-white striped awning that perfectly suits Penelope’s vintage charm. She quickly became the star of every campground, drawing curious visitors and even stealing the show at a Wisconsin Dells vintage car cruise night.
In just two years, Penelope has traveled far and wide—the Great Smoky Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and even Spencer, Wisconsin, where she was originally manufactured. Sue and Basil were able to tour the old Pathfinder factory, bringing Penelope full circle back to her hometown.
Penelope is more than just a trailer—she’s a conversation starter, a road-trip companion, and a little piece of rolling history. If you see her out on the road, don’t be shy. Her door is always open!
