I’ve been coming to this campground all my life, over 45 years. It is also the secret location of the trailer graveyard that time forgot…
This privately owned campground is not open to the public but is accessible through my retired father’s former employer. Over the years a collection of stored and/or abandoned trailers has assembled near the North entrance. The ones on the right are definitely still in seasonal use, the ones on the left not so much. Most interesting to me are the units made by Glendale trailers of Strathroy Ontario. I had a look last August while the D family was camping with my parents.
Up first is this early 60’s Glenelle, probably the oldest one of the lot:
As you can see I kind of like this unit, it’s small and cute. You would almost think this could be a fun restoration project, just redo the inside and polish the outside. It would look great being pulled by the 1963 Mercury that’s still in my area.
But the kitschy interior had a lot of water damage, some big black ants and the strong smell of decay. This trailer had its lock forced and had been recently moved, probably in preparation for disposal.
This 21’ Golden Falcon is a larger and more upscale model, probably about the same age as the Glenelle.
There’s no date code in Glendale serial numbers, so it’s hard to know for sure. Glendale was founded in 1950 and was once the largest RV manufacturer in Canada.
This late 1960’s Golden Falcon is the classic model, with zippy anodized aluminum panels. This was THE trailer to have when I was a kid in the 1970’s, and put our little 6’ Sears canvas popup to shame.
Again, this looks like an interesting project but since I read Keith Thelan’s post about fixing his camper insert I can guess what horrors lurk under that faded aluminum skin.
During the 1970’s Glendale switched to plastic exterior panels.
Like me, this groundhog is unimpressed and prefers the earlier aluminum cladding.
I’m sure that most of the owners of these abandoned trailers are too elderly or deceased to care about their state, or their fate. A couple of trailers have FOR SALE signs in a window, but it’s a very small pool of people who will ever see them.
A note was up at the office that trailers will be removed if they have not paid up the storage fees, but that has been threatened for a couple of years. Since the old Glenelle had recently been moved maybe they are finally making good on the threat.
Glendale changed with the times, and survived until the recession of 2009. They still operate an RV dealership in Strathroy but no longer manufacture trailers. Strathroy is no longer the Elkhart, Indiana of Ontario.
Sitting out in this damp climate probably has turned these units into moldy, dryrotted hulks good for parts to restore other vintage trailers.
Given the decline in the popularity of conversion vans and the great recession, I’m not even sure if Elkhart, IN is still the Elkhart, IN of the US.
I had never heard of Glendale trailers. Did they sell a lot to Armenians?
Note: The above is Southern California humor.
Haha I got that
Older RVs with low metal content can become zombies, they often have little or negative scrap value. When I worked for the garbage operator in Truckee/N Tahoe we would see them come in from time to time.
Love that old one. Looks like you could haul with a 4runner.
Driving in central and northeastern Pennsylvania I often see clusters of these older trailers, usually perched near a river. I imagine most of them are/were “summer cottages” for now elderly folks. I guess I really am getting old as these trailers now sometimes seem like a halfway possible good idea. It doesn’t hurt that my late life finances are also rocky.
I used to wonder about the fate of old house trailers. Then a friend of mine picked up two of them for next to nothing, tore them down and sold off everything for scrap.
The framing is made of 2x2s, and he would’ve had to pay to dispose of it, so he was happy to give me a bunch for firewood.
You’d think that there’d be interest from people restoring trailers looking for specialized parts like the windows. He tried advertising parts on kijiji (like craigslist) but didn’t get any takers.
The same thing happened to me when I disassembled the old camper shell that had been on my 71 Dodge pickup when I bought it. When I removed it, I placed it on blocks to keep it off the ground, nevertheless every stick of wood in it had thoroughly decomposed to the point that the process must have been well under way while the topper was still on the truck. It was too bad, because it had been a well-equipped unit with clearance lights, an interior light, a couple of small storage compartments, and a lock on the tailgate. I burned all the wood remnants, cut up the aluminum sheeting into small enough pieces to discard at the dump, and made a pile of the various hardware and window pieces and photographed them for offer on the local freebie site, but there were no takers.
You just took the aluminum to the dump?! A scrap dealer would’ve paid you for it.
The ones with aluminum roofs invariably leak, and our Seattle rain mist and damp gets into each and every crevice. All the wood structure, including the floor, ends up rotting and moldy. People scrap them out and believe the underlying frame can be used to haul cars…not.
Some of the fiberglass topped ones survive, but for an bit of black comedy check out the Free section of Seattle Craigslist. Most say “unliveable”, but you never know how attractive these are to the street campers. Hundreds of “Breaking Bad” quality RV’s, campers and trailers are occupied by the many, many people who have not fared well in this period of ever increasing disparity between the haves and the poor.
We aren’t far from the Grapes of Wrath nowadays. Sad, but true.
There are quite a few RVs in my neighborhood, owned by seniors who are too infirm or just disinterested in using them anymore. Yet they don’t want to give them up, maybe out of inertia, or not wanting to let go of the possibility of hitting the road even though they never will again (sad). So these RVs just sit in their driveways year after year getting more and more decrepit even in the benign Southern Cal climate. There’s a business opportunity for someone who could convince them to sell, presuming there is any resale value or scrap value in them (maybe not much).
CC always gives me something new to think about. I’d never thought much about camper design. The closeup picture of the roof shows a perfect How Not To. Ridges running side to side guarantee long-lasting ponds, and the edging ABOVE the roof surface guarantees that the ponds will flow into the walls. You can see that the owner tried caulking once or twice, but that’s not a solution.
Big black ants = carpenter ants.
Jeremy Clarkson and the gang from Top Gear would be ecstatic with the abandoned trailers.
Right ! You shouldn’t park abandoned trailers. Race them !
(Photo Erwin Visser)
There`s a trailer park called “Silvermeade” not too far from where I live in Freehold, NJ, but its not your average trailer park. It consists of mostly “Snowbirds” -generally older retired people who winter in Florida and come to Jersey for the cooler summers. While I`m not too familiar with makes and models of trailers, there seem to be some older and unusual models there. If I knew how to upload pictures to this site, I would send a few.
These trailers are the forgotten ones that don’t have the cache of an old Airstream. There’s a nifty yellow-green and white one near my job that I’ll photograph if it’s not scary to the owner.
On the other hand, the Airstreams in Kate Pierson’s camp are eye parties:
http://www.lazymeadow.com/index.php?page=airstream-trailers
The old Glendale campers, that brings back some memories of summer trips to BC and Saskatchewan in my younger years. My grandparents had a nice Glendale rv based on a dually E350 that thing although it had a prodigious thrist for fuel could sleep 6-8 of us in a lot more comfort than the old Austin and a tent. Sadly right before my 16th birthday grampa got too old to drive it and it was sold. When I was looking for an older rv last year I kept a lookout for a similar rig but due to high insurance and operating costs here in BC I settled on a small 12 foot travel trailer instead. Another orphan brand a Hyco skylark circa 1976 built in lethbridge Ab that due to the cold and dry climate in Alberta hadn’t succumbed to rot and mold (yet at least). Gets the job done and sleeps the 4 of us and the old previa has no problem towing it’s less than 2000lbs gvw. The funny thing was its first trip camping last summer had some strangers come over to check out its vintage goodness and admire its small size. They didn’t seem to care about my buddies much nicer and 20 year newer trailer parked beside it at the campground.
While boating is more my thing, I’ve always been drawn to RV’s and camper trailers. Very cool review of some old timers. Maybe when I’m too old to worry about boating I’ll find a vintage trailer and car combo to while away some time with.
kove to see a picture of a 1960 glendale 35 foot trailer, have one in next to mint shape, are there anymore out there
I just recently bought a 1968 Glenelle. I am in the mist of reno and ripping out the water damaged parts. It is my first trailer reno and I am so excited. It has been difficult finding any pictures. The one up top is just like mine. Complete with yellow sink and stove, although someone painted the stove black, but it is yellow underneath the paint.
I have a plan for it once everything is completed.
christine
Hi Christine, do you have pics? Evare trying to determine the approximate age of ours?
Thank you
Danielle
Hi Christine,
I’m just seeing this old post. I bought a trailer last year. I completely know nothing about trailers and I ‘believe’ it’s a 1967 Glendale Falcon. I think I’ll need to be doing some work to it.. wondering if you have any photos to share?
Just stumbled upon your webpage in one of my nostalgic moments while looking at Glendale RVs online. Thank you! Growing up in Strathroy Ontario, only a few blocks from the Glendale factory, I still get very excited to see the occasional Glendale on the road. And you can still see Titanium 5th wheels on the road, Glendale’s last huge success story, as well as Glendale’s Royale class C motorhomes.
Although it will likely never occur, it has been a lifelong dream to see the Glendale manufacturing and design facilities re-open in Strathroy and once again have a strong Canadian presence in the RV world. Glendale made exceptional trailers and motorhomes. The quality, although may have varied over the years, was second to none. It’s tragic that we don’t have any RV manufacturers in eastern Canada that I am aware of. I believe Trillium Trailers are still manufactured in the Calgary area and Bigfoot is manufactured in BC. But other than park model mobile homes, I don’t think there are any RV manufacturers in Ontario now. Indiana seems to owns the RV world. Nothing against Indiana, but we have so much to offer in Ontario with high-quality products.
Growing up with trailers my entire life, I come by my love for RVs honestly. I remember in public school getting picked up on the last day of school as summer started, at the curb by my parents with trailer in tow. We left to tour Canada and I didn’t even go home before we took off! Our friends and church family all trailered. We travelled in caravans and we group-camped in our favourite parks as well as long-haul trips to the East Coast. Of course we had a Glendale. Although the gold standard may have been Airstream, everyone desired a Glendale Golden Falcon. It was the pinnacle of trailering.
My father was friends with Reg Thorn, the owner and man who started Glendale RV. Back in the ’60s my dad went right to the factory and bought our first Glendale from Reg Thorn directly. I often wonder how many people today long for the Glendale RV days and also wish Glendale RV would reopen in Strathroy! I so enjoy looking at pics of the old Glendales and this trailer park with old retired Glendales would be a real treasure to stumble across! Enjoy it.
HI, wondered if the ever store in Strathroy would be able to date a Glenelle? A friend just acquired one but we are not sure of year.
We own an Award built in Dunnville On, they also are now closed 🙁
Thank for sharing info on Glendale!
Got thos last year for $150 no water damage but they gutted most of the inside just left the table and couch bed fridge and closet .. wish i could find some pick of. what the inside should look like
Interested in those plastic wheel well fenders if you know of anyone or can sell me yours if not useing 🙂
I have what looks like the exact same camper. We bought it a couple years ago and it had been ‘renoed’ already so no clue other than what the floor looked like. It had been painted turquoise and cow print fabric, but it was a solid unit and everything worked. I have since completely redone the interior and am putting it up for sale, but I would like to see the original.
If you have had any luck I would love to see pictures. This is my completed renovation
Somehow I missed adding the photo.
I’d be willing to buy the 60’s Glendale. I currently have one from my childhood that I’m trying to restore but need more parts and this looks to have them all! If you could get me the information of the private campground I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you,
Contact Paul the site administrator and he can give you my personal email.
I haven’t been back in a couple of years, no idea if those older trailers are still there. The campground is roughly an hour north of Parry Sound Ontario.
Hi Doug!
Would you be able to provide info on campground? We are just south of London On.
A friend just acquired a Glenelle…
Thank you!
Danielle
Hi, Just picked up what I think is a 1965 Glendale Glenette trailer, kinda unique with two doors on one side, some water damage inside near the furnace exhaust, but all looks fixable, comes complete with a gorgeous Robins egg blue stove, would love to find a fridge to match it, any body has any info. on this style of trailer, books, manuals, pictures etc. would love to hear from you…………..Many Thanks………….LES
Looking for a old glendal plastic wheel wheel cover depicted in attachement. I have a 79 19 ft trailer. I would like to restore. Just need one. thanks.
jf.turbine@hotmail.com
Has anyone heard of a Golden Falcom Millennium Edition? Looks to be from the seventies with the plastic siding. Any info is appreciated.
2022 Update! I stopped by the campground with Dad on the weekend, we were the only people there but there were about 200 Canada Geese who were displeased with our presence.
All the vintage & abandoned trailers have been removed, that’s too bad from a trailer archaeology standpoint, but it does declutter the landscape somewhat.