Redesigning One Of The First Prototypes Of A Motorhome And Offering Guests A Stay At A Western Glamping Resort
One of the first prototypes of a motorhome was the covered wagon used by American pioneers in search of inexpensive land and opportunity, American pioneers migrated westward by the thousands. Today, owner and co-founder Daniela Mahr and her four partners are building covered wagons for guests to stay in at her glamping resort, Conestoga Ranch, in Garden City, Utah which opened in 2015.
Unable to find anything in the marketplace that met their vision for guest accommodations, the partners decided to custom manufacture the unique tents and wagons themselves. For this, they launched another venture, Conestoga Wagon Company. The wagons are designed to be the staple of the resort’s Old West ambiance, and are appealing to kids and adults. The partners made painstaking efforts to search the West for authentic 1800 circa furnishings to complete the interior design of each Grand Tent – so no two are alike.
“We designed and built the wagons to fill a need we had at our glamping resort. We were inspired by the iconic Conestoga Wagons which were first built during the colonial era in America to transport supplies to the remote outlying settlements of the American frontier,” Mahr explains. “Conestoga wagons were built for a singular purpose: to transport goods to very remote areas making them unique from almost all other wagons. They were much larger and much more intricate in design. But most importantly, to us, they evoke a Western sentiment with most Americans. They are beautiful.”
Given these factors, the team thought the wagons would create a tremendous visual interest for their glamping destination in Bear Lake to fit a practical guest experience.
“The wagons, apart from being extremely comfortable to sleep in are also very versatile. Because of the wagons mobility we can easily accommodate groups large and small by simply circling the wagons based on our guests needs on any given night,” Mahr added.
According to the sonian, in the 1800’s, the Conestoga wagon was the 18-wheeler of its day…the undisputed king of the road in a procession of freight wagons that formed an umbilicus from Philadelphia and Baltimore to ports on the Ohio River. Conestoga wagons carried finished goods and supplies westward and returned with barrels of flour, whiskey, tobacco, furs, coal, iron, and other marketable frontier products. Carrying up to five tons of cargo, they made a crunching sound as they trundled over crushed stones that paved the National & Pennsylvania Road. Their billowing white covers earned them the historical nickname "inland ship of commerce."
Mahr says that her wagons can be customized to any specifics the clients need or want but the most popular setup includes a resort king bed, two sets of twin bunks, electrical outlets, and lighting. Heating and cooling, refrigeration, and even a washroom can be added for the clients who want their wagons placed out in remote areas.
The lead-time to build a wagon is six weeks. The wagons are built individually by local craftsmen inside a shop in Garden City, Utah. With proper care and normal weather conditions, the wagon canvas is expected to last a minimum of five years. Replacement canvases can easily be replaced. To keep the canvas intact, Mahr recommends that the canvas be tied down properly in order to prevent loose ends from being whipped by the wind. She also recommends tarping the wagon in the off-season to reduce the amount of wear and tear from UV rays and weather. The wagons can be easily encased with a 24? x 26? tarp and tied together with twine. They are also fully mobile with a peak height of 9' tall while the interior of the wagon is 9' x 19' (171 sq. ft.).
“Our customers are always surprised at how roomy these sleeping units are. The guests though are even more surprised at how much they love the experience,” Mahr explains. “Conestoga Wagon Co. launched its business in 2015 and as of today, we have 14 wagons at the glamping resort in Bear Lake, with several other units now housed in Southern Utah, Wyoming, and Texas.”
Covered wagons may have died out when the railroad was built, but today they are back- with king-size beds and bathrooms for city folk to enjoy a little piece of history.
Candice Reed
A graduate of Kelsey-Jenny College in Communications as well as a certified grant writer, Candice has written for The Los Angeles Times & The New York Times. She loves entertaining and all things French.
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Conestoga Wagon Company, handcrafting custom made luxury accommodation wagons for sale to the glamping resort, dude ranch and campground industry.