In 10 months of living in campgrounds all across the country, I thought I had seen most everything. But today, just a few miles from my home, I discovered the cloistered world of vintage travel trailer clubs. Color me intrigued.

Five years ago, the folks at Indiana Dunes State Park began hosting a “Glamping” (or glamorous camping) weekend at their campground on the shores of Lake Michigan. It had never previously occurred to me to attend, but this year they upped the ante by advertising a vintage camper rally. I think it was the photo of a pristine VW bus that caught my eye (call me a sucker for avocado and orange upholstery). I reserved a site and did my best to up my glamour game. As it turned out, I needn’t have bothered.

One of three VW camper vans on display in the campground's vintage village.

Dunes State Park has a lovely campground, nestled at the base of its namesake sand dunes. It is conveniently located just 50 miles from Chicago, with popular lakeside get-away towns (complete with shopping and restaurants) nearby. This makes it near-impossible to get a site on a summer weekend without reserving months in advance.

Although the Department of Natural Resources had the forethought to block out 20 or so spaces for the vintage rally, the rest of us glampers were mixed in with the general public, few of whom, it turns out, had come with the glamping theme in mind. The red solo cups carried by our partying neighbors were devoid of any ironic nod whatsoever.

No worries. The residents of the “vintage loop,” more than made up for any accessory shortfall. Carefully curated and color-coordinated kitchenware, chachkies and ephemera were on display during the 2 hour Saturday open house, where proud owners showed off their tiny chrome trimmed residences.

The owner of this adorable vintage trailer still seemed a little shocked that she had, in fact, purchased it and would now have to (gulp) drive it.

Most were members of one or another enthusiast club. With names like, “Tin Can Tourists” and “Sisters on the Fly,” these organizations boast members and events nationwide—offering a full social schedule and a support system for solo travelers. This arrangement was mentioned by more than one woman that I spoke with. The relatively low price point, ease of towing, and opportunity for personalization through design seem to make these pint-sized antique estates attractive to adventurous single gals. Not that anyone we talked to thought of themselves in those terms. A great number, in fact, had only recently acquired their rig.

It’s difficult to put a finger on a common theme among the owners, but one factor that did seem to rise to the top was family history. Several, when discussing how they ended up wth a rolling residence as a hobby, mentioned memories of the sweet rig that their parents had owned (or still owned).

My parents owned a series of relatively pedestrian motorhomes, which may explain why I was fascinated, but ultimately not tempted by this niche that would seem to be right up my alley (travel, design and outdoors… hello?). They were awfully nice to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.

Like nearly every owner that I spoke with, Lindy, of the Mitten Kitten Sisters had a story to tell.

Explore: Lindy, of the Mitten Kitten Sisters, (yes, the “mitten” refers to Michigan) offers a difficult to decipher array of glamping goods and services through her website at www.mittenkittenglamping.com. If you’re itching to sample the glamorous camping life with no commitment, she’ll set you up.