Living La Vida Vintage

Anna and Justin Scribner have long been enamored with all things vintage – clothes, swing dancing, cars and records. In the late 1990s, they spent four years refurbishing a 1958 Shasta Airflyte trailer and discovered their passion for retro RV restoration. In post-recession 2010, Justin, a contractor, was looking for work. That’s when the couple decided to turn their hobby into a business.

Today, Flyte Camp of Bend is flourishing as a premier restorer of vintage travel trailers, with a dozen employees and a new 8,400-square-foot facility in Bend. Their endeavor has even made it to reality television. “Flippin’ RVs” follows the couple as they seek out obscure RVs and trailers from the ’30s through the ’60s. The family-friendly, one-hour episodes on the Great American Country network takes viewers through the restoration process, culminating with the Scribners revealing the final result to the client.

Central Oregon has been the perfect birthplace for the endeavor. “There is definitely an entrepreneurial culture here that breeds opportunity and creativity,” Anna said. “We are inspired by the many people around us doing and building amazing things.” The setting is perfect for Flyte Camp, which draws most of its clients from out of state. “We find that they are thrilled about where we are located and eager to visit,” said Anna. “When they pick up their restored coach, the lakes and rivers make for a fantastic first vintage travel-trailering experience.” Another advantage of the location is the region’s dry climate, which allows the Scribners to source vintage trailers in great condition. Central Oregon’s reputation as a premier recreational area and a great place to raise a family helps, too. “You’d be hard-pressed to find a better community,” said Anna. “This gives us a great pool of talented crafts people to draw from, which is particularly important when you are aiming to be the best at what you do.” In September, they are unveiling a line of hand-constructed trailers seamlessly integrating modern technology and amenities with vintage quality materials and craftsmanship – from ’40s streamlined and Mid-Century atomic to ’60s mod. “We want our clients to really feel like they have stepped back in time.”

Source: Cascade Sotheby’s Realty