FORT COLLINS (AP) – Camping at Horsetooth Reservoir has reached a new comfort level.
A tricked-out Airstream Classic camper that boasts many of the amenities of home – including a flat-screen TV, DVD player and air conditioning – is available for campers this summer in the Southbay Campground operated by the Larimer County Natural Resources Department.
The shiny, 31-foot camper is equipped to sleep three adults or two adults and two children with linens provided. It has a fully outfitted kitchen along with a toilet and shower.
Camping in an Airstream is like staying in a hotel room, said Gary Buffington, director of the natural resources department. The rig is meant to round out the park’s portfolio of camping options, which include tents, recreational vehicles and cabins.
“We think it will be a popular addition to our camping program,” he said.
The county paid $37,000 for the camper and $2,000 to have it delivered from Georgia. Another $6,000 was put toward refurbishing it.
Renting the camper costs $99 a night and carries a two-night minimum. Buffington said the county is likely to get its investment back in two to three years.
The Airstream is likely to make appearances at community events such as the county fair and the Colorado State University homecoming parade. It may be moved around to other county parks that can provide full electrical, water and sewer hookups, Buffington said.
Airstream camping is a growing trend across the country, said Dan Rieves, visitor services manager for the natural resources department. Some campers like to mix a bit of luxury into their outdoors experiences along with nostalgia for the vintage, aluminum-shelled camper.
“We’re actually a little behind the times,” he said.
