Airstream Factory Tour

We had a nice stay at Natural Springs Resort in New Paris, OH last night, enjoying the sounds of birds chirping in the quiet campground. Very few campers were around, but the woman in the office told me that they would be completely filled up this weekend. Memorial Day Weekend is the first official camping weekend of the season in the Northeast. We are a little nervous that we have no reservations, but we think we can get through the weekend by a little creative thinking! Stay tuned :)

This morning we packed up and headed 83 miles North and a little East to the Airstream Factory in Jackson Center, OH. On the way we picked up the Ohio Starbucks mug. One more to go before we get the ones that daughter Kristen doesn't have, from the areas on our route to NJ.

The campground here at the factory only charges $10 a night for full hookups--you can't beat that! We arrived in time for the 2:00 tour, along with about 20 other people. While waiting we met a woman and her husband who have been living fulltime in a 25' long Airstream trailer for the past eight years. It goes to show that you don't need a huge motorhome to live on the road. The view looks the same from their windows as it does from ours.

We were only allowed to take two photos of the inside of the factory. Here is what you can see when entering the facility...

...and here is an Airstream trailer that is bound for England.

The company makes a special, narrow bodied version for England. Shipping across the pond adds about $10,000 to the price of each Airstream, which range in price in the US from $50,000 to over $100,000 new.

Airstream is currently turning out 52 units a week, although at the completion of a new addition to the factory will allow another 25 a week to be finished. Each Airstream is already sold, and there are currently 1300 on order. They are not hurting for business!

Outside the plant are some new trailers ready for delivery.

And you can also peek in the windows of some vintage Airstreams parked in front of the plant. These are from the 1930's.

We really enjoyed our tour today. Seeing these trailers makes me wish we could own more than one RV.