The 14-year-old resident of Williamstown, West Virginia, embarked on an impressive summer endeavor, completely transforming a 1974 Wilderness camper into a dazzling creation she affectionately calls a “Glamper.” The clever term “glamper” is a fusion of “camping” and “glamorous,” and Ellie firmly believes that her updated Wilderness glamper will elevate the camping experience, making it more enjoyable and less cumbersome.
You won’t believe the remarkable transformation of the Wilderness camper until you see it for yourself:
This industrious high school student managed to save around $500, thanks to her dedication to housework, birthday money, and various activities. These funds allowed her to purchase the camper and embark on the ambitious renovation project.
Here’s a glimpse of the camper in its original, unaltered condition:
Ellie spotted the camper listed for sale at a mere $200 on a community bulletin board. With the surplus from the purchase, she invested in paint, flooring, textiles, and other accessories to transform her glamper.
The camper had seen better days, having been previously used for both camping and hunting, which left it in quite a state of disrepair. It required a substantial amount of labor, as noted by Ellie’s mom.
The initial spark for this camper project came from Ellie’s older brother, Isaiah, who had built a small cabin for himself and his friends to hang out in. Ellie envisioned something similar for her friends, but she wanted it to be “cuter” and closer to the house to access electricity and Wi-Fi.
Before any renovations could commence, the camper underwent a thorough strip-down and cleaning. Ellie then chose Valspar’s “Mystic Sea” hue for the camper’s exterior paint.
In the image above, Ellie meticulously cleans up any residual glue left on the floor after disassembling the camper. There’s also a photo of her grandfather, Lawrence, imparting essential carpentry skills, such as bracing and patching holes.
For the next phase, Ellie carefully selected a soothing aqua blue color scheme. Her painstaking painting efforts transformed the drab wood interior into a vibrant, colorful space.
As shown in the picture below, the interior of the camper began to take shape:
