Shady Dell RV Park & Campground

Omg this place definitely exceeded my expectations. We stayed in the yacht (Rita) it was so much fun. They have old board games and a record player that actually still works. The fridge was stocked with champagne and complementary cookies. We absolutely loved this place! You can get a ride into town by a local cab company called Too Tall. The front office should have the number. We loved it! Would definitely recommend and stay again. There was a graveyard right next to us that was slightly creepy but we just ignored it and had a blast.

I loved the idea of going here. So quaint and super cool, but these trailers are really old, so they have many unwanted «creatures» (mice) living inside with you. Although we didn’t experience the actual mice, we did happen to see a plethora of their droppings. Seemed a bit too unsanitary so we cut our stay short by a night. The call to the manager was not returned and we had to pay for the second night even though it was the mice that prevented the stay. Cleaning staff was friendly and helpful and the cemetery right beside the campground makes this place an even better choice if you’re looking for a change from the norm. I would maybe suggest you go take a look then stay somewhere else in town.

My best girlfriend surprised me for my birthday with a stay at the Shady Dell while we were in Bisbee for the Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb! I have to say this is the most memorable place I have ever stayed. We had the joy of making the #3 Airstream ours for the weekend and it was adorable! No toilet, but clean toilets/​showers were very close by. The decorations were authentic down to the very last detail including all the kitchen supplies and wall décor. We took advantage of the outdoor lounging spaces and grills (bring your own charcoal or buy some in town at the Mimosa Market) and would highly recommend scheduling in time to relax and take in all that the Dell has to offer during your stay.
We did experience rain during the night while we were there which, if you can imagine, is very loud in a metal container. If there is rain in the forecast for your stay, bring some earplugs. Also, there is coffee provided but no tea, so bring your own if you are a tea lover like we are!
We will definitely be back. We got to peek inside the Tiki Bus (very swanky), and hope to try out some other great trailers! Thanks for a swell weekend, Shady Dell!

My wife and I had a lot of fun in the park. We also did the ghost tour wich added to the spooky fun of sleeping in the old 1950’s trailer. Ours had a shower. small, but worked great. The hot a cold knobs were reversed, but worked just great. The old memorabilia was awesome. Old black and white TV worked and so did the record player. We had a great time. We also stayed on March 12 – 13, which was a friday the 13^th. My wife kept looking out the window all night. looking for ghosts or something. Only complaint is they forgot to fill our cookie jar :(

After staying there now I know how they have a solid 5 stars! I was hesitant to go here but it was a friend’s birthday so I’m in no matter what the plan is. Great 50’s experience from the trailers to the music coming out of the original transistor radios. Justin the owner is a great host and a genuinely nice guy who cares about the place and the customer experience. Will definitely come back, next visit will be the tiki bus or the boat!

The Shady Dell has long been on my bucket list — not that I haven’t stayed there before. I’ve stayed there plenty. I live a mile away from the place and still just make up any excuse to stay there again.
The reason it’s on my bucket list is that I actually want to *die* there. Preferably in the Tiki bus.
It’s well-​established by the reviews and pictures here that it’s one the coolest, most unique places on Earth. That’s only part of the reason I’d happily take my last rattling breath there.
You see, over the years we’ve become close friends with the owner Justin, who although a wonderful human being is shamefully a Philadelphia Eagles fan which is unacceptable in my eyes. I find it an abomination that any decent human being — especially a dog owner — could cheer for a team that ever hired Michael Vick.
I’d love to spend my last night at The Shady Dell with Justin… cooking fat filets on the grill, cold beer in a lawn chair watching old movies on the outdoor drive-​in movie screen in a Hawaiian shirt, laughing and toasting to the good life.
Then I’d wander back to the cozy cocoon of the Tiki bus, gigggling, knowing that in the morning he’ll be coming in to clean the place only to find my bloated, evacutated corpse, pants to the ankles and a Michael Vick jersey used as the noose in my auto-​erotic asphyxiation.
There’s nothing more fun than seeing the look on a pal’s face when you get em with a good zinger like that.

It was a great time. Loved everything… only thought I had is an ice machine. And a microwave somewhere sense you can’t cook in the trailers. …

My wife and I stayed for our 8 year wedding anniversary. It was worth every penny! We stayed on the Rita D– a 1947 Chris Craft yacht. The attention to detail is truly phenomenal! We listened to old records, played board games and just genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. It was an incredible change of pace. The triangle shaped bed was unbelievably comfortable and we slept soundly through the night ! We will definitely be back. A couple of things you need to prepare yourself for… People in yesteryears were a lot smaller than me. I am 6’4 so standing straight up in the cabin of the yacht was not an option… most of the trailers do not have showers but have a toilet and sink, the bathroom is tiny! How tiny? I had to lunge into it to be able to use it! Lastly– the Shady Dell is right next to an old cemetery. The log books on board the Rita D are filled with ghostly encounters. If you research you will find many paranormal experiences of former guests of the Shady Dell. To counteract the bad spirits, we went to the cemetery to visit the the departed after checking in. It worked out perfectly we had no incidents and a peaceful night! In summation, do not take any of the aforementioned as a negative review– I absolutely love this place and strongly recommend the Shady Dell! It is truly a unique and magical experience! Do yourself a favor, book NOW! Ahoy!

The Shady Dell is amazing! You really feel like you are stepping back into the 1950s with these beautifully preserved trailers. The owners are incredibly nice, they will play drive-​in movies, start a bonfire, recommend a great restaurant, or take you on a ghost hunting trip. Our favorite vacation spot!

My bf and I decided to stay at the Shady Dell this Fourth of July as an alternative to sweating it out in Phoenix. He had never been to Bisbee and I had read about the Shady Dell (and had never managed to get a reservation as they were booked whenever I tried) so when I found out that there were openings for the Fourth of July, I jumped on it. My past experiences with «theme» hotels has been that usually they are dirty and corny. I am happy to say that the Shady Dell was neither. All I told the bf was that we were staying at a trailer park for the holiday so he was very pleasantly surprised. We stayed in the Royal Mansion and it was quite larger than I expected. The owners had considerately turned on the air conditioning and the period radio was playing 50s music when we walked in. I had a lot of fun too poking around all the drawers looking at all the artifacts that they had in the trailer to make it feel like you were back in time. And man, did they do quality work in the 50s! The walls were curved wood and metal and not plastic like you see today. The only drawback that I would say is that they could have had better pillows on the bed but the bf reminded me that they didn’t have great pillows like we do now in the 50s so maybe that was a calculated decision by the owners. Also, I would recommend bringing your own coffee maker as if you don’t know how to use a percolator, it can be confusing. Plus, you can make coffee to your own specifications that way. I would also suggest bringing (or buying) stuff to grill with as they have 3 grills at the park, and we all hung out and chatted in that area. It was a great way to interact with the other guests. When it came time for fireworks, we simply walked across the street to the school parking lot and watched there, wine glasses in hand. You sure can’t do that at the normal park!
For sure I would recommend this place as a fun way to take a minivacation and a trip back in time. Oh, and the owners are great… total rockabilly vibe. Thanks for the great time Jen and we hope to see you again soon! Lisa

OUTSTANDING! Stayed here by myself while traveling through AZ, Bizbee has always been one of my favorite places, but staying in the Shady Dell kicked it up several notches on my list. Wonderfully done, not over the top, the trailers are lovingly cared for, its a very romantic spot, especaially for vintage buffs and rockabilly types, like myself. So charming, and the little café in the morning for breakfast was terrific, complete with local colorful regulars stopping by. I especially liked the guest book, I took up a whole page in mine, leaving a drawing and some love for Shady Dell.
I’ll be back! LOVE this place! XOXO

The hubby and I drove to AZ for a trip to visit family and friends. While we were out there it was also our 2^nd wedding anniversary. We have been obsessing over the idea of staying at The Shady Dell now for years and thought it would only be fitting to celebrate 2 amazing years there. We booked the 1957 El Rey, a cozy, perfect trailer for two!
After a three hour drive, a week filled with lots of to do’s, we finally arrived at The Shady Dell. We have never been so excited to be stripped of our wifi, televisions, and all other consuming technologies. We were so pleasantly surprised by how well the grounds were taken care of and all the amazing little touches within our trailer. We love vintage everything and completely fell in love! Our little El Rey came equipped with a radio only playing tunes from the 50’s (including commercials from that era as well). We quickly stocked the fridge with beer, pulled out a deck of cards and got our night started.
Aside from the overall wonderful aesthetics and charm of the entire grounds the owner Jennifer blew us away with her customer service. She takes such pride in The Shady Dell and you can tell that your stay is just as important to her as it is to you. After a week of crazy traveling (driving from Oakland to Phoenix to Bisbee and back) we stayed in so many places and it was inevitable that we would leave something behind. I left behind not one, not two, but three pairs of my favorite shoes in the El Ray! I was so incredibly bummed and stressed that they may be gone forever. I called Jennifer and she had already recovered them for me, made some great comments on how cute my shoes were (what girl doesn’t want a shoe compliment!?) and was ready to ship to wherever they needed to go! That is true customer service.
I received my shoes yesterday in perfect condition. We will absolutely be making a trip back to stay in yet another adorable trailer — we may have just made an anniversary tradition! Do yourself a favor and book a night or two at The Shady Dell!
Thank you, Jennifer for your hospitality!

Vintage done right! How could anyone resist the charm of a vintage trailer just outside lovely bisbee az?
The park is adorable and you’d believe you somehow time traveled to the 50’s. The owners are wonderful, the park is well maintained, and the experience cannot be beat. You won’t be sorry that you spent your vacation at the Dell!

Stayed hear for a girls mini trip getaway and it was such a fun, memorable and unique experience. Everything is themed down to the dishes ! I’ve never been so excited to stay in a trailer park.
The Shady Dell is an experience you’ll never forget. We can’t wait to plan our next trip to Bisbee as we’ll be booked at The Shady Dell.

If you’re sorry that you missed your chance to stay at a 50s/​60s RV resort during 50s and 60s, then this is your place. Great staff. Clean. Cute. and not too expensive. I have no complaints about the park itself whatsoever.
On pleasant evenings (most nights in Bisbee), you can sit in the gazeebo and visit with other travelers, Or just sit out front of your trailer and watch the evening go by. The swamp cooler kept the bus comfortable. And I actually played a couple of the provided LPs on the vintage phonograph.
However… If you’re 6’1″ and looking for «hotel like» accomodations, then you might want to steer clear of the «Tiki Bus». The palm fronds (or whatever they are) hanging by the entrance door drove me to distraction. I kept brushing my head on them. The bed is shorter than I am, so I had to sleep crossways to really streach out. I cracked my head the first three times I used the on-​board facilities as well.

Five stars means 8 billion stars in this case, because Shady Dell is dreamy. The retro interiors are legitimate knock-​outs (we rented two side-​by-​side trailers and spent the first ten minutes gleefully running back and forth to investigate all the vintage records and swell little breakfast nooks), and the owners have pulled off a sort of miracle in that the obviously lived-​in trappings still feel clean and non-​skeezy. Communal bathrooms/​shower facilities are in effect but no big deal (not more than fifty paces from any one trailer), and trailers have a little outdoor setup that makes it easy to sit happily under big, starry desert skies for hours. Plus, hearing coyotes in the distance is neat-​o.
As a bonus, Bisbee is a really cool little town to poke around in (real-​world Old West history feels pretty close there, despite the ever-​present handfuls of pasty tourists), the local coffee shop isn’t terrible, and the Bisbee Breakfast Club gets its own 8 billion stars. DO IT.

I’ve never been one to be into retro things. Ever. In fact, I believe technology’s advancements are a good thing that people should embrace and utilize for the betterment of society.
Like genetically modified foods for example. I love that my chicken wings now rival eagles in the size department, and that I can buy a loaf of bread and have it last in my cupboard for months. The fact that I can stream «The Facts of Life» from my BlackBerry as I take my hover board down the street to work makes me proud to be a human…
But about a year ago I found myself on a vacation put together by my wife and a friend of ours. Our friend, the good guy that he is, wanted to show us all the interesting tidbits of his adopted home of southern Arizona. He made Bisbee a must see place and sent us on our way from Tucson for a night at a place that he wanted to keep a surprise.
Upon arriving at the address and realizing that we’ve been sent to a trailer park, our confusion pretty quickly turned into delight! The lovely woman working the check-​in area was about as retro-​looking (in a purely classy sense, for she was younger than me, and at least 30x cooler as well) as the rows of RVs parked throughout the lot. Rock-​a-​billy was playing over some distorted speakers, and the feel of the place transported us back to a different, unfamiliar time.
And our friend hooked us up with a beautiful camper suite. I can only imagine how ultimately luxurious this must have been back in ’51 when this thing was first unleashed to the general public. It had everything one needed (including an air conditioner) built in. Best part for us was that they kept almost everything original in there! The only thing that had been updated was the original TV had been wired to play DVDs (with the player being hidden in one of the clever cubby holes– and the DVDs on offer were old 50’s horror movies and I Love Lucy episodes).
The setting was beautiful as well. We took advantage of the retro patio furniture placed outside the camper to gaze up at the gorgeous sky and the hundreds of stars, and played with some local cats who were as friendly as can be. We enjoyed that classic «Plan 9 From Outer Space» (or as much as one can enjoy a truly terrible Ed Wood movie). We got to see the charming and artsy Bisbee, and for a time, we lived as privileged travelers would have almost 60 years ago.
If you ever find yourself within a couple hundred miles of Bisbee and are making a road trip– you owe it to yourself to spend at least one night in this amazing lot. The people are super friendly and it is a wonderful experience.
Even after a little more than year being away, I miss it and remember it clearly!

Loved, loved, loved it!
We stayed in the yacht for one night and it was PERFECT!!! Every last detail was perfect, down to the classic music playing when we walked in. We loved the yacht so much that we order take out food from town and went back and ate on the boat!
The people that run Shady Dell are lovely and so friendly. We got a long history on the RV Park and the area from the manager, which was really interesting.
I would go back to Bisbee just to stay here again in the future.

The Shady Dell was one of the main reasons my boyfriend and I wanted to do a southwest road trip from Los Angeles, CA. We decided to go all out and stay at the Chris Craft/​Rita D yacht! I added some photos, but didn’t upload them all to keep you curious and visit the Shady Dell some time soon!
Our expectations were high and the Shady Dell definitely exceeded them! The décor in the yacht matched the theme and of the era. The staff (we met Jennifer) was friendly and made the process of checking in and out very easy.
We weren’t familiar with the area of Old Bisbee, but were surprised there was a lot of character to it. We had an amazing time wandering, taking photos, admiring art, and wishing to never leave!
We will definitely be back to stay at the other trailers!

My mom was born in 1951.
I never really thought about it. I mean — she is my mom, she is older, she was born in a time I don’t know much about and it’s just fine like that.
Besides — I love my modern comfort too much, and coming back to a time without the internet, good A/​C and frozen entrees would be too much for me.
That was until I got to stay in the Mansion.
A 33 feet long Spartan Classic RV originally from — you guessed it — ’51.
You step in and you are in another world. Every single detail is taken care of — from the 45 disks to the hairnets in the bathroom. Even the radio plays oldies music AND commercials, and the black and white TV looks so alien that it was hard for me to believe that I used to have something quite similar at home in my tender age…
Red kitchen.
Kitschy décor with lots of items to marvel upon (my favorite being the cat lamp which glows a green light… see the pic for yourself)
August 1951 issue of the National Geographic.
How neat is that???
And classic movies… we watched «Plan 9 From Outter Space» (extraterrestrial beings raise the dead to overcome humans — doesn’t it sound just fascinating?) and couldn’t stop laughing.
Even though we were facing a graveyard.
But I was not worried about zombies. I just stared at the million of stars above my head, savoring a glass of wine and listening to Frank Sinatra.
Precious moments.
And precious people. Jennifer who welcomed us on our arrival, and Ken who showed us around the next day were just as nice and friendly as their campground in this lovely little town.
Tip:
It’s a little tricky to find. If you are on the 80 coming from Old Bisbee, take a left just before the roundabout and the gas station. You totally miss the sign!