Auto Camps
The adventurous, middle-class car travelers were a far cry from the genteel hotel patron. Prepared to fix a flat or brave the elements after a break-down they valued economy and adventure. Often on a tight budget, but eager to see other parts of the country, they struck out on their own over rutted roads made for horses and wagon wheels. A 1904 survey reported that 93 percent of the 2,151,570 miles of road in the U.S.
were unpaved. Often there were few, if any accommodations and travelers simply pulled off the road and camped, often on private property. As more travelers took to the road there were lapses in car camping etiquette which led many landowners to post No Trespassing signs.
In the early 20s municipalities began
building camps on the outskirts of town
to accommodate and attract “tin-can
tourists” as they came to be called
(partly because they drove “tin lizzies”
and partly because many left empty tin
cans in their abandoned camp sites).
Landowners were glad to have them off
their property, and town businessmen looked forward to new customers. Most camps were free and little more than a place to park at first, but civic pride led towns to make improvements such as drinking water, laundry facilities, and covered shelters. Some even installed flush toilets (which sometimes confused dust-bowl migrants who were unfamiliar with them).
The auto camps became a victim of their own popularity as more and more travelers crowded into them, some just passing through, and others staying for months. Unemployed transients tarnished the reputation of some camps and there were conflicts with the regular travelers. Many municipal camps were closed as they became more trouble than they were worth. Others began charging for their services. Once the camps were no longer free commercial camps appeared, some with cabins and other amenities. Soon auto travelers were living less like campers, and more like house guests.
Rustic Cabins
Privately owned cabins were being built as early as 1901. The first on record, “Askins Cottage Camp” in Douglas, Arizona, was first
Auto camp
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http://www.great-oregon-vacations.com/images/rustic-cabin.jpg
constructed to house workers from the nearby copper-smelting plant. As auto travelers began to show up the name was changed to “Askins Tourist Court” then “Askins Auto Court.” A free two- bedroom shelter was opened in 1914 in Delavan, Kansas, and boasted beds, cooking utensils, dishes and cutlery.
After World War I even more people were travelling, looking for work or migrating to other parts of the country. Along major routes, such as the famous Route 66 from