grasshaven: Get your kicks...and visit Amarillo's RV Museum

RV Museum is a MUST stop for RV and Non-RV enthusiasts alike

Recently the Grasshaven team made a visit to the great city of Amarillo. Notably featured in iconic songs like (Get your Kicks) Route 66 and Amarillo by Morning, this thriving Texas town has long and deep roots in Americana. Amarillo is also known as a major stop along historic Route 66.

Gornike 1948 Flexible Bus from Robin Williams movie RV

The convergence of Americana and open-road travel necessitates a visit. And, any visit to Amarillo should absolutely include the RV Museum located at Jack Sisemore’sTraveland. During our visit, the gregarious Jack Sisemore greeted us, himself. A true west Texan through and through, Jack is an expert on all things RV (and much more). He also has a long history racing motorcycles and his experience with vintage and antique bikes can best even the most knowledgeable two-wheeled aficionados.

We were here to see the RV’s. Jack’s dealership offers the most current and state of the art traveling homes for sale. Featuring brands like Winnebago, Grand Designs and other quality manufactures, his team epitomizes good ole Texas hospitality. But, if RV history is your thing, than Jack Sisemore’s RV Museum is a must see. The second most popular tourist attraction in Amarillo features nearly 10,000 square feet of curated and restored vintage and antique RV travel trailers and motorhomes that have been collected, curated and displayed over the past 25 years.

A bright red 1948 Flexible Bus featured in the Robin William’s movie RV prominently greets visitors upon entry. However, iconic transportable homes don’t stop there (actually there are 15 RVs on display and even more waiting for the completion of their expanded home). Round the corner and an early 1921 Kamp Kar emerges. Jack notes, “We think slide-outs are a recent innovation, but this old girl invented the idea”. This early RV was only one of five made by Anheuser-Busch.

1921 Kamp Kar Antique RV

The museum also features the first Itasca Motorhome ever made, making the museum a MUST stop for all Winnebago-Itasca Travelers (WIT) members; although, even an RV’ing novice can still appreciate these blasts from the past. Jack and his son Trent have painstakingly sought after and in many cases restored these classic beauties. Pair that with other nostalgic camping equipment and paraphernalia peppered throughout the museum and this is one memorable experience.

Jack’s museum is not just about RV’s and travel trailers. If two wheel vehicles are more your speed, the RV museum is sure to please. Ten beautiful examples of classic and antique motorcycles line the walls. One notable beauty is the 1977 Harley Davidson serial number 30. This awe-inspiring bike was owned by Dr. Martin Jack Rosenblum, the historian for Harley Davidson, and features an autograph by Willie G. Davidson, the designer of that series.

Vintage RVs Displayed with Camping Nostalgia

With visits growing exponentially year over year from around the world and an ever-growing collection, Jack and Trent are currently expanding this traveling tribute. “We have many more RV’s and motorcycles just waiting to make their debut once the expanded museum is ready”, Jack notes. “We want to capture nostalgia; a simpler time; when families hit the open road in search of adventure and time together.”

One visit to both Jack Sisemore’s Traveland and RV Museum and you’ll experience first hand the progression of RV’s from their inception till today. Better yet, the museum as absolutely free. So on your next visit to Amarillo, pop in,
meet Jack, and go back in time to relive some outdoors memories of old. And don’t forget to tell them Grasshaven sent ya (or y’all, as they say in West Texas).