John Serro from Pennsylvania began the legacy of the classic Serro Scotty campers as he designed and built them starting in the mid 1950's.  Before he began building these campers he owned a gas station in 1932 along the Lincoln Highway at the bottom of a hill. The station was torn down in 1938 during road construction. The Klanchar brothers who already owned three different stations on a stretch of the Lincoln Highway immediately built another one.

The Serro family also had a diner along the Lincoln Highway during the 60's. John Serro worked as a car salesman and in 1956 as a retired car salesman, he built his first trailer, a 16 1/2 footer that was no success. So, he tried a 10' teardrop with the same results. Then in 1957 he built a 13' dubbed the Serro Scotty Sportsman; this compact and cheap ($595) camper was a big hit at the Midwest Trailer Show in Elkhart, Indiana

The  company produced all of the Serro Scotty campers at the Irwin, PA plant until 1965.  The Serro Scotty camper popularity continued to grow and at their highest point there were three manufacturing plants producing the Serro Scotty Sportsman camper as two new plants were opened in the late sixties.

The popularity became so great that in 1962 John Serro opened Scottyland, USA.  This was situated in Somerset County, Pennsylvania on a 330 acre farm and was exclusively for the Serro Scotty campers.  By 1964 a National Serro Scotty Rally was held with 1532 campers and 382 trailers and continued for many years.

By the 1980's the popularity of these small and compact trailer began to fade somewhat, so the Georgia and Oklahoma plants closed.  The Pennsylvania plant even closed for a short five months.  The company shifted to the larger trailers and motor homes like the one pictured at the below as the demand for the smaller campers without all the amenities were in a decline. 

The company was able to compete in the marketplace due to John Serro's ability to make these changes.  For his achievements he was named to the class of 1987 in the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana. 

They wrote:

"A pioneer travel trailer manufacturer, he developed his company building small  10-13 footer garagable units, he served on the RVIA Board and the Pennsylvania RVCA board. He was the first manufacturer to develop a campground exclusively for owners of his brand of trailers".   Compliments:  RV/MH Hall of Fame

Unfortunately though, a plant fire in 1997 ended the Serro Scotty camping trailers as we know them.  The company rebuilt and  decided to continue making trailers but they would be fire safety and not camping trailers.

By the time the plant stopped making the Serro Scotty trailers the original style and colors of the Serro Scotty Sportsman had given way to the larger trailers that had some newer colors.(brown and an orange color stripes) The smaller newer trailers had a hint of the original style as they were made in the smaller sizes, but also newer colors.

Although these small and compact versatile trailers that were once one of the most popular travel trailers on the market after WWII that appealed to hunters, fisherman and other outdoor enthusiasts they were not lost in the hearts of many who sought them out as a classic camper;  known as "canned hams".


Yes, we saw the re-birth of the Serro Scotty this year, although they are now being made by a different company under the Serro Scotty name.  An Amish company name Yoder Toter made several units this year.  I understand the 2008 Scottys will be built in Indiana for more capacity. The mfg of the Scotty's did switch from Sugar Creek OH to Elkhart IN for the 08 & 09 models. The new factory is doing an outstanding job  as they will be able to produce more units per day. Please visit the New Serro Scotty page for all the details and information.

CONTRIBUTIONS:  Penn-Musuem and RV/MH Hall of Fame

[  top of page  ]