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Williamstown teen creates a ‘glamper’

Photos Provided Ellie Yeater of Williamstown inside her newly remodeled “glamper.”

WILLIAMSTOWN — Some kids spend their summers at the pool, hanging with friends and enjoying their downtime.

Fourteen-year-old Ellie Yeater of Williamstown used her summer break to renovate a 1974 Wilderness camper into her very own “glamper.”  Glamping is making camping a bit less rustic and a lot more glamorous, and Ellie’s camper transformation does not disappoint.

Ellie’s mother Lori calls her “an out-of-the-box kinda kid” who had saved up around $500 from birthdays and chores to buy and refurbish the camper.

She found the camper in the Bulletin Board (a local buy-sell-trade publication) and bought it for $200, using the rest of her funds to purchase paint, flooring, fabric, and decor for her renovations. Her dad Larry helped by buying the wood and rubber roll for the roof.

It was in pretty rough shape, previously used as a campsite and hunting camper. “It needed work,” Lori said, “…lots of work.”

Photo Provided The inside of the “glamper” before it was remodeled.

The Yeater family lives on 60 acres, where older brother Isaiah has already built a small cabin for him and his buddies to hang out. Ellie wanted something like that “but cuter” and much closer to the house because she wanted electric and Wi-Fi.

Ellie learned a few carpentry skills from her grandfather Lawrence as they braced everything and plugged holes.

Ellie’s dad and grandfather moved the camper from the driveway to its campsite, where she painted the exterior in “Mystic Sea” using an Anti-Rust Armor from Valspar.

A peachy, aqua blue color scheme was selected for the interior.

Ellie’s grandma Mary and mother re-covered the upholstery for the seat cushions and made curtains while Ellie installed new floor tiles.

Photo Provided The inside of the remodeled “glamper.”

Ellie collected things she liked for her glamper all summer. She also found lots of inspiration on Pinterest for her decor. Lori got the cool mannequin at Coldwater Creek when they sold out their warehouse in Parkersburg a few years ago.

A lot of special touches can be seen in Ellie’s decorating, like a vintage camera on the mannequin, retro electric fan, and coordinating placemats/napkins made by her grandmother.

Ellie was hoping for air-conditioning but Lori said, “I had to break it to her that there wasn’t enough power for one. She is going to rough it with the fan.”

She may get a window AC unit later, but since she’s almost out of cash, that might be something she gets next summer, Lori said.

As school starts up again, Ellie is pleased that her vision for the glamper has come to fruition. The colorful, relaxing space is now filled with positive affirmations and a lot of personality.

Photo Provided Ellie Yeater at the door of her remodeled “glamper,” with its new Mystic Sea exterior.

Though she and her family spent many hot nights working on the glamper, Ellie said, “I couldn’t have gotten this far on this project without my family helping me bring my vision to life.”

“My biggest lesson,” Ellie shared, “has been learning that teamwork is how you really get something done.” She liked getting all of her family involved in her project. From carpentry, sewing, painting and moving the camper, it was a Yeater family effort.

Now that the glamper is finished, Ellie plans to have a sleepover with a couple of friends, or just have quiet time to read and play her ukulele.

When asked why her daughter would take on a challenge like this, Ellie’s mom said, “I have never told her that she couldn’t do anything. She has always been an out-of-the-box thinker. I don’t want her to ever feel she has to color inside the lines. I want her to color the entire page!” Lori explained. “That’s why she thinks she can remodel a camper into a glamper, why she thinks she can do theater, and why she can compete in pageants. I’ve never told her she couldn’t.”

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