By 2014, we had a new obsession: Carowinds, the amusement park near us. We bought season tickets and started spending our weekends there, enjoying the rides, the food, and the overall excitement of being in the park. But one thing was clear: we dreaded when the day would end. The fun always seemed to stop just when we were getting into the swing of things.
That’s when we discovered a little insider tip—if you went late in the day, you could get into the park the next day for free. We were all about saving money, but now we needed to figure out how to stretch our time and resources even further.
Our solution? A Sprinter van. The idea was simple: it could haul the whole family, we could stay in it overnight, and, best of all, we could cook our meals in the van instead of paying for overpriced park food. The savings on meals alone would make the van pay for itself in no time. Plus, it would be perfect for other camping trips. We were on the hunt for our next camper—and this time, we knew exactly what we needed.
The Search: A Class C Motorhome
One trip up the mountain, we were surfing the web and stumbled upon an ad for a 1995 Ford Class C Four Winds for only $9,500. The price seemed too good to be true, but after meeting the owner, inspecting the unit, and negotiating a final price, we knew we had found our next adventure on wheels.
It was the perfect fit: enough space for the family, the ability to camp and explore, and the convenience of a self-contained home on the road. So, in the fall of 2014, we made our purchase and officially became proud owners of our first Class C motorhome.
First Stop: KOA Bristol
Eager to test out our new purchase, we joined KOA and set our sights on KOA Bristol for our first trip. It was the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with weekend getaways, spontaneous road trips, and the kind of freedom we had always dreamed of. With the motorhome, we could explore more places, stay longer, and take our family adventures to new heights.