San Diego’s Hipster Trailer Park

The first Mobile Love Den (Photographs courtesy of Helene Cornell)

By Heather Hansman

The evolution of the Western trailer is nearly complete. Far from its early days as a humble camping device, it has since been polished into glam teardrop campers and urban quasi-hotels, like the Mobile Love Den, a refurbished trailer in one of San Diego’s coolest neighborhoods.

Balboa Park-based photographer Helene Cornell started collecting trailers five years ago, scouring eBay and Craigslist for cheap ones that she could clean up and remodel. She styled out a 12-foot 1958 Dalton “Canned Ham” Trailer, dubbed it the Mobile Love Den, set it up in her backyard, and began renting it out on Airbnb.

Now, she has three set up across the city: A zen-ed out Airstream, which she calls the Bonsai Beach Bubble; a Parisian-themed one dubbed the Love Zen that she keeps in a friend’s driveway; and the original Love Den.

“I’m starting my own hipster trailer park,” she says.

The original Mobile Love Den (from $60/night)

The Parisian-inspired Mobile Love Zen (from $50/night) 

The Bonsai Beach Bubble (from $49/night)