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Old Mac Daddy : "Mills and Boon" by Kirsten Townsend and Jeannie Sherwood will no doubt create the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. -
Old Mac Daddy : "For Better or Boerewors" concepts by Julie Kenney incorporates nostalgic elements of farm life. -
Old Mac Daddy : "For Better or Boerewors" concept by Julie Kenney incorporates nostalgic elements of farm life. -
Old Mac Daddy : "For Better or Boerewors" concepts by Julie Kenney incorporates nostalgic elements of farm life. -
Old Mac Daddy : "Give the Bees a Chance" by Tamara Joubert is a cheerful tribute to the important role bees play in the food that ends up on our tables.
PHOTOS: Courtesy of Old Mac Daddy | WORDS: Michelle Coburn
Capetonians who embark on the Great Trek over the Hottentots Holland mountains every long weekend now has a new place to discover – the Old Mac Daddy trailer park.
A few years ago, the caravan holidays of yesteryear were removed from the family-holiday photo album and given a chic new image on the roof of Cape Town’s Daddy Long Legs Hotel.
The innovative Penthouse Airstream Trailer Park, with its sleek trailers individually decorated by artists, was such a hit that the apple soon dropped and the idea for a rural Airstream park was born.
The Daddy Long Legs Group’s Jody Aufrichtig gage VISI a glimpse into the work that happened behind the scenes to bring the Old Mac Daddy country retreat in Elgin to life.
Location
The hunt for a suitable piece of land to lease led the team to the Vuki Farm Trust – an agricultural empowerment trust – in Elgin. The chosen spot, an existing campsite that needed an update, featured pine-clad slopes, deep farm dams and plenty of fresh air.
The look
An invitation for designers and creatives to submit concepts for the interiors resulted in over 50 submissions. Following a public vote, 10 artists were selected. One of the VISI team’s favourites is “For Better or for Boerewors” by Julie Kenney, which draws on the nostalgic elements of Karoo farm life.
The winners spent March 2010 creating their bedroom suites, overseen by artist Tracy Lynch, at the Old Mac Workshop in Gardens.
Accommodation
Guests can book one of 10 trailer suites, each with a main bedroom, bathroom and their own lounge and lawn spaces; one of two smaller en-suite lake-side units; or a three-bedroom family farm house called Daddy’s Villa. Wireless broadband and conference facilities are available.
Camp with a difference
Old Mac Daddy has a communal area, including a swimming pool, where guests can enjoy healthy meals prepared using locally sourced, organic and free-range ingredients. Children have a dedicated indoor-outdoor play area offering daily activities.
Eco features
Solar water collectors are boosted by two geysers to ensure constant access to hot water. Forestry Stewardship Council timber was used extensively and all new plants in the landscaping were indigenous. A recycling and composting system was established in the accommodation and central living barn. Herb and vegetable gardens were also be planted at the camp.
Sense of community
The project employed builders and crafters from the Elgin Valley, and the campsite’s staff is drawn from the community. The owners aim to obtain Fair Trade accreditation for Old Mac Daddy, a one-year process they have already achieved with the Daddy Long Legs Hotel.
• Old Mac Daddy: reservations@oldmacdaddy.co.za, www.oldmacdaddy.co.za
