Fancy staying in a Tennessee School Bus... in Kent?
There’s a school bus from Tennessee in a field in Kent and it might just be one of the coolest places to stay in 2021, writes Marijke Hall
It’s one of the most recognisable vehicles in the world of movies and TV….. But now, in a field, in a sleepy hamlet near Ash, quirky experience hunters can travel back to 1978 and stay in a full-length Tennessee School Bus.
It’s big - 40ft long in fact - and, quite frankly, rather beautiful in an industrial sort of way.
This vintage, bright yellow vehicle plucked straight from southern America and placed in the lush Kent countryside should probably look a little at odds with its new surroundings. But instead it’s quite a feature and in turn has become a much-desired place to stay.
So much so, that it is listed among Host Unusual's 25 of the Best Worldwide Bucket List Stays for 2021.
Owner Aly Cracknell admits buying a 1970s American bus wasn’t top of his agenda back in 2019, but that the vehicle somehow stole his heart.
“It was one of those things, I was down an internet rabbit hole and I just happened to see this bus,” he said.
“The creative juices got flowing and next thing it was being shipped over on the top of a container ship from Tennessee.”
After a brief foray stuck on Brenley Corner after the gear box went (blocking the whole roundabout and needing police to attend - something he describes as “an exciting start to it all”) the transformation process began.
Aly says he “met some guys, stripped her back, had their hearts stolen and rebuilt her as a totally off-grid vehicle of epic proportions”.
“The mind wandered, the imagination got fired up and out from the workshop came 40ft of steel Americana, in bright yellow,” he explains on his Stay Wild webpage.
The large space offers comfy sofas, a double bed, a dining area, a Steampunk wood-burner, an industrial-style shower with exposed copper fittings, and dark wood and features.
American details, such as an Amish star, have also been added in a nod to its heritage. There’s a fire pit outside, too, for those evenings under the stars.
“It’s very much tailored towards people who have that wanderlust and can’t get away,” says Aly. “But one or two nights here and they can feel like they’re anywhere in the world. In the States, bus and van life is a trend and very popular, and this place gives people that feel.
“It’s very much an experience. People want a chance to leave their busy lives and have a different view for a night. This is something different, but still high end.”
He’s keen to point out that the vehicle, powered by solar panels and located next to a working farm, is “very green” and completely off-grid.
“That’s a rare thing to find, so it’s a really nice experience for people,” he said. “It was one of the key things for me that I wanted to do. There’s been the evolution of glamping and so with that you have everything there that you might want.
“But with this bus, I made a big point of making it off-grid. It is a very green vehicle, it limits people’s carbon footprint.”
After a year of lockdowns and restrictions, which led to cancellations during the Christmas period, the bus has more or less been fully booked since April.
Aly admits even now that buying and converting a bus was not something he’d ever thought he’d do.
Although the 1953 Airstream he bought just before the bus, and is now converting into an ice cream van, would suggest he has something of a penchant for old vehicles.
For details about Stay Wild and the bus experience visit www.stay-wild.uk.