What a lot of Baby Boomers might not know, is how a family station wagon could be a magical experience for a family. It wasn’t simply a way of getting from place to place. The wood-paneled station wagons of the past offered so much more than an SUV or minivan. In fact, with the advent of the minivan, the experiences offered by the family station wagon have all but disappeared. Let’s remember the unique experiences offered by the family station wagon.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. The Rear-Facing Back Seat
- 2 2. Rolling Drive-In Movie Theater
- 3 3. The Cargo Space Playground
- 4 4. Window Art Gallery
- 5 5. Tailgate Picnics
- 6 6. Rolling Board Games
- 7 7. Sleeping Under the Stars
- 8 8. The Art of Packing
- 9 9. The Dog’s Domain
- 10 10. The Secret Storage Compartments
- 11 11. The Ultimate Parade Float
- 12 12. The Mobile Changing Room
1. The Rear-Facing Back Seat
To have a rear, facing third seat was like having your own private club. You could wave to the cars behind, make faces at the truck drivers, and feel like you were riding through time backward. It was the ultimate and most fun place to be. You were the king or queen of the road if you were able to sit in the “way back” seat.
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2. Rolling Drive-In Movie Theater
As drive-ins became popular, so did tailgating from a family station wagon. Mom would pack special snacks and we could watch a drive-in movie like no other.
3. The Cargo Space Playground
The family station wagon offered so many possibities that no other modern equivalents could ever compare. A wrestling ring, a fort, a napping zone: on long car rides, the family station wagon wanted it all and the large cargo areas offered it all.
4. Window Art Gallery
Masterpieces created on windows from breath and condensation were an art for long family rides. Each passing mile offered a canvas to the children.
5. Tailgate Picnics
The tailgate served as an excellent picnic table, whether it was a rest stop or at the beach. It was a good height for kids too, plus the overhang even provided shade for the kids to sit. Some wagons even had special compartments built into the gate to store the picnic supplies.
6. Rolling Board Games
The flat area for cargo was great for board games. We would play for hours, and I mean hours, we even had to chase dice to get them that fell under the seats. Good luck trying to do that in a modern-day SUV!
7. Sleeping Under the Stars
If the wagon’s back window was up and the tailgate was down it became a camping spot. We watched shooting stars through the big rear window, it felt like we had a private observatory.
8. The Art of Packing
Watching Dad pack the wagon for vacation was like watching a master tetris player. Every cooler, suitcase, and piece of camping gear had a perfect spot. The roof rack was the icing on the cake of the packing masterpiece.
9. The Dog’s Domain
The family dog had plenty of space to move back in the wagon. Unlike today’s SUVs she didn’t have to stay in a little confined area. It really was a mobile dog park!
10. The Secret Storage Compartments
Station wagons had hidden storage compartments under the cargo area floor that were great for storing emergency supplies, beach toys, or even candy. Finding something in the hidden compartment felt like finding something priceless.
11. The Ultimate Parade Float
For local parades, our family station wagon became an awesome float! We decorated it with crepe paper, balloons, and signs, and kids could wave to the crowds from the back seat. Some towns even made special float categories for station wagons!
12. The Mobile Changing Room
With all the windows and big trunk area, the wagon made a great changing room at the beach or pool. The big side windows even had enough tint to provide some privacy while lots of room made changing easy. No need to do circus-level contortions like in today’s vehicles!
