An Airplane in the Woods
There is something oddly satisfying about seeing an airplane in the middle of the woods. As an avid traveler, an airplane has always served as a tool, as well as a symbol, for being free. Free to wander and explore different regions of the world and to engage in different views and ideas. To see this symbol purposely steered outside of it’s destined element (not in the tragic sense) seems to beautifully exemplify this concept. As I wandered into the wilderness to witness an airplane that is used as a home, it’s difficult not to sense the symbolism in it all. First, there is an object that can be used to get people purposely lost in life. Next, that object is purposely placed inside an area that makes the object itself seem lost. Brilliant.
An airplane is an ingenious creation that I will always admire. It is a complex vessel used to connect people and perpetuate experiences. It is a mode of transportation that can be used as a way to cross the boundaries of where we want to go and where we are expected to remain. It is a powerful tool in all aspects.
Recently, it seems I have found someone whom takes this airplane admiration to a whole new extreme. Enter in Bruce Campbell. Bruce is a unique and free-spirited soul that took his fondness for airplanes to another level. He decided to purchase one and transform it into a place to live! You read correctly. Just outside of Portland in Oregon, his very own Boeing 727 airplane is carefully tucked away in the woods.
It is a spectacle that I truly appreciate having had the chance to visit recently. My fiancee and I flew into Portland for a weekend getaway (we used Southwest credit card points and the Southwest Companion Pass to get two free round trip flights). While there, we really wanted to get out of the main city and do something kind of unique. I remembered seeing a photo of this airplane home and decided to research it a bit. I was able to find an old article with an email address of the owner. I quickly wrote an email and explained my severe appeal for travel and airplanes and how much I would love the chance to visit. Since we were in town for only the weekend, we didn’t have much time available for a possible visit. I assumed that, if the email address was even still valid, it was way too short of notice. Also, I thought that the last thing this guy would want to do would be to let some strangers frolic around his property. The next morning, I woke up to a pleasant surprise. In my inbox was a very gracious message from Bruce. He explained how appreciative he was of my interest and that he would be glad to give us a quick tour. It’s moments like this that I enjoy. With a little bit of effort comes some of the best experiences.
We rented a car and headed off on the days new adventure. We drove to a small town called Hillsboro, about 45 minutes outside of Portland. As always, any drive through Oregon is a beautiful one. As we approached the main town of Hillsboro, we stopped and bought a small gift for Bruce and his gracious acceptance of our request. We bought a small box of local chocolates and continued on our way.
As we approached the property, we were both struck with a sense of disbelief. How could there possibly be an airplane somewhere close by? It just didn’t seem to make any logical sense. Puzzled and perplexed, we continued up a tree covered hill on a random dirt road. After getting closer to the top, a large white object became more and more apparent between the distant trees. I was astonished by the sight of this Boeing 727 beauty. It is undeniably impressive, but also a bit eerie. It almost seemed like the location of an alien space ship landing. It was difficult to comprehend that this was actually a strategically placed home for a person to dwell within.
Bruce greeted us with a smile and was very pleasant. He gave of us brief tour of the inside and outside of the airplane and explained the main facts about his journey and experience with his plane. Best of all, he allowed us to climb on the wing and allowed me to fly my drone above for some much anticipated aerial views! There is simply nothing quite like seeing a scene like this from well above the tree line.
As I am sure you are wondering as well, our first main question was, unequivocally, why? His answer, and what I was most impressed with, had to do with his desire to do something different. Anyone can purchase or build a typical wood house, but Bruce chose not to conform to society and typical residential construction standards. I sincerely applaud his creative mindset and social discord. Bruce came across as the type whom, like myself, finds a great sense of pride in the ability to create things that start simply with an idea, no matter how far fetched that idea may be. I think that this, coupled with his background in engineering, aided in his overall decision. Bruce explained how he purchased the airplane for $100,000 back in 1999. After reading his website, his current overall cost (as of May 2018) comes in around $220,000.
**Interesting fact: Bruce actually planted many of the trees surrounding his home himself. In the video, you can see them as being smaller than the rest in the aerial views. To me, this shows a profound respect for the land that his airplane beautifully intruded upon.
While we were there, Bruce was actively working on his home. This is, by no means, a complete project. There are a lot of awesome things he has done, but also much more that he hopes to add. I really liked the clear flooring that he added in the interior. I thought that was a nice and unique touch. However, the interior as a whole could use a lot of work aesthetically. I am really excited to see how that is all transformed in the future.
I would love to explain his story, his journey, and project details in even more depth, but I think it is only fair to give him the pleasure. Bruce has created an awesome website that you can go to to find out any and all information. Be sure to click below and check it out! His story is extremely interesting and, in my opinion, inspiring.
This story hits all the marks for me. It satisfies my love for travel, my appreciation for aviation, and my fondness for creating and building things. Aside from supplying me with a unique experience, things like this inspire me to think big in life. We are all human beings with an ability to create a world that we want to live in, no matter how out of the ordinary that may be. It reminds me how important it is to create happiness rather than simply pursue it…
Thank you for the experience Bruce Campbell. Stay unique!
