Journal 64: Re-Creating the Cuchara Camps Truck

When George Mayes rumbled across the Great Plains in his 1925 Ford Model TT, his homemade “rolling billboard” for Cuchara Camps, he had no idea he was creating one of the most beloved icons in our valley’s history. His marketing marvel crisscrossed Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, introducing travelers to the magic of Cuchara long before brochures or modern branding strategies ever existed.

A century later, that legacy rolled back into my workshop, not as a roaring truck but as a question: Could I bring Mayes’s legendary vehicle back to life in miniature? What followed was a surprisingly joyful pursuit, equal parts detective work, craftsmanship, and a love letter to the place we call “Nature’s Playground.” Piece by piece and photo by photo, I set out to build a 1:32-scale replica, tiny tribute to the spirit, ingenuity, and adventure that fueled those early days.

Somewhere between the research rabbit trails, the scaling math, and the smell of paint and primer, I discovered something. Recreating the truck became its own story filled with unexpected turns, historical shifts, and a deeper appreciation for the man who drove this vehicle into local legend. 

The more the project took shape, the more I realized the replica could do more than honor history, it could help the community that keeps Cuchara safe. The finished model became a traveling display, easily rotated through local businesses to raise support for the La Veta Fire Auxiliary, whose volunteers have protected our valley for generations.

Join me for a few of the highlights from that creative journey and a short video of the journey.

Researching a Legend

Before a single piece of the model could be crafted, I had to chase down the story behind the original. What year did Mayes’s truck roll off the line? What engine powered its long journeys? How exactly did he transform it into a rolling advertisement for Cuchara Camps? Those questions launched a deep dive through old newspapers, automotive archives, faded photographs, and the kind of local stories you only hear in mountain towns.

Every discovery sharpened the picture. Bit by bit, the old Model TT revealed its secrets until it became clear that George A. Mayes wasn’t just driving a truck; he was steering the destiny of Cuchara itself. 

Much of that research eventually grew into a full historical article on the Cabin in the Pines Blog, “Journal 60: Wheels of Change: The Truck That Drove Cuchara’s Future.” The deeper I dug, the more I realized that Mayes’s truck wasn’t just a vehicle, it was a catalyst. It helped shape what Cuchara would one day become. 

Once the history came into focus, it was time to turn research into something real.

Finding the Right Model

With the history in hand, the next hurdle was a practical one: finding a diecast model that truly matched the truck Mayes once drove across the plains. I sifted through countless possibilities of 3D-printed prototypes, near misses that looked “almost right,” and a parade of diecast trucks that didn’t quite capture the spirit or shape of the original.

Then, almost like finding a relic in an antique shop, I came across a discontinued 1:32-scale 1923 Ford Model TT truck. It wasn’t an exact twin, but it was the closest living descendant of Mayes’s truck, a near-perfect match in its chassis, silhouette, body style, engine layout, cab structure, and wheel design.

In that moment, I knew I had the right foundation. This little vintage model became the perfect canvas and the starting point for bringing a forgotten piece of Cuchara history back to life.

Rebuilding Mayes’s Advertising Box

The original truck wasn’t just a vehicle, it was a rolling work of art. George Mayes mounted a custom-built advertising box onto the chassis of his 1925 Ford Model TT, creating a hybrid camper-and-billboard he could live in as he promoted Cuchara Camps across Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Inside, it was a tiny mobile cabin where Mayes slept on the road. It was essentially the 1920s version of #VanLife, just with fewer amenities and slightly more mosquitoes. 

Outside, every surface exploded with hand-painted slogans that fired the imagination: “A Cool Delightful Climate,” “A Place for a Summer Home,” “Good Water, Sewer System, Lights, and Public Parks,” “No Hayfever, No Asthma, No Malaria, No Mosquitos,” and the unforgettable invitation, “Spend Your Outing Amid Flowers and Perpetual Snow.”

Re-creating that signature box in miniature became one of the most technical and rewarding parts of the journey. Using historical photos, a graphic-artist friend helped me analyze each angle in digital software so we could measure the proportions, estimate scale, and calculate precise 1:32 dimensions. With the numbers locked in, I drafted a tiny version of the advertising box and constructed it from lightweight balsa wood, shaping it to mount perfectly on the truck’s chassis. 

From there, it went through three careful cycles of priming, painting, and glossing until it echoed the color, shine, and charm seen in the old photographs.

In the end, this small wooden structure did more than complete the model, it transformed it into something undeniably “Cuchara Camps.” With the box complete, the next challenge was bringing its colorful personality back to life.

Re-Creating the Historic Banners

The original truck was impossible to miss. Each side was plastered with bold and persuasive banners that declared the benefits of Cuchara Camps. To bring those back to life, I began by studying every period photograph I could find. Using those images as blueprints, digital software helped map out the proportional size, font styles, spacing, contrast, and placement of each banner. A graphic artist joined the effort, helping transform grainy century-old photos into clean, faithful reproductions that matched the originals down to the smallest curve and serif.

When the designs were finally perfected, the real magic began. Each banner was printed as a high-resolution decal on photo paper, trimmed by hand, framed with delicate balsa-wood borders, and applied with slow, careful precision. This process required the patience of a surgeon and the eyesight of a hawk, neither of which I actually possess.

And then, almost out of nowhere, it happened: a tiny, stunningly accurate echo of the rolling billboard that once rattled through the American West, carrying the story of Cuchara wherever it went.

Building a Custom Tabletop Display

To showcase the replica and protect it from curious hands, a small tabletop exhibit was designed that combines form, function, and a touch of local history. The display includes three key elements: the 1:32-scale model mounted on a rotating base, a secure donation box, and an interpretive backboard that explains the truck’s significance to Cuchara and a note explaining that every dollar donated would go directly to the La Veta Fire Auxiliary.

The clear protective case allows visitors, especially children, to turn the swivel base and study the model from every angle, just as Mayes’s original truck would have looked in 1925. Beside it sits the locked donation box, crafted from plexiglass and fitted with a discreet slot for contributions.

The backboard completes the experience, offering a concise version of the truck’s story along with a QR code that links directly to the Cabin in the Pines historical blog. With a quick scan, visitors can dive deeper into the rich history of Cuchara and the remarkable journey of the little truck that helped shape it.

Sharing History With Purpose

This 1:32-scale replica is more than a charming little truck. It’s a tribute to the ingenuity of Cuchara’s early pioneers, a nod to the boldness of old-fashioned marketing, and a reminder of how one man’s vision helped transform a remote mountain valley into a destination cherished for generations.

The display itself is lightweight and portable, making it easy to share across local businesses, libraries, and educational spaces. If you’d like to host the exhibit and bring a piece of Cuchara’s history to your visitors, we would love to partner with you. Just reach out at cabininthepinescuchara@gmail.com.

Through this project, the truck that once carried Cuchara’s name across four states is once again on the move, this time carrying a legacy across generations. 

Bringing the Cuchara Camps Truck Back to Life

Watch this 2-minute journey as we recreate one of Cuchara’s most unforgettable icons, George Mayes’s 1925 Ford Model TT truck and “rolling billboard.” This video highlights the creative process from tracking down the right diecast model, to rebuilding the historic advertising box, to re-creating the bold banners that once promised “A Cool Delightful Climate” and “A Place for a Summer Home.” The finished model now travels to local businesses as a tabletop display, raising support for the La Veta Fire Auxiliary. Whether you love history, craftsmanship, or the story of Cuchara itself, this video offers a quick look at how one tiny replica brings a giant legacy back to life.(1)

Final Pictures of Cuchara Camps Model T Truck Miniature Recreation  

← Return to Table of Contents

1. Author’s note: In preparing this article, the author used AI-assisted tools for research support, proofreading, fact-checking, and stylistic refinement. The narrative, analysis, and historical interpretations are the author’s own, and responsibility for accuracy rests solely with the author. The blog’s research methodology statement is available at:

https://cabininthepinescuchara.blogspot.com/2019/03/methodology-sources-and-use-of-research.html