Porta-Camper - Holiday Industries
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Holiday Industries manufactured the Porta-Camper and the Holiday Hunter camping trailers. The company was founded in Omaha, Nebraska sometime in 1958. The Porta-Camper, Holiday's flagship product, featured an elongated trailer design, measuring slightly over 6 by 12 feet on the road. The sleeping arrangements consisted of 4 bunks inside the trailer's body. If more sleeping accommodations were needed one could purchase the detachable porch tent to sleep up to 8 persons. Interestingly enough the trailer did not feature flip out beds. If so the trailer would have been among the early innovative designs of the modern camping trailer prevalent in today's market.

On April 1, 1958 Holiday Industries relocated from Omaha to 77th and Burlington Streets, Ralston, Nebraska. The company employed 14 persons at the time of relocation. (Bob) Robert A. Carlson was the manager in charge. It is assumed he was the company's founder as well. Later in April the firm filed articles of incorporation to deal in trailers and boats. The authorized capital stock was $100,000 (about $1,081,000 in 2024 dollars). The registered incorporators were Robert A. Carlson and William E. O'Connor. Late in the year 1959 the company produced its first brochure. Robert A. Carlson served as the president.

Throughout 1960 Holiday Industries continued to grow and soon expanded their manufacturing facilities by adding on a 25-foot annex for the purposes of finishing out the trailers. Orders were shipped by train to places as far away as New York. Late in the year the Holiday Hunter was introduced. It was a smaller, lighter trailer which could be pulled by compact cars. As a side note, Holiday Industries introduced a four-passenger, two seated sleigh that could be pulled by a single horse or a team. Referred to as the Holiday Cutter the sleigh retailed at $349.00 (about $3,800 in 2024 dollars). In 1962 a kit camper version of the Porta-Camper was introduced at a reduced price. The trailer could be assembled in about 40 to 50 hours.

In October of 1963 Holiday Industries relocated again to 3838 Grant Street in Omaha, Nebraska. Jack McMahon, vice president at the time, said the industry needed more room and wasn't able to find space in Ralston. While manufacturing operations continued throughout 1964 no advertising or sales literature has been found post 1964. It is assumed manufacturing operations were discontinued. Another possibility, Ward Industries of Omaha and manufacturers of the Silver Lance camping trailer, appears to have acquired the operations and continued the manufacture and sale of the Porta-Camper for at least another year or so. More research will be required regarding Ward Industries and their involvement.