Experience the Magic of Airstream Trailers
The Berning Museum is a collection of vintage Airstreams housed in the first Airstream Dealership.
Discover the Berning Airstream Museum
Our Story Started in 1952 in Fort Wayne, Indiana
My great-grandfather, Paul Berning and his brother-in-law, Bud Lafever, had heard that a new factory was opening about an hour and a half away in Jackson Center, Ohio to produce aluminum campers called "Airstreams". Together, Paul and Bud decided to start selling them. Bud purchased Tibbles Trailer Mart, the newly minted Airstream dealer, and rebranded it as Ideal Trailer Sales, and Paul started Berning Trailer Sales down the street.
Rapid Growth
Bud and Paul were blown away with the quick growth of their fledgling trailer businesses. The demand for Airstreams was growing like crazy. Within a couple years, their lots were full.
Ideal merges with Berning
In 1958, Paul acquired Ideal Trailer Sales from his brother and the two businesses merged. By 1969, Berning Trailer Sales was one of the most successful Airstream dealerships in the country.
Paul Sells Bernings to his son, Rick Berning
Paul sold a majority stake in the business to his son Rick Berning in 1967, and together they continued to grow the business and received numerous sales awards from Airstream.
#2 Airstream Dealership Nationwide
By 1974, Paul and Rick had led the dealership to #2 overall in sales, only surpassed by Airstream of California.
Nathan, Kevin and Rick Berning visiting with Don Ambrose at Airstream HQ
In 2021, Rick sold Berning Trailer Sales to his grandson Nathan (me!) and his wife Emily - the 4th generation to run the dealership! Today, Rick and Nathan are focused on restoring Bernings and are opening the Berning Museum in May, 2025. You can schedule an appointment to visit it earlier here.