Ever seen a van fly?
Hotel Zed in Victoria made the impossible possible after air lifting a Scooby-Doo inspired 1961 Chevy Greenbrier van onto their lobby roof last week.
It weighs 2,000 pounds—that’s a whole lot of vintage!
But don’t worry, the hotel has undergone a radical $6 million renovation, bringing an immersive new vintage-inspired design to the building, as well as an upgraded roof structure to hold the weight of the beast.
The extensive makeover celebrates Hotel Zed’s 10th anniversary, and has been finalized in time for the summer season and a one-of-a-kind travel experience to Victoria.
Gone are the bright blue bubblegum colours of the 60s, and in its place, guests are treated to a swanky 70s-esque aesthetic that brings travellers back to the shag carpet and lava lap era.
The van was Hotel Zed’s trademark way of veering into the unordinary and adding something awe-inducing and true to their brand!
According to Mandy Farmer, the CEO of Hotez Zed, the hotel has always been obsessed with vintage vehicles and are always on the hunt for the next crazy one.
She said it all started in 2014 with their first VW van, Doris, which was their shuttle bus when they first opened the hotel.
“After Doris, we found this Greenbrier and knew we had to bring it into our family because we all loved Scooby Doo. We had to have our own Mystery Machine!” said Farmer.
“It seemed fitting to move this one on the roof as we celebrate our 10th anniversary, as it has been a staple at our Victoria hotel for years.”
They also have their ‘Shaggin’ Wagon’, a classic 1978 Chevrolet conversion van and a 1969 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate Wagon that they’ve called Gris, after the Griswolds from the National Lampoons Vacation movies.
“We’ve taken Hotel Zed’s retro experience to the next level with this renovation,” said Farmer.
“I scoured thrift stores and worked with sellers nationwide to curate an authentic 1970s feel throughout the entire property.”
Head over and check it out for yourself—maybe treat yourself to a staycation while you’re at it!
