How small is the hamlet of Skamania? So small that its focal point appears to be a general store that doesn’t have much food, there is only one gas pump, and the restroom consists of an outhouse in the far reaches of the parking lot. However, one can find some interesting roadside attractions — and two of them arguably anticipate the automobile’s future.
Before explaining further, I should note that Skamania is an unincorporated town in Skamania County, which is in southwestern Washington. The county as a whole is so rural that its entire population is around 12,000 (Wikipedia, 2025b).
Skamania the hamlet is located on Highway 14 along the shores of the Columbia River in the gorgeous Gorge National Scenic Area. To the west is Prindle; to the east is North Bonneville (Wikipedia, 2025a).
One of the first things you may notice when walking up to the store is that it has a bench carved out of wood. Those are eagle heads on each armrest. If you have a seat and look up you might very well see real eagles drifting across the sky.
The outhouse is located near two cars that may have seen better days but could still predict the future.
Our first car may anticipate what Tesla has in store for us as a follow up to the Cybertruck. Why not the Cybervan? It is very roomy for such a small car and could be ridiculously cheap to build because of its entirely square shape. Who says American automakers can’t compete with the Chinese?
Our second car anticipates the direction of the full-sized truck market. Behold, the 2045 Ford F-150! Before you scoff, think about how much trucks have relentlessly grown over the years. For example, if you were around in 1970 and were shown a picture of a 2025 F-150, would you have believed it? Or would you have dismissed the image as satirical fiction right out of the Weekly World tabloid?
The execution of this particular design could use a bit more refinement, but I suspect that it is on the right track. As American houses (and, frankly, people) get bigger, won’t they need even bigger trucks?
Whoever came up with these prescient designs deserves to receive a consultant contract with an automaker. Maybe if the contract is big enough the general store can put in a restroom.
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RE:SOURCES
- Wikipedia; 2025. “Skamania, Washington.” Page last edited Jan. 18.
- ——; 2025. “Skamania County, Washington.” Page last edited Jan. 13.
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