A man has converted an old 90s school bus into a swanky bachelor pad after losing his job and fiancé during the pandemic.
Craig Gordnier, 27, purchased the vehicle in May 2020 and completed all building works on the old bus in November.
Before the pandemic hit, Craig, from Massachusetts, was working a 9 to 5 corporate job and planning his wedding, unaware of the massive changes to come in his life.
As lockdown went on, Craig ended up losing a business deal and eventually his job. To make matters worse, his relationship also ended.
Craig’s converted school bus is pictured above. Craig, 27, from Massachusetts was working a 9 to 5 corporate job and was planning his future wedding, unaware of the massive changes to come in his life
Craig, pictured, from Massachusetts converted an old 90s school bus into a swanky bachelor pad after losing his job and fiancé during the pandemic
Interior of Craig’s converted school bus complete with a Christmas tree and wreath decoration
Initial work to convert Craig’s school bus above. Before the pandemic hit, Craig, 27, from Massachusetts was working a 9 to 5 corporate job
The 27-year-old found himself back home on his parents’ couch hunting for jobs that paid significantly less and in professions he didn’t enjoy.
Determined not to let the setbacks get him down, Craig took matters into his own hands and decided to give his life a complete overhaul – taking to the road.
In May 2020, he purchased an old school bus for $16,000 in South Dakota and drove it for 28 hours back to Massachusetts to begin the building work.
Finished roof on Craig’s school bus. Craig took matters into his own hands and decided to give his life a complete overhaul – taking to the road
Partitioned off from the bed is a rainfall shower with skylight above, decorated with hanging ivy
Bus interior pictured above. ‘Why enter the rat race? Why work a job I don’t love, to make money I don’t need for 39 years – just to retire, get an RV and go see the world when I am 65,’ he said
Craig, pictured, ended up losing a business deal and eventually his job when the pandemic hit. To make matters worse, he and his fiancé also ended their engagement
‘It dawned on me while I was back home on my parents’ couch, getting my resume ready to apply for a job I didn’t want, for way less money than I’m worth,’ Craig said.
‘Why enter the rat race? Why work a job I don’t love, to make money I don’t need for 39 years – just to retire, get an RV and go see the world when I am 65.
‘So being the time traveller I am, I cut 39 years out of that plan, bought a school bus in South Dakota and drove all 38 ft of it for 28 hours back home to start building this thing.’
interior of Craig’s converted school bus. In May 2020, Craig purchased the old school bus for $16,000 in South Dakota and drove it for 28 hours back to Massachusetts to begin the building work
Bus interior. Craig spent around 200 days building the bus from scratch, installing heating, solar panels, plumbing, electrics and more to convert the old vehicle into a modern home
The finished bus interior is pictured complete with a kitchen area, a sofa and a bed
He completed all building works on his old school bus in November 2020 and the project cost just under $24,000.
Craig spent around 200 days building the bus from scratch, installing heating, solar panels, plumbing, electrics and more to convert the old vehicle into a modern home.
With the help of his family and friends, the young man managed to revamp the old, worn-out bus into a swanky bachelor pad – complete with an electrical fireplace, an espresso bar and skylights, which add a futuristic feel to the abode.
Pillows are pictured on the bed including one which reads: ‘Home sweet home’
Craig is pictured inside the bus. He completed all building works on his old school bus in November 2020 and the project cost just under $24,000
Craig spent around 200 days building the bus from scratch, installing heating, solar panels, plumbing, electrics and more to convert the old vehicle into a modern home
Craig also installed a rooftop terrace, which can fit over 10 people at one time, allowing him to invite friends and family over for parties and gatherings.
He said: ‘That 200 days spent building the bus taught me more about myself and about life, death, work, dreams and the capability of the human spirit than anything I could’ve ever imagined.
‘I love my family and my friends more than I could ever begin to express; without them, this bus is still just an undone idea in my mind and I am so blessed to have the support and love in the face of my greatest challenges.
‘The strength of the people around me, the persistence, drive, attention to detail… everything this bus is, is a reflection of the hands involved in its completion.’
Craig did one or two sketches of the floor plan but didn’t add any measurements, mostly working at random – ‘puzzle-piecing the entire thing together’.
Craig’s school bus pictured before and after the conversion into a home
Initial work to convert Craig’s school bus, left and right. He said: ‘The thing I pride myself on is being original, and putting my twist onto everything I do’
School bus interior. ‘The modern penthouse vibe is in full effect,’ Craig said of his work
He said: ‘The thing I pride myself on is being original, and putting my twist onto everything I do.
‘The glass wall dividing the bathroom from the living space allows for a full view of the blue glass subway tile in the shower that is also on the 7ft fireplace hearth.
‘The modern penthouse vibe is in full effect with the espresso bar, stainless appliances, custom-poured epoxy countertop that looks like real 1.5in thick stone.
‘Whitewashed brick, raw cedar and burnt pine add crazy contrasts and textures that just pop in the natural light that fills the bus.
Storage platform on Craig’s school bus. Craig also installed a rooftop terrace, which can fit over 10 people at one time, allowing him to invite friends and family over for parties and gatherings
Interior of Craig’s school bus at the beginning of the renovation. He completed all building works on his old school bus in November 2020
Interior of Craig’s school bus at the beginning of the renovation. ‘From falling asleep at night watching shooting stars across the galaxy and lying awake in the moonlight listening to music, to waking up to a soft morning rain on the glass above you and showering at sunrise as the sun paints the sky above you, it is surreal,’ he said
‘The bed and shower are both situated under two massive skylights which infinitely enhance the living experience.
‘From falling asleep at night watching shooting stars across the galaxy and lying awake in the moonlight listening to music, to waking up to a soft morning rain on the glass above you and showering at sunrise as the sun paints the sky above you, it is surreal,’ he said.
‘The roof-deck above with space for over 10 people is another amazing spot to catch the miracles of Mother Nature, but nothing compares to the shower and bed.
Initial work to convert Craig’s school bus, left. Finished roof on Craig’s school bus awaiting paint, right
Espresso machine inside the bus. ‘The roof-deck above with space for over 10 people is another amazing spot to catch the miracles of Mother Nature, but nothing compares to the shower and bed,’ he said
Interior of Craig’s school bus at the beginning of the renovation
Roof installations on the school bus. ‘I have created the ultimate indoor and outdoor living vibe that fills my heart every second I am in here,’ he said
‘I have created the ultimate indoor and outdoor living vibe that fills my heart every second I am in here.
‘This entire process was incredible. I would tell anyone who sees this and wants to live the bus life, to first fall in love with the idea of building a bus.
‘Your dream of living off-grid somewhere beautiful in your finished bus awaits on the other side of the most difficult mountain you have ever scaled, and you must focus on climbing every day.
‘You must first learn and then apply these new skills, with a willingness to be wrong or make a mistake the first, second, third or fourth time.
‘Celebrate the wins along the way, turn around and enjoy the view from time to time, but be happy now, not ‘when the bus is done’.’
Craig has documented his journey on Instagram and TikTok and often posts about his new life living in the bus.
In one social media post, he reflects on his new way of life, saying: ‘I am living my days without structure, without confirmation from the clock, the sunlight, the rain or the wind… I am allowing my self to exist in the way it feels most connected to everything, in every waking moment.’