Launching a Horror-Themed Airbnb is…Scary

In This Article

When Travis DeRose launched his first short-term rental (STR), he didn’t simply wish to construct a cabin—he wished to create an expertise. Positioned in Large Bear, California, the “Horror Cabin within the Woods” is a Seventies-inspired love letter to scary motion pictures, spooky vibes, and immersive storytelling. It’s the place you half-expect a man in a Scream masks to seem, but additionally the place you discover tranquility whereas taking part in Monster Mash. 

In brief, this isn’t your common STR.

Market Choice

For Travis, choosing the right market was important, particularly since his horror cabin was greater than a short-term rental; it was an experiment. “We wanted a spot that made sense financially and creatively,” he stated. Large Bear, California, ticked each bins.

“It was one of many final trip markets in Southern California the place we may discover one thing beneath $200,000,” he shared. “Conserving prices low was essential as a result of this was a proof of idea for our imaginative and prescient. We didn’t wish to threat an excessive amount of on our first go.”

Large Bear additionally provided the right backdrop for the challenge. “It has that traditional cabin-in-the-woods vibe, which was precisely what we had been going for,” Travis defined. “Plus, it’s near LA and Orange County, the place there’s a large horror neighborhood.”

The established short-term rental market in Large Bear gave him extra confidence. “Persons are already coming right here in big numbers,”  he stated. “We simply needed to carve out our personal area by providing one thing fully completely different.”

The Theme: Why Horror Works

A Seventies horror theme isn’t the obvious alternative for a trip rental. However for Travis, it was the right match. “We’re massive followers of the style,” he stated. “The concept clicked after we noticed the cabins in Large Bear—they already had that eerie, secluded vibe.”

Travis’s inspiration got here from extra than simply private ardour. “Southern California has an unimaginable horror scene,” he defined. “From haunted points of interest at theme parks to horror conventions that promote out yearly, it was clear there was an viewers for this.”

Nonetheless, going area of interest wasn’t with out dangers. “Horror is polarizing,” Travis admitted. “Some individuals received’t even contemplate staying right here as a result of it’s too creepy for them. However we determined to lean into it. When you love horror, our cabin might be already in your radar.”

How Standing Out Pays Off

Travis’s gamble paid off in an enormous method. Since launching the horror cabin, it’s constantly outperformed different leases within the space. “Our common nightly price is $60.30 larger than related listings in Large Bear, and our occupancy price is 17.4% larger,” he shared.

The cabin has additionally earned an ideal 5-star ranking on Airbnb. “I hoped for no less than a 4.8 or 4.9, however the love and a spotlight to element we put into the theme actually paid off,” Travis stated.

What units his property aside? “We didn’t simply throw up some horror posters and name it a day,” he defined. “We created a complete backstory for the cabin. Friends get to unravel an escape room-style puzzle in regards to the earlier proprietor, who mysteriously disappeared.”

Interactive parts like this are what make the cabin genuinely distinctive. “Friends love the little touches,” Travis stated. “From the flickering lights and classic TV static to the Monster Mash button that prompts a disco ball, it’s all designed to make their keep unforgettable.”

The Viral Impact

Social media performed a large position within the cabin’s success. “Our first two weeks on Airbnb had been fully silent,” Travis admitted. “However then a few of our movies on Instagram and TikTok began selecting up traction, ultimately getting hundreds of thousands of views.”

The impression was quick. “After the movies went viral, our Airbnb views and bookings skyrocketed,” he stated. “Social media allowed us to bypass the Airbnb algorithm, the place we had been buried pages deep. As a substitute, we created our personal buzz.”

Now, social media is central to Travis’s technique. “For future listings, we’ll design properties with Instagrammable photo-ops and viral moments in thoughts,” he shared. “It’s all about making a shareable expertise that will get individuals speaking.”

Recommendation for Hosts: Go Daring

Travis’s recommendation is straightforward for hosts contemplating a daring theme: “Do it. The flexibility to take advertising and marketing into your personal arms is invaluable.”

His key takeaway? Ardour issues. “Friends can inform when one thing is made with love versus simply making an attempt to make a fast buck,” he stated. “Give attention to creating an expertise, not simply cool decor.”

Travis emphasised the significance of storytelling. “Our cabin’s backstory and interactive parts make it particular,” he stated. “It’s not only a place to sleep—it’s a spot to discover, play, and create recollections.”

The Way forward for Stays

Wanting again, Travis has few regrets. “If I may change something, I’d have began documenting the construct part on social media,” he stated. “That would’ve helped create buzz earlier than we even launched.”

As for the design? “I’m thrilled with the way it turned out,” he stated. “The daring theme set us aside and made the property memorable.”

With plans to create extra distinctive leases, Travis is simply getting began. For now, the “Horror Cabin within the Woods” is greater than a short-term rental—it’s a narrative price telling. And for visitors courageous sufficient to guide a keep, it’s an expertise they received’t quickly neglect.

Notice By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the creator and don’t essentially characterize the opinions of BiggerPockets.