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 look, 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, selecting the correct market was vital, 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 packing containers.

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

Large Bear additionally supplied the proper backdrop for the challenge. “It has that traditional cabin-in-the-woods vibe, which was precisely what we have been going for,” Travis defined. “Plus, it’s near LA and Orange County, the place there’s an enormous horror group.”

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 utterly totally 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 proper match. “We’re huge followers of the style,” he stated. “The thought clicked once 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 unbelievable horror scene,” he defined. “From haunted sights 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 gained’t even contemplate staying right here as a result of it’s too creepy for them. However we determined to lean into it. In the event 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 fee is $60.30 greater than related listings in Large Bear, and our occupancy fee is 17.4% greater,” he shared.

The cabin has additionally earned an ideal 5-star ranking on Airbnb. “I hoped for not less than a 4.8 or 4.9, however the love and a focus 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 an entire backstory for the cabin. Friends get to unravel an escape room-style puzzle in regards to the earlier proprietor, who mysteriously disappeared.”

Interactive components 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 an enormous function within the cabin’s success. “Our first two weeks on Airbnb have been utterly silent,” Travis admitted. “However then a few of our movies on Instagram and TikTok began choosing up traction, ultimately getting tens of millions of views.”

The impression was speedy. “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 have 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 fingers is invaluable.”

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

Travis emphasised the significance of storytelling. “Our cabin’s backstory and interactive components 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 might’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 friends courageous sufficient to ebook a keep, it’s an expertise they gained’t quickly overlook.

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