Launching a Horror-Themed Airbnb is…Scary

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 Massive Bear, California, the “Horror Cabin within the Woods” is a Nineteen Seventies-inspired love letter to scary films, spooky vibes, and immersive storytelling. It’s the place you half-expect a man in a Scream masks to seem, but in addition the place you discover tranquility whereas enjoying Monster Mash. 

Briefly, this isn’t your common STR.

Market Choice

For Travis, selecting the correct market was crucial, 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 mentioned. Massive Bear, California, ticked each containers.

“It was one of many final trip markets in Southern California the place we may discover one thing below $200,000,” he shared. “Conserving prices low was necessary 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.”

Massive Bear additionally provided the right backdrop for the undertaking. “It has that basic 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 an enormous horror neighborhood.”

The established short-term rental market in Massive Bear gave him further confidence. “Individuals are already coming right here in big numbers,”  he mentioned. “We simply needed to carve out our personal house by providing one thing utterly completely different.”

The Theme: Why Horror Works

A Nineteen Seventies horror theme isn’t the obvious alternative for a trip rental. However for Travis, it was the right match. “We’re large followers of the style,” he mentioned. “The thought clicked once we noticed the cabins in Massive 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 take into account staying right here as a result of it’s too creepy for them. However we determined to lean into it. Should you love horror, our cabin might be already in your radar.”

How Standing Out Pays Off

Travis’s gamble paid off in a giant means. Since launching the horror cabin, it’s persistently outperformed different leases within the space. “Our common nightly fee is $60.30 greater than related listings in Massive 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 at the least a 4.8 or 4.9, however the love and a focus to element we put into the theme actually paid off,” Travis mentioned.

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. Visitors 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. “Visitors love the little touches,” Travis mentioned. “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 position within the cabin’s success. “Our first two weeks on Airbnb had been utterly silent,” Travis admitted. “However then a few of our movies on Instagram and TikTok began selecting up traction, ultimately getting thousands and thousands of views.”

The impression was fast. “After the movies went viral, our Airbnb views and bookings skyrocketed,” he mentioned. “Social media allowed us to bypass the Airbnb algorithm, the place we had been buried pages deep. As an alternative, 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 easy for hosts contemplating a daring theme: “Do it. The flexibility to take advertising into your personal fingers is invaluable.”

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

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

The Way forward for Stays

Trying again, Travis has few regrets. “If I may change something, I’d have began documenting the construct section on social media,” he mentioned. “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 mentioned. “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 value telling. And for company courageous sufficient to guide a keep, it’s an expertise they received’t quickly overlook.

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