{"id":180479,"date":"2025-01-15T14:10:40","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T21:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=180479"},"modified":"2025-01-15T14:10:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T21:10:42","slug":"launching-a-horror-themed-airbnb-is-scary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/launching-a-horror-themed-airbnb-is-scary","title":{"rendered":"Launching a Horror-Themed Airbnb is…Scary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When Travis DeRose launched his first short-term rental (STR), he didn\u2019t just want to build a cabin\u2014he wanted to create an experience. Located in Big Bear, California, the \u201c<\/span>Horror Cabin in the Woods<\/span><\/a>\u201d is a 1970s-inspired love letter to scary movies, spooky vibes, and immersive storytelling. It\u2019s where you half-expect a guy in a <\/span>Scream <\/span><\/em>mask to appear, but also where you find tranquility while playing <\/span>Monster Mash<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, this isn\u2019t your average STR.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Market Selection<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Travis, picking the right market was critical, especially since his horror cabin was more than a short-term rental; it was an experiment. \u201cWe needed a place that made sense financially and creatively,\u201d he said. Big Bear, California, ticked both boxes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was one of the last vacation markets in Southern California where we could find something under $200,000,\u201d he shared. \u201cKeeping costs low was important because this was a proof of concept for our vision. We didn\u2019t want to risk too much on our first go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Big Bear also offered the perfect backdrop for the project. \u201cIt has that classic cabin-in-the-woods vibe, which was exactly what we were going for,\u201d Travis explained. \u201cPlus, it\u2019s close to LA and Orange County, where there\u2019s a massive horror community.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The established short-term rental market in Big Bear gave him additional confidence. \u201cPeople are already coming here in huge numbers,\u201d  he said. \u201cWe just had to carve out our <\/span>own<\/span> space by offering something completely different.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Theme: Why Horror Works<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A 1970s horror theme isn\u2019t the most obvious choice for a vacation rental. But for Travis, it was the perfect fit. \u201cWe\u2019re big fans of the genre,\u201d he said. \u201cThe idea clicked when we saw the cabins in Big Bear\u2014they already had that eerie, secluded vibe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travis\u2019s inspiration came from more than just personal passion. \u201cSouthern California has an incredible horror scene,\u201d he explained. \u201cFrom haunted attractions at theme parks to horror conventions that sell out yearly, it was clear there was an audience for this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, going niche wasn\u2019t without risks. \u201cHorror is polarizing,\u201d Travis admitted. \u201cSome people won\u2019t even consider staying here because it\u2019s too creepy for them. But we decided to lean into it. If you love horror, our cabin is probably already on your radar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Standing Out Pays Off<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Travis\u2019s gamble paid off in a big way. Since launching the horror cabin, it\u2019s consistently outperformed other rentals in the area. \u201cOur average nightly rate is $60.30 higher than similar listings in Big Bear, and our occupancy rate is 17.4% higher,\u201d he shared.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cabin has also earned a perfect 5-star rating on Airbnb. \u201cI was hoping for at least a 4.8 or 4.9, but the love and attention to detail we put into the theme <\/span>really<\/span> paid off,\u201d Travis said.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What sets his property apart? \u201cWe didn\u2019t just throw up some horror posters and call it a day,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe created a whole backstory for the cabin. Guests get to solve an escape room-style puzzle about the previous owner, who mysteriously disappeared.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interactive elements like this are what make the cabin genuinely unique. \u201cGuests love the little touches,\u201d Travis said. \u201cFrom the flickering lights and vintage TV static to the <\/span>Monster Mash<\/span><\/em> button that activates a disco ball, it\u2019s all designed to make their stay unforgettable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Viral Effect<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Social media played a massive role in the cabin\u2019s success. \u201cOur first two weeks on Airbnb were completely silent,\u201d Travis admitted. \u201cBut then some of our videos on Instagram and TikTok started <\/span>picking up<\/span> traction, eventually getting millions of views.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact was immediate. \u201cAfter the videos went viral, our Airbnb views and bookings skyrocketed,\u201d he said. \u201cSocial media allowed us to bypass the Airbnb algorithm, where we <\/span>were buried<\/span> pages deep. Instead, we created our <\/span>own<\/span> buzz.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, social media is central to Travis\u2019s strategy. \u201cFor future listings, we\u2019ll design properties with Instagrammable photo-ops and viral moments in mind,\u201d he shared. \u201cIt\u2019s all about creating a shareable experience that gets people talking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advice for Hosts: Go Bold<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Travis’s advice <\/span>is simple<\/span> for hosts considering a bold theme: \u201cDo it.<\/span> The ability to take marketing into your own hands is invaluable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

His key takeaway? Passion matters. \u201cGuests can tell when something <\/span>is made<\/span> with love versus just trying to make a quick buck,\u201d he said. \u201cFocus on creating an experience, not just cool decor.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travis emphasized the importance of storytelling. \u201cOur cabin\u2019s backstory and interactive elements make it special,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a place to sleep\u2014it\u2019s a place to explore, play, and create memories.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Future of Stays<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Looking back, Travis has few regrets. \u201cIf I could change anything, I\u2019d have started documenting the build phase on social media,\u201d he said. \u201cThat could\u2019ve helped create buzz before we even launched.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the design? \u201cI\u2019m thrilled with how it turned out,\u201d he said. \u201cThe bold theme set us apart and made the property memorable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With plans to create more unique rentals, Travis is just getting started. For now, the \u201cHorror Cabin in the Woods\u201d is more than a short-term rental\u2014it\u2019s a story worth telling. And for guests brave enough to book a stay, it\u2019s an experience they won\u2019t soon forget.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Travis DeRose launched his first short-term rental (STR), he didn\u2019t just want to build a cabin\u2014he wanted to create an experience. Located in Big Bear, California, the \u201cHorror Cabin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":613755,"featured_media":180481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7271],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-180479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-short-term-rentals"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/613755"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=180479"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180479\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/180481"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=180479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=180479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=180479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}