Art World
You Can Spend a Spooky Night in the ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Residence
The reproduction of the iconic residence in Tim Burton's celebrated sequel has hit Airbnb.
The reproduction of the iconic residence in Tim Burton's celebrated sequel has hit Airbnb.
Tim Brinkhof ShareShare This Article
Having already grossed $438.9 million since its worldwide release in September, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the long-awaited sequel to Tim Burton’s eccentric 1988 horror comedy of the same (singular) name, has pushed the classic franchise back in the cultural spotlight—so much so that Airbnb is now offering the opportunity to visit the iconic haunted house where both movies take place.
Well, not the actual home, which only ever existed as a set inside a Los Angeles lot, but a faithful reproduction of it. Located in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey, it will be made available from November 16 to 27 for a total of 10 three-hour bookings of up to six guests each.
These time slots don’t appear to allow for overnight stays. Not that anyone would want to close their eyes, as the building is supposed to be haunted. In the Beetlejuice films, it’s originally owned by Barbara and Adam Maitland, portrayed by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin. After the Maitlands lose their lives, their residence is sold to the Deetzes, and self-obsessed sculptor Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara) turns the place into a work of art.
Which brings us to the meat of the story: in an attempt to scare the Deetzes into leaving, the ghosts of the Maitlands, who are told they cannot leave their home for the next 125 years, turn to Beetlejuice, a rambunctious and unpredictable spirit played by Michael Keaton, for help in driving them out.
The Airbnb is a reproduction of two different locations: the L.A. film set showcasing the home’s interior, and the mock-up exterior constructed in East Corinth, Vermont, which was used only for establishing shots and taken down after the original film’s release. Both were put together by Bo Welch, a production designer who also worked on another Tim Burton classic, Edward Scissorhands (1990).
The reproduction is so detailed it could easily be mistaken for a film set. From the outside, the home, whose architectural style can best be described as a combination of Victorian gothic and small-town Americana, is covered by a dark veil to symbolize the passing of Delia’s husband. (Delia herself is listed as the property’s host, and is expected to correspond with guests in character).
Inside, visitors will find not just a selection of the character’s abstract sculptures, but also numerous scenes and assets from the 1988 film, including the green-lit doorway to the Afterlife; the Waiting Room, with its distorted, German Expressionism–inspired hallway; and the Maitlands’ model of Winter River, the fictional town in which their house is located.
This is far from the only film- or media-related property available on Airbnb. Some noteworthy examples include Barbie’s DreamHouse in Malibu, California, a huge seaside villa reimagined as a pink dollhouse, and the Wedding Venue in Siena, Italy, featured in the HBO hit series Succession, where rooms go for $3,573 per night.
The booking period for the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice listing opens on October 23. Bookings include a complimentary one-night stay at an Airbnb in nearby Princeton, New Jersey.