Camp Themed Airbnb

Our Story

My spouse and I have been looking for a house near a lake for some time. We finally stumbled across the perfect property in May of 2023. It's located in Keyesport, IL near Carlyle Lake. 

The house was built in 1905 and had the same owners for over 100 years. The house came fully furnished, but we wanted to put our own personal touch on it. 

We decided on a 60's-70's summer camp design. We wanted to invoke feelings of nostalgia, even for those who weren't alive at that time. We drew inspiration from National Parks, Boy Scouts, as well as Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom. 

This has been a fun passion project for me, as I am becoming more interested in designing physical experiences in addition to digital experiences.

Mood Board

Decor


To keep with the vintage feel in a personalized way, we added pictures of our family members from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. We also added vintage pictures and maps from the area of Keyesport.

  • Scoreboard from the old Keyesport School

    Scoreboard from the old Keyesport School

  • Class picture from 1970-1971

    Class picture 1970-1971

  • My Dad and Aunts

    My Dad and Aunts

  • My Grandma and Grandpa cooking over a camp stove

    My Grandparents cooking over a camp stove

  • My Grandpa's boy scout troop

    My Grandpa's boy scout troop

  • My great grandpa with his catch

    My great grandpa with his catch

Color Palette

Hudson Bay Camp Blankets

Hudson Bay's iconic stripe pattern gives a retro and classic feel.

Earth Tones

Earth tones contribute to the vintage camp vibe.

Vintage Decor

  • Crate from a local soda company

    Crate from a local soda company

  • 50's & 60's Pennant Flags

    50's & 60's Pennant Flags

  • Most of the decor was thrifted or found

  • Vintage Books & Board Games

    Vintage Books & Board Games

  • Little details add to the camp vibe

    Little details add to the camp vibe

The Space

The Business Side

This was our first short-term rental, and we weren’t sure what to expect. Since the house is near a lake, we assumed we’d only get business during the summer months when our guests can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, and paddleboarding. 


We were pleasantly surprised to learn that Keyesport had plenty of traffic even in the winter.

The Visiting Local

  • Originally from the area, but moved to a different city or state.

  • Visiting family for the holidays or another occasion.

  • Wants to stay in town close to family instead of 20 minutes away at the nearest hotel.

Personas

The Contractor

  • In town for a labor job.

  • Looking for a longer stay (usually 1+ month).

  • Needs a kitchen and other amenities not offered in nearby hotels.

The Hunter

  • Hunts during the off season in the winter and spring.

  • Needs a place close to the hunting area.

  • Usually travels with a group and needs multiple beds.

  • Could be from a neighboring town less than an hour away.

The Guest Experience

  • A well stocked pantry

    A clean, well-stocked home is crucial, especially in a small town without many stores nearby.

    We provide our guests with the essentials, like cooking supplies, spices, coffee and tea, baking supplies, and even some snacks.

  • Flexible Coffee Options

    We have a Keurig coffee maker with reusable pods and a regular coffee maker. That way a single guest can make one cup of coffee, or a group can make a whole pot.

  • Complimentary toiletries

    We stock the bathroom with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss picks, makeup remover cloths, and more.

  • Holiday Decorations

    We had guests who were visiting family for Christmas, so we decorated with woodland themed winter decor.

Reviews

So far, we have all 5-star reviews and are a guest favorite!

The Host Experience

The host experience is also critical; we must approve guests who will treat our space with respect. 

It can be hard to tell how a guest will leave the space from just a few reviews or interactions, but there are a few things that we do to minimize risk:

  • The Instant Book option is turned off. We manually approve everyone who stays in our rental.

  • We have a two-night minimum, to dissuade guests from renting the house for a party.

  • We limit the number of guests to 7, which is how many people can comfortably sleep there. We also verify the size of the group on the reservation, as aircover (the insurance from Airbnb) will only cover damages for the number of guests listed.

  • We don’t accept stays longer than 28 days, as guests can gain tenant rights after a 30-day stay and it can become complicated legally.

  • We will accept a guest with no reviews, as long as they seem genuine in their messages, and have verified their identity with Airbnb.

  • We don’t allow pets. Even the most well-behaved pet can cause damage or a mess. Also, we want to keep the house allergen-free for sensitive guests.

So far, we have had excellent luck with our guests. We will almost certainly experience a less-than-ideal guest at some point, but that is part of the job.

Ethical Implications

We are aware that Airbnbs can have a negative impact on local areas and contribute to housing shortages. We are mindful of the effect our rental has on the surrounding area. Our short-term rental is unique in that it is located in a small village of 400 people with very few options for accommodations. We’ve gotten positive feedback from our guests who are originally from the area and coming back to visit family. 

The closest hotel is 20 minutes away, and our Keyesport native guests are excited that there is a nice, reasonably priced place in town where they can stay.

Here is a message from Tammy, a guest who grew up in Keyesport but moved away in adulthood. Messages like these let us know that we are providing a service for the community.

Conclusion

Owning a short-term rental is a learning experience. I will update my portfolio as our business grows and as I learn more. This has been a fun passion project for me, as I am becoming more interested in designing physical experiences in addition to digital experiences. User Experience is such a broad field that is not just limited to the tech world and I’m excited to explore this realm further.