We write about a lot of Airbnbs, but Summit Prairie Lookout is without a doubt the most coveted listing we’ve ever come across. This 40-foot Oregon fire watchtower only accepts bookings on exactly two days a year, and it sells out before 10AM, like it’s Bruce playing the Garden.
Located about four hours south of Portland (sidebar, Oregon is massive) in the middle of the Umpqua National Forest, the off-grid retreat sits on a 40-acre meadow within 160 acres of private land. It’s not an actual retired watchtower — it’s only modeled on one — but that’s probably for the best. The interior is gleaming, with a sizable kitchen and room for four to stay overnight, while the exterior features a terrace with adironadack chairs, all set for you to do some old-fashioned lordin’.
It’s only $175 a night, which is crazy affordable for a property that can be split four ways, but the real issue is booking the damn place. The hosts report Summit Prairie is on an unfathomable 25,000 Airbnb Wish Lists. I was skeptical when I first read that … manufactured hysteria can be a great marketing plot. But no host would make it so difficult to book a property — there’s a laundry list of instructions you have to follow carefully, and the place is only available for 50-60 reservations a year.
If you want to snag this place for a couple nights (and really, who wouldn’t) be at your computer March 3rd or June 2nd, 9AM PST, and prepare for some high-stakes booking. The more nights you’re willing to stay, the better shot you have at getting the place. 9-9:30, you’ve gotta stay four nights, 9:30-10:00 you’ve gotta stay at least three, and so on and so forth. These guys have literally gamed Airbnb, and it only makes me want to stay at their fire-watchtower-meadow-paradise-escape cabin thing all the more.
For more information and pics on/of the property, head here.
All images via Summit Prairie Lookout
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