Sometimes they list Bed & Breakfasts in AirBNB. And sometimes those bed and breakfasts are out of a Stephen King novel. This was one of them. Stephen King, I love your books but I don’t want them happening in my real life. Yes, the little voo doo doll above was on the door to my room. I am not going to reveal the name of this particular establishment. The rest is few words and more pics. Enjoy.
I found this B&B on AirBNB. The pictures there made it look super quaint. I even had to call on the phone to make my reservation. It was run by an older couple and they only took cash or checks for payment. When we arrived they told us that the large two story house was initially built in 1815 and they have owned it since 1980. At first I just thought the place was a little dated and a little hoarder. Then I had a look around.
Heading upstairs…
You know I like some paranormal stuff, but I don’t love it when I have to sleep there. As we all know, cats are able to detect ghosts, right? The couple had a cat and chose to festoon the room I was occupying with some cats in the corner.
Also inside my room were a few other questionable things…
On the dresser in the bedroom.
This was the bathroom.
The next was what I thought was the creepiest…
A headless, armless mannequin staring at me all night. There was one more thing… When I went to leave, I grabbed the glass doorknob and tried to open the bedroom door.
The knob came off and I was stuck in the room. I had to call the owner to let me out and he replied in a chilling voice, “We are programmed to receive. You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. Welcome to Hotel California.”
OK, I admit that he didn’t say the Hotel California bit, but how cool would that have been? Everything else is true. For breakfast they served the guests quiche, fruit slices and awkward conversation.
When you travel, be careful where you stay! In the comments, tell me and the other readers about your worst hotel, motel, B&B, AirBNB stay!
Happy Saturday and thanks for reading! ~Phil
Oh no, hell no.
The over abundance of kitsch is one thing, but the headless mannequin?
You’re lucky you made it out alive…
I stayed because I knew it would make a good story. I think just being able to use the Hotel California line was well worth it.
I thought, from the title, that this was an actual Stephen King-themed hotel! I would have been well and truly up for that!
The doorknob coming off in your hand and trapping you in the room is the detail that would have sent me over the edge — a voodoo doll on the door I could maybe rationalize, but a headless mannequin keeping watch all night? Hard pass. Our worst was a ‘charming’ coastal cottage that turned out to share a wall with a 3am fishing crew and had exactly one working lightbulb the whole family kept carrying between rooms. The cash-only and awkward quiche somehow complete the picture perfectly.
The one light bulb thing is unbelievable!