This isn’t the first time animation fans have been given the opportunity to stay — and in some cases, live — in homes designed to look just like their animated television counterparts. While Airbnb has always offered themed rooms for rent — some sponsored officially by various companies and some not — there have been examples that predate this phenomenon.
For example, in 1997, Fox commissioned the construction of a home in Henderson, Nevada, intended to represent the dwelling place of the titular family from “The Simpsons.” The home was given away via sweepstakes, but the winner chose a cash payment in lieu of moving into the house. It was eventually sold to another owner. Unfortunately, a combination of complaints from the local homeowners’ association and owner frustration engendered by “Simpsons” fans showing up at all hours to ring the doorbell has resulted in the exterior of the house being transformed into something much more mundane-looking over the years.
Since then, creative architects and eager fans have built replicas of everything from Spongebob Squarepants’ pineapple abode to a full-out tribute to the Millennium Falcon from “Star Wars.” They might not have the same charm as Shrek’s residence, but to someone out there, they’re definitely home sweet home.
