- This month marks 20 years since “Scooby Doo: The Movie” premiered in theaters.
- To honor the anniversary, Airbnb is renting a recreation of the Mystery Machine in California for three nights only (June 24, June 25 and June 26).
- Booking begins at 1 pm eastern time on June 16 at www.airbnb.com/mysterymachine.
Like, did someone say an overnight stay in the Mystery Machine, Scooby Snacks and a virtual greeting from Shaggy himself?
This month marks 20 years since “Scooby-Doo: The Movie” hit theaters; to celebrate, Airbnb is renting out a recreation of Shaggy and Scooby-Doo’s iconic blue and green Mystery Machine for three nights.
It’s the first time the camper has been available to the public for overnight stays, Airbnb said. Guests will also get a pre-recorded, virtual greeting from Matthew Lillard, who has played Shaggy over the past 20 years.
The camper will be available to rent on June 24, June 25 and June 26 for $20 a night off the Southern California coastline, Airbnb said in a news release. Booking starts at 1 pm eastern time on June 16 at www.airbnb.com/mysterymachine.
The companies stressed that the Mystery Machine experience is not a contest and each stay is for one night only; two guests are allowed per night.
Guests have to find their own way to get to and from Southern California, the companies said. Those interested must be 18+ and have a verified Airbnb profile, as well as a history of positive reviews, a spokesperson said. During check-in, all guests must confirm that they haven’t had recent exposure to people diagnosed with COVID-19 and they cannot have a fever of 100.4 For more, or a cough or shortness of breath, the companies said.
Inside the camper are nods to the characters fans have grown to love over the past few decades, including wardrobe and a hangout spot, Lillard told USA TODAY.
The virtual greeting is fun, he said, but the real gem is the camper itself.
“You’re walking in, and you spend time with the Mystery Machine in this incredibly epic location,” Lillard told USA TODAY. “They’ve decked it out. They sort of have done this whole van living moment where they’ve built a bed in the back. It’s super cute. It’s fun.”
The experiences were put together by Airbnb and Warner Bros. Consumer Products.
The lucky renters will get access to a retro TV for late-night screenings of “Scooby-Doo: The Movie” with popcorn, candy and Scooby Snacks. They will also be treated to an all-you-can-eat buffet featuring some of Shaggy and Scooby’s favorite foods – hot dogs and eggplant burgers included.
Visitors will be able to check out Sugar Ray on a portable CD player, groove to a lava lamp, and they can try on Shaggy’s puka shell necklace.
There’ll also be an outdoor setup with lounge seating and hammock space, the companies said.
Airbnb reports: Airbnb reports that more people are traveling while working remotely – including its own CEO
More Airbnb stays:10 amazing experiences you didn’t know you could book on Airbnb
Actor Matthew Lillard on life as Shaggy
Lillard said the Mystery Machine is symbolic of a part he has carried on for 20 years. Earlier in his career, he wanted to distance himself from the franchise, he said.
“It was more of a burden,” he recalled. “The older I get, the more I appreciate the fact that I’ve been able to hold on to something for so long. Being an ambassador to that franchise, being an ambassador of that part, is the best part, to be honest. “
He grew up watching Scooby-Doo cartoons and movies and said it was his first introduction to horror. Now, he likes that he can impact children in such a fun way.
“It has an impact on not only my generation, but generations afterwards,” he said. “I can walk up to a kid and sort of blow their minds with a simple ‘Zoinks!'”
Lillard also said he shares some similarities with his iconic, tall, long-haired, chill character.
For instance, like Shaggy, who spends countless hours in the Mystery Machine crime-solving with his buddies, Lillard has a close-knit friend group.
“I have a very, very tight group of friends that I started a company with called Beadle and Grimm’s; it’s a Dungeons and Dragons company,” he said. “I am faithfully loyal to those men in my life. I would think that my loyalty to my friends is pretty on brand for Shaggy.”
He also cracked a joke about his and Shaggy’s differences as well.
“One of us used to be skinny,” he laughed. “One of us still is.”
Previous celebrity-hosted Airbnb stays include David Arquette’s Scream stay in Northern California in octoberIssa Rae’s Los Angeles stay in february and Bad Bunny’s Miami stay in March.
Regarding the upcoming Airbnb experience in the Mystery Machine, Lillard noted that people have already reached out to him wondering how they can secure a spot since the camper is only available for three nights.
He thinks whoever is lucky enough to snag a spot will love it.
“The van is a true homage to the movie and to the franchise itself. Our goal was to give the ultimate Mystery Machine experience, and I think we’ve achieved that.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas and food.
Saleen Martin, [email protected]Twitter: @Saleen_Martin
www.usatoday.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism