Love ‘Love Island’? There’s an Airbnb for that

Love Island was this summer’s steamiest guilty pleasure, and if you’ve ever fantasized about living like those scheming singletons, there’s an Airbnb for you: The Palm Lake Ozark on Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks was decorated to mimic this reality show’s chic, neon-lit aesthetic perfectly.

This is hardly the only short-term rental inspired by a popular show. Airbnbs have opened at former filming locations for series ranging from The White Lotus to Stranger Things (complete with VHS tapes stashed near a boxy TV). Curious to learn more about how these TV shows come to life as vacation rentals? We got the host of the Love Island–inspired house, Tiphanie Shy, to spill the tea.

What inspired this renovation? “I knew when we purchased the property in January 2023 that I wanted it to be over-the-top and ‘girly’ because I had my bachelorette party at the Lake of the Ozarks over 22 years ago, and there was no property that gave the aesthetic to match my hot-pink wedding colors at the time. My main goal was to provide a gorgeous place for girls’ trips. My daughter and I are huge Love Island fans, and I’m an even bigger fan of the Love Island villa’s decor. I think I’m more excited about how the villa is going to be designed each season than anything else! So, that’s what inspired the renovation’s theme. Love Island was popular a few years ago, but nothing like what it is now, so I have been diving headfirst into the brand as much as I can because so many seem to love it like we do.”

What challenges did you face bringing this place up to snuff? “There were a gazillion challenges! The house itself was in severe need of updating; it was a time warp back to the ’80s. But that gave me freedom to essentially make over every nook and cranny of the property. I knew going into it that it would be a labor of love. This house had sat on the market for a considerable amount of time because I don’t think anyone could see past the burgundy carpet and the unappealing design of the ’80s, but I did. The soaring ceilings and somewhat open layout had me, a perfect gathering spot for a group. We opened some walls, changed the ceiling, re-sided the entire house, changed the floors, completed the kitchen demo—you name it, we changed it. The even bigger challenge was that we did pretty much all of it ourselves! I have lots of Instagram stories showing the process, even down to sleeping on air mattresses because the property was gutted for quite a bit of time. All in all, it was a fun experience that I would do over in a heartbeat.”

How many rentals do you have, and how have bookings been for this new place? “I currently have four short-term rentals, three that my husband and I own and that I 100% designed and manage, all located at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Bookings for The Palm Lake Ozark have been solid from the start, with zero available weekends and semi-solid weekdays during the busy season. Since Love Island has become crazy popular this season, and my TikToks went viral, the listing has taken off even more with guests, [who are] requesting dates over a year in advance.”

Any other fond memories of hosting such a place? “When my guests book, I have them let me know, in short, why they’re visiting, and these messages are the best. From a group of ladies visiting to celebrate the memory of a friend who had passed away, or a family staying at the property because their sister moved to the area, but her place wasn’t big enough to host them all (so they could reunite), to book club trips, milestone birthday celebrations, and more. Truly, just thinking about some of them brings a tear to my eye, and I am not an emotional person. I’m glad I can provide the venue for those precious memories to be made. It definitely makes the hard work worth it.”

Don’t touch that dial: Check out other Airbnbs inspired by popular TV shows below.