At the very least, hotels should always be clean, safe, and comfortable places to stay while you're traveling. On the other end of the spectrum, some properties are coveted for their over-the-top luxury or perks. But for those looking for something truly unique, it's the hotel rooms with a creative edge that will always stand out in your travel memories. From movie star homages to historical recreations, some lodgings are a lot more than just a place to crash for the night. Read on to see the wildest themed hotel rooms in the U.S.
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The Wildest Themed Hotel Rooms
1. The Beagle Suite at Dog Bark Park Inn - Cottonwood, Idaho
Dog Bark Park Inn
Just because you're traveling doesn't mean you stop being a dog lover. And for anyone afraid they'll miss their four-legged friend while they're on the road, there's one property that might be worth visiting.
"A hugely unique hotel is the Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho," says Jennifer Gregory, founder and CEO of Vegas Food & Fun. "It's also better known as the largest beagle in the world, and as the name suggests, the hotel is shaped like a huge beagle dog!"
Naturally, the hotel keeps the commitment to canines alive throughout the property—including with who else is allowed to stay there. "The hotel keeps in theme by providing all sorts of dog-inspired items, including dog-shaped cookies," says Gregory. "You can book a room that sleeps up to four people, and you're allowed to take a dog with you as long as it is first approved by the hotel."
2. Conestoga Wagons at the Capitol Reef Resort - Torrey, Utah
Capital Reef Resort
Besides a place to stay for the night, genuinely unique hotels should provide an experience. And while quirky hotel rooms are almost always a standout on any trip, one property even incorporates its surroundings into the motif.
"One of the most impressive themed hotels is Conestoga Wagons at the Capitol Reef Resort in Torrey, Utah," says Alison Meacham, founder of Everything Mouse. "With an overnight stay in a Conestoga wagon, you can go back to the mid-1800s and the days of America's hearty pioneers. In this hotel, you can sleep beneath the stars, as the pioneers did, surrounded by the natural beauty of Utah's Red Cliffs."
"The resort's six luxury wagons, which can accommodate up to six people, are inspired by 19th-century design and traditional western décor. Relax by a warm fire pit with a drink of wine and gaze at the sky after work in the evenings," she says, adding that the stays are available from June through October.
And the surrounding natural beauty leaves plenty to explore. "Capitol Reef National Park is less than five miles from the resort. And you'll see the Milky Way just as clearly as settlers did over 150 years ago in this designated gold-tier International Dark Sky Park," Meacham says.
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3. The Caverns Suite at the Grand Canyon Caverns - Peach Springs, Arizona
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Some themed hotel rooms rely on kitschy decor, wild paint colors, and hilarious bathtubs. Others are simply built over the course of millions of years by an inland sea.
"The Grand Canyon Caverns Suite in Peach Springs, Arizona has to be one of the most overwhelming places to stay for a night. Why? It is 70 feet underground," Samuel Charmetant, founder of Artmajeur, tells Best Life.
"I certainly felt like a daredevil during my stay there because the hotel enchants you with a magical sense of dread, which gets your heart pumping," he says. "It is thrilling, scary, and fantastic—I just wouldn't recommend this place to any claustrophobic friends of mine! It offers all necessary amenities and is quite cozy if you take away the fact that you are beneath the surface of the Earth," he says.
Even if you're not ready to commit to an entire night in the caves, you can still visit the area during the day for a tour. But on Oct. 24, one tour group ended their subterranean trip only to find the site's elevator was out of order. Since some members of the group weren't able to climb the 21 flights of stairs through the safety exit, they opted to wait in the comfort of the suite—as well as grab a bite in the cavern's restaurant—while they waited for a rescue lift. Fortunately, everyone was removed from the caves unharmed.
4. House of the Retro Future Suite at Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground - Anaheim, California
Howard Johnson Anaheim
If you've ever wondered what it would be like to get adopted by the Jetsons, you might be able to get an idea with a stay at the Howard Johnson Anaheim Hotel & Water Playground. The property's House of the Retro Future Suite channels all of the familiar elements of the space age, including mid-century modern decor with touches like a record player and quirky curated art.
"It's a homage to elements of the original Monstano House of the Future as well as honor our mid-century modern design heritage," says Jonathan Whitehead, general manager at Howard Johnson's in Anaheim. "This is more than just a hotel suite. It's an experience."
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5. The Fifi at Hicksville Trailer Palace - Joshua Tree, California
Hicksville Trailer Palace
Some hotel suites use luxurious sheets, custom furniture, and elegant fixtures to make a statement. But at Hicksville Trailer Palace in the remote desert of Joshua Tree, California, one accommodation lives up to the timeless quote from beloved country music icon Dolly Parton: "It costs a lot of money to look this cheap."
Guests who choose to spend their night in the Fifi trailer will be treated to a kind of glamor that has long since disappeared, thanks to a full vanity mirror, a set of wigs to choose from, shag carpeting, and a truly retro purple design motif. And just like any starlet's trailer ought to, this one features a small outdoor sitting area that extends right to the hotel's heated pool.
6. The Haunted Castle at Haunted Castle Adventure Suites - North Conway, New Hampshire
Adventure Suites
Usually, people go out of their way to avoid sleeping in scary surroundings. But for those looking to get into the spooky spirit, a set of suites in New England could provide everything you need.
"The Haunted Castle at Adventure Suites in North Conway, New Hampshire has to be on the top of the list of wildest themed hotel rooms," says Anthony Radchenko, travel expert and co-founder at Air Advisor. "It is the ideal place for those who love all things scary. The hotel features a tower staircase with a skull railing, Ouija boards, a king's throne made of bones, and an asylum, to name a few things. Its dark hallways are also bound to chill you to the core. Plus, screams from a caged animatronic woman are the perfect jump scare."
Other past visitors suggest indulging your morbid curiosity and exploring the seemingly endless surprises. "Grab a drink at the catwalk bar, check out the spooky family portraits on the tower's stairs, visit the asylum and birdcage, or snap an Instagram shot in the coffin when you're not scared by things that go bump in the night and unexpected creepy guests," says Elaine Warren, founder and CEO of The Family Cruise Companion.
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7. Love Me Tender, Love Me Suite at Gulf Hills Hotel & Resort - Ocean Springs, Mississippi
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There's no shortage of shrines to Elvis Presley: The rock & roll pioneer remains one of the most recognizable figures in pop culture even decades after his untimely death. But while some installations may use his likeness to pay homage, one themed suite actually housed the legend himself.
"The King—otherwise known as Elvis, of course—stayed in the three-bedroom area above the lobby of this classic, historic property in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Not just one night but for the entire summer—for several years!—in the 1950s," Charles McCool, travel expert and founder of McCool Travel, tells Best Life. "Allegedly, A separate fire escape entrance allowed his group to sneak in groupies and select fans."
"People can rent the same suite and create their own pilgrimage experience, or just stay there because it is a super cool hotel experience. The suite has three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a living room, wet bar, and is decorated in much the same way as when Elvis stayed there. There is plenty of Elvis memorabilia in every room and in the hallway," he says
8. The Disco Room at The Curtis Hotel - Denver, Colorado
The Curtis Hotel
Many bad hotel reviews start off by saying a property looks like it's stuck in a bygone era. But at The Curtis Hotel, guests can actually choose to step back to the 1970s with a stay in the Disco Room, which features retro touches like lava lamps, a stack of LPs, a shag carpet, and even roller skates. But the throwback accommodation is just one of many options among the hotel's "hyper-themed rooms."
"At the heart of everything The Curtis does is an air of whimsy and creativity," says Lizzie Raudenbush, the hotel's general manager. "You can see that throughout our lobby and rooms but also through our guest experience. Though many of our guests are here on business or just passing through, we want to make it as much a memorable experience as it is for those who travel across the country to stay in one of our hyper-themed rooms. We want guests to feel like a part of our quirky family."
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9. The Swiss Family Robison Suite at The Anniversary Inn—5th South - Salt Lake City, Utah
Anniversary Inn - Fifth South
Themed hotel rooms come in varying degrees of intensity and commitment to the motif. But at one hotel in Utah, there are no half attempts at creating over-the-top accommodations, just wildly different ways to experience the property.
"The Anniversary Inn—5th South in Salt Lake City has 36 rooms, each with its own theme," says Leslie Gilmour, travel blogger and CEO of Outdoor Scott. "The Swiss Family Robison Suite is one of the more daring options, with the bed actually being in a tree."
Fortunately, guests won't have to climb to sleep thanks to a spiral staircase connecting your sleeping space to the ground. But the room does feature a "stunning mountain waterfall that cascades into the jetted tub" and a TV that's made to be watched from the tree tops.
