Lens Lodge Airbnb goes viral

The Lens Lodge, a camera-shaped Airbnb in Ellijay, Georgia, was spotlighted this week after being named one of the most wishlisted stays in the United States. (onlineathens.com) The one-bedroom cabin was created by Georgia host Matthew FitzPatrick, a 2021 Auburn University graduate who won $100,000 in Airbnb’s $10 million OMG! Fund competition. (wire.auburn.edu) (fox5atlanta.com) Guests sleep in the “lens,” a circular bedroom set about 15 feet above the ground with mountain views from the bed. The cabin’s interior measures about 850 square feet and includes a kitchen, living room, bathroom and laundry area. (airbnb.com) (wire.auburn.edu) The property sits between Ellijay and Blue Ridge in North Georgia, a mountain corridor already known for cabin rentals, wineries and weekend tourism from Atlanta. (fox5atlanta.com) (airbnb.com) Its rise also fits a broader Airbnb push toward novelty lodging. The Lens Lodge was funded through a program Airbnb launched to bankroll unusual listings designed to stand out on social media and in search results. (wire.auburn.edu) Airbnb’s listing describes the stay as a “Guest favorite,” and separate coverage said it ranks in the platform’s top 5% of homes based on ratings, reviews and reliability. (airbnb.com) (fox5atlanta.com) FitzPatrick told Auburn that he developed the idea in 2022 while working on yachts in Florida and saving for his first rental property. He bought the land, submitted designs and a build timeline, and learned he had won the contest about four months after entering. (wire.auburn.edu) The result is less a standard cabin than a built-for-photos destination: oversized camera body outside, themed decor inside, and a hot tub and fire pit on the deck. (fox5atlanta.com) (ellijaycustomhomes.com) For travelers, the practical takeaway is simple: a niche rental in a small Georgia mountain town has become a national wishlist draw, and those stays tend to disappear from the calendar fast. (onlineathens.com) (airbnb.com)