Maybe it should come as no surprise that filmmaker Wes Anderson has become a kind of travel influencer.
For one thing, his movies depict many aspects of travel, including rail journeys (The Darjeeling Limited), seafaring (The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou), and the workings of an extravagant mountain resort (The Grand Budapest Hotel).
What's more, Anderson's colorful, quirky, yet orderly aesthetic is just the sort of thing many people want to encounter while on vacation, as suggested by the globe-spanning reach of the Accidentally Wes Anderson project.
Dedicated to documenting unwittingly Andersonian locales as travelers discover them, that popular social media account has grown into a lively online community that has produced travel guides, coffee-table books, and other merch.
Now a campground in coastal Maine gives fans of the director more opportunities to spend time in spaces inspired by Wes Anderson films such as Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and—perhaps most apropos, since a New England scouting camp is a central setting—Moonrise Kingdom.
Located at Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, the aptly named "Whimsical Retreats" are a group of nine high-end trailer homes with decor meant to evoke a given Anderson film.
The "Camp Ivanhoe" cabin is modeled after Moonrise Kingdom, the "Crossed Keys Society" refers to The Grand Budapest Hotel, "Midge" to Asteroid City, and so on.
Anderson is not involved with the project, which is more of a fan homage than an officially endorsed thing. (The director, who's known for perpendicular framing, probably wouldn't have approved the diagonal camera angles in the photos provided by the campground.)
In addition to approximating the just-so interior design seen in their respective movies, each cabin features tributes in the form of framed film posters, artwork depicting well-known quotes and characters, and fun details such as fencing equipment in the Rushmore unit and tennis rackets in the Royal Tenenbaums one.
As the Boston Globe's Christopher Muther pointed out after a visit, nightly rates at the Whimsical Retreats are on the pricey side—starting around $400 when we searched.
But the trailers do accommodate from four to eight guests, depending on the unit, so maybe you can divide the cost among your own Tenenbaum-size brood. Apart from sleeping quarters, each lodging has a full kitchen, private bathroom, sunporch with daybed, and private firepit.
Plus, you have access to the campground's other amenities—such as a pool, kids' activities, rentable bikes, and kayaks—as well as the beaches and other charms of coastal Maine.
Bill Murray cameo not guaranteed.
For more information or to book a stay, go to SandyPinesCamping.com.
Frommer's Maine Coast
You’ll never fall into tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. Doing so is like having a trusted friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. That’s because our guidebooks, unlike much of the competition, are written by resident experts—like Brian Kevin. In this highly op...
Get the bookFrommer's Maine Coast
You’ll never fall into tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. Doing so is like having a trusted friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. That’s because our guidebooks, unlike much of the competition, are written by resident experts—like Brian Kevin. In this highly op...