A Maine campground rents cabins inspired by Wes Anderson films. Is it worth $500 a night to live like a Tenenbaum?

Boston Globe

25-07-2025

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I thought carefully before making a reservation. Isn't camping supposed to be one of the last bastions of affordable options for a family vacation? A quick look at websites for campgrounds across New England and the country showed that prices have risen steadily since the pandemic. In the summer of 2020, people wanted to be outside, which pushed up prices. As we all know, what goes up doesn't come down when there's high demand.
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Keys hang inside the Crossed Keys Society cabin at Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, Maine. The campground is now renting cottages that were designed around Wes Anderson films.
Christopher Muther/Globe Staff
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But, oh my, it's Wes Anderson. This was truly a sticky wicket. A devil (dressed as Willem Dafoe from
what's wrong with you?
As you may have gathered from the headline of this story and my general lack of restraint, I bit the bullet and made a reservation. The nine Anderson-themed cabins are more than camping or even glamping. They're essentially well-appointed double-wide trailers with enclosed three-season sunrooms and decor intended to give you the essence of living in an Anderson film.
The exterior of the Crossed Keys Society cabin at Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Christopher Muther/Globe Staff
Of the nine cabin options, appropriately called Whimsical Escapes, the only one available for the days I could whimsically escape to Maine was inspired by
I knew I'd found the right people for the job when I showed my dad the trailer for 'The Grand Budapest Hotel,' and he asked, baffled, 'I don't understand. Is it supposed to be a comedy?' This apple fell far from the family tree, then rolled down a hill to
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Paul Schlase as Igor, Tony Revelori as Zero, Tilda Swinton as Madame D., and Ralph Fiennes as M. Gustave in "The Grand Budapest Hotel."
I was hoping to show my parents 'The Grand Budapest Hotel,' along with several other Anderson films, during our $1,664.43, three-night stay at Sandy Pines, but the smart television in our cabin was glitchy — more than glitchy. There were several occasions when it simply spat out error messages, and the live cable cut in and out. I think my dad was pleased at the malfunction because it meant he had an excuse not to watch Anderson's catalog of films.
This could be solved by supplying each cabin with a full library of Anderson films, either on DVD or a dedicated streaming service. I tried mirroring the screen of my MacBook to the TV and received an error message. The same thing happened when I tried to watch through one of the apps on the TV. None worked.
The other issue, brought to my attention many times by my temperature-sensitive parents, was the cabin's climate controls. We found them confusing, and the instructions on how to use them were minimal. When we arrived, it took us a while to shut off the air conditioner. It was so chilly that I wished I had Margot Tenenbaum's fur coat.
Sandy Pines Campground in Maine is now renting cabins based on Wes Anderson's films. This is the interior of the Cross Keys Society cabin.
Christopher Muther/Boston Globe
Normally, I wouldn't kvetch about small details, but given the price tag, I decided to review this cabin as if it were a luxury hotel. The cabin sleeps seven, but that means two of the seven would need to sleep in a very low-ceilinged upstairs loft. Great for kids, not so much for others.
A couple more nitpicky items before we get to the good stuff: The internet was barely there. I understand that the point of camping in coastal Maine is to spend time at the beach and get greasy at clam shacks, but it's 2025, and fast, or at least functional, internet should be standard. I was warned when checking in that the internet was problematic. Those who need reliable internet can work in the campground's stylish and comfortable lobby area, but when you need to check email before bed and you've already set your hair in curlers for the night and are sporting a face full of
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One of the bedrooms inside the Crossed Keys Society cabin at Sandy Pines Campground. The campground now rents a group of cabins based on the films of director Wes Anderson.
Christopher Muther/Globe Staff
My mother's biggest complaint was that no boxes of tissues were provided. She was also taken aback that the dish towels were from Walmart.
I took issue with the off-brand toiletries. Not a problem if I was roughing it in a tent, or even glamping in one of Sandy Pines' many tents or standard cabins (the campground covers 66 acres), but not in my posh, pricey Anderson-inspired Crossed Keys Society escape. Toiletries were from a company called Eco Novo Natura, which sells primarily to hotels. A case of 400, .5-ounce bottles of the company's shampoo costs $77. At 19 cents a bottle, Gwyneth Paltrow probably wouldn't shampoo her dog with it.
Sandy Pines Campground in Maine is now renting pricey cabins based on Wes Anderson's films. This is the exterior view at night.
Christopher Muther/Globe Staff
Enough complaining (finally!). The positives: I was impressed that the space had a large kitchen with full-size appliances. It meant we could cook meals in the cabin, although we never did. I was also impressed that the space actually felt like a unique residence rather than a boring, neutral hotel room or beachside getaway. Some furniture, light fixtures, and tchotchkes had clearly been sourced at antiques markets, or at least Facebook Marketplace. There was nothing nautical in sight, but there were nods to Anderson on almost every wall. Which, if you're an Anderson fan, is fun. If you're not an Anderson fan, it's still novel.
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As a campground, Sandy Pines is incredibly well-run, and the staff is helpful and friendly. It's clean, quiet, and set along a scenic salt marsh where you can rent a canoe or paddleboard. It has several recreation areas with a bocce court, volleyball, cornhole, and a large pool. Sadly, there's no
A look at the pool at Sandy Pines Campground in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Christopher Muther/Globe Staff
I enjoyed the combination of roughing it and staying in a comfortable cabin (once we figured out the heat). We could sit outside by the fire and make s'mores or relax inside by the gas fireplace. It's something I'd never experienced at a campground. This is glamping turned up to 11. There are more rustic cabins here, as well as more sumptuously furnished tents. Both options are much less expensive and offer a somewhat more traditional camping experience. For those with their own tents or trailers, Sandy Pines also has standard campground hook-ups.
Do I wish the cabins had a bit more Anderson flavor? Totally. A plot point in 'Grand Budapest' is the painting 'Boy with Apple.' I would have loved to have seen a replica of the painting in the cabin. I decided to bring my portable record player and Françoise Hardy vinyl to spin to add to the atmosphere. But a record player and vinyl provided in each cabin would be a fun touch.
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The author brought his own records and record player to Sandy Pines Campground to get the full Wes Anderson experience.
Christopher Muther/Globe Staff
The difficult part of writing this story is answering the question: Is it worth it? I'll start with what my parents thought. Both graded it a C, or three out of five stars. As an Anderson fan, I'll go a bit higher. I'd give it a B, or four stars. The campground manager said they're working on the internet and offered to look at the problematic television. I also understand that there are kinks to be worked out. It's a campground, not a hotel, and therefore some of the hiccups might be new to management.
As an Anderson fan, I appreciate the effort and novelty of the cabins. I also think the campground is lovely and efficient. Perhaps it would be worth it if they knocked $100 off the price and reduced the minimum stay to two nights. Even with the flaws, I would stay here again. I still have eight other movie cabins to explore.
Christopher Muther can be reached at