When I was little, it was so exciting to go to Blockbuster video to peruse the walls, looking for the perfect thing to rent for the weekend. My parents would usually stick to the movies that had just been moved out of the new releases, just after the rental price dropped. My dad always loved getting a good deal. For me, it was all about the video game wall. In elementary school, I had a Super Nintendo, and each new game was an adventure. Blockbuster trips were like picking out a new world to explore. I’d read the game descriptions on the backs of the empty display boxes, which usually made the Blockbuster trip take longer. At some point, my parents would rush me along so we could get back home. I’d sit down on the floor, pop the gray cartridge in, and delete one of the save data slots from the previous renter so I could begin. If I rented that same game a week later, if I was lucky, my save data might still be there to continue where I left off. I discovered many of my favorite games this way… The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Super Metroid, Megaman X, Chrono Trigger, and many others. This retro experience is a thing of the past now that Blockbuster Video stores have become obsolete and replaced with streaming services like Netflix and Hulu (and also maybe Red Box I guess? But those machines are kind of a thing of the past too.)
Well, it’s the last of its kind… and it’s in Bend, Oregon… it’s THE LAST BLOCKBUSTER IN THE WORLD. (Sounds like a movie title!) This establishment may as well be an endangered species at this point, making it an attractive place to want to visit. Starting August 17th, 2020 at airbnb.com/BLOCKBUSTER, interested guests can rent it as an Airbnb for only $4 a night! To make it even more enticing, the store manager, who serves as the Airbnb’s host, will stock the shelves with tons of movies for your viewing pleasure.
The downside is that it seems like this Blockbuster Video Airbnb rental is only being offered to residents within the county who come from the same household, to minimize risk. It is unclear whether or not this is temporary, and may or may not be offered to outside tourists in the future once life returns to normal. It might be tricky to get it booked, but it would be so worth it to have a 90s-themed place to stay to reminisce an old favorite Friday night tradition!
Guests can rest assured during their private sleepover knowing that the store will be cleaned and prepared in compliance with CDC guidelines and consistent with the Airbnb enhanced cleaning protocol.