A Tennessee family transformed a $2,500 Craigslist RV into a glamorous Dolly Parton-themed Airbnb — take a look inside

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Talia LakritzJul 22, 2022, 20:05 IST
A Tennessee family transformed a $2,500 Craigslist RV into a glamorous Dolly Parton-themed Airbnb — take a look inside

Adrienne Smith with one of her dogs outside her Dolly Parton-themed RV, which she rents out on Airbnb.Talia Lakritz/Insider

  • The Smith family in Maryville, Tennessee, turned a Craigslist RV into a Dolly Parton-themed Airbnb.
  • Located an hour from Dollywood, the 20-foot camper features Dolly Parton artwork and memorabilia.
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Three years ago, Adrienne and Dean Smith and their daughter Tayler bought a 20-foot camper van on Craigslist for $2,500.

Three years ago, Adrienne and Dean Smith and their daughter Tayler bought a 20-foot camper van on Craigslist for $2,500.
Adrienne Smith.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The Smiths already ran two Airbnbs on their six-acre property in Maryville, Tennessee — an aircraft hangar converted into a loft and a train car turned into a tiny home. The RV completed their Airbnb trio of trains, planes, and automobiles.

It was Tayler's idea to turn the RV into a tribute to Dolly Parton.

It was Tayler's idea to turn the RV into a tribute to Dolly Parton.
My home for the night.Talia Lakritz/Insider

"My daughter said, 'You know what, mom, what do you think about giving a big, giant, beautiful nod to our local queen, miss Dolly Parton?' And I'm like, 'Brilliant,'" Adrienne Smith told Insider. "She inspires us to do better for ourselves, and we take proceeds off of [the RV] annually and donate to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library."

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"Trying to figure out what you want to do to pay respects to Dolly, you want to do it right," Smith said. "She's our local hero. She's our personal hero."

"Trying to figure out what you want to do to pay respects to Dolly, you want to do it right," Smith said. "She's our local hero. She's our personal hero."
"Parton Me!"Talia Lakritz/Insider

Smith estimates they spent a total of $20,000 on renovations to transform the camper into a working Airbnb.

They commissioned tattoo artist Mira Mariah to create a mural of Dolly Parton to adorn the exterior.

They commissioned tattoo artist Mira Mariah to create a mural of Dolly Parton to adorn the exterior.
Dolly Parton art on the outside of the RV.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Mariah, known as Girl Knew York, created the original image, which the Smiths brought to a local graphics studio and had applied to the outside of the camper.

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They also added a custom license plate.

They also added a custom license plate.
The license plate said "PartnMe."Talia Lakritz/Insider

In a play off of Dolly Parton's last name, the license plate reads "PartnMe," a pun for "pardon me."

They removed a bunk from the front cabin and put in a sitting area to open up the space, which they decorated with Dolly Parton records and photos.

They removed a bunk from the front cabin and put in a sitting area to open up the space, which they decorated with Dolly Parton records and photos.
The sitting area inside the RV.Talia Lakritz/Insider

They also furnished the sitting area with wallpaper, curtains, and throw pillows.

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Butterfly bookends hold copies of "What Would Dolly Do?" and "The Intimate Biography of Dolly Parton."

Butterfly bookends hold copies of "What Would Dolly Do?" and "The Intimate Biography of Dolly Parton."
Butterfly decor.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Parton, who wrote a song called "Love is Like a Butterfly," often features butterflies in her outfits and staging.

The renovated kitchen includes a refrigerator, microwave, stove, and sink.

The renovated kitchen includes a refrigerator, microwave, stove, and sink.
The kitchen.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The kitchen cabinets come fully stocked with pink dishes and Dolly Parton mugs.

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A kitchen towel on the oven encourages guests to pour themselves a cup of ambition.

A kitchen towel on the oven encourages guests to pour themselves a cup of ambition.
A Dolly Parton-themed kitchen towel.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The phrase comes from Parton's famous song, "9 to 5."

The Smiths also replaced the two-and-a-half gallon hot water tank with an on-demand system.

The Smiths also replaced the two-and-a-half gallon hot water tank with an on-demand system.
The bathroom in the Dolly Parton-themed RV.Talia Lakritz/Insider

They installed a new air conditioning unit, as well.

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Even the bathroom decor keeps with the Dolly Parton theme.

Even the bathroom decor keeps with the Dolly Parton theme.
A sign in the bathroom.Talia Lakritz/Insider

A sign in the bathroom features another Dolly Parton quote: "The higher the hair, the closer to God."

The sleeping area features more Dolly Parton-themed art and a bedazzled electric guitar.

The sleeping area features more Dolly Parton-themed art and a bedazzled electric guitar.
The sleeping area in the Dolly Parton-themed RV.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The windows look out at the surrounding mountains.

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Guests can also get cozy under this Dolly Parton blanket, which the Smiths acquired from Etsy.

Guests can also get cozy under this Dolly Parton blanket, which the Smiths acquired from Etsy.
A Dolly Parton quilt.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The blanket is printed with decades of Dolly Parton's album covers.

"We wanted to make it not too kitschy, but a little kitschy," Smith said.

"We wanted to make it not too kitschy, but a little kitschy," Smith said.
More Dolly Parton decor.Talia Lakritz/Insider

Above the nightstand, a piece of art features the Dolly Parton quote: "It's hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world."

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Tucked into the corner of the sleeping area, a small vanity includes a copy of Dolly Parton's book, "Storyteller" and a photo of her standing in the door of her tour bus.

Tucked into the corner of the sleeping area, a small vanity includes a copy of Dolly Parton's book, "Storyteller" and a photo of her standing in the door of her tour bus.
A little vanity nook in the sleeping area.Talia Lakritz/Insider

One of her records also hangs on the wall.

Right next to Dolly's Fantasy Camper, the Smiths' property has an outdoor space with couches, picnic tables, and a grill.

Right next to Dolly's Fantasy Camper, the Smiths' property has an outdoor space with couches, picnic tables, and a grill.
The outdoor seating area.Talia Lakritz/Insider

The outdoor space is shared with guests at the other Airbnbs on site.

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Dolly's Fantasy Camper currently starts at $88 per night, not including taxes and fees.

Dolly's Fantasy Camper currently starts at $88 per night, not including taxes and fees.
The guestbook and key.Talia Lakritz/Insider

A $45 cleaning fee is added on to the total cost.

"I think really what we want is for people to come here and feel at ease and comfortable and just have a good time," Smith said.

"I think really what we want is for people to come here and feel at ease and comfortable and just have a good time," Smith said.
Adrienne Smith with one of her dogs outside her Dolly Parton-themed RV, which she rents out on Airbnb.Talia Lakritz/Insider

"It's so fun because we have families with little ones that know Dolly and just want to stay here," she said. "We've had birthday parties, bachelorette parties … a sock company used it for a photo shoot. It's amazing the things that have happened around our little camper."

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