A video about a chilling discovery made during a stay at an Airbnb cabin in the Appalachian Mountains has sparked intrigue and alarm on TikTok.
The viral clip, shared by @annacostleyy, has amassed over 798,000 views since it was shared on November 30. It shows a cryptic handwritten note found in the rental.
A note overlaid on the video reads: "So scared right now because we are staying at a cabin in the Appalachian mountains & found this note in the Airbnb."
The footage then shows a page in a notebook containing an unsettling message. It reads: "I could feel her watching. I knew I shouldn't have looked. She was closer to the house than I expected. The creek covered the sound of her steps. If they make a sound. The light in the trailer never turns off. I have a feeling she knows why."
The viral post comes as Airbnb reports a growing trend in travel to remote and nonurban destinations. In February, the company said 2023 was "the most dispersed year of travel ever on the platform," with stays recorded in over 100,000 cities and towns across more than 200 countries and regions.
Airbnb guests in the U.S. traveled to over 15,000 cities and towns across the country in 2023, a record, according to the company.
As guests explore new and remote areas, the company emphasizes the importance of staying vigilant and reporting any unusual findings to ensure a safe experience for travelers.
Airbnb encourages any guests with safety concerns to utilize its 24-hour safety phone line, which connects them directly to the company's support team. However, "in an emergency, or if your personal safety is threatened, contact local police or emergency services immediately," Airbnb advises on its website.
'Screaming' and 'Terrified'
The TikTok clip later shows a view from the cabin porch, where a light can be seen shining eerily in the distance. A message across the screen says: "Here is the trailer light on and the creek is behind the cabin."
The video ends with a note saying that "the trailer light has been on this entire time," as the camera pans to the same distant light, now visible from inside the cabin.
A stock image shows a woman looking at a piece of paper while kneeling on a cabin's porch in the woods. A video about an Airbnb guest who was "scared" by a cryptic note found...A stock image shows a woman looking at a piece of paper while kneeling on a cabin's porch in the woods. A video about an Airbnb guest who was "scared" by a cryptic note found during their cabin stay in the mountains has gone viral on TikTok.iStock / Getty Images PlusThe video has brought a range of reactions from TikTok users, with many comparing the situation to a horror movie.
"Stop itttttt this is us literally watching a scary movie screaming DONT GO OUTSIDE!!!! We all know that ending," wrote Brittany Mulligan.
Melissa Reaux said, "Am I anywhere near the Appalachian mountains? No. Am I still terrified? F yes!!"
Others joined in, with user kyanaaa <3 writing: "I had to put my feet back under the covers." And chickbeann said: "OHHH NAHH, I would of left so fast."
User @kathryn3044 wrote: "I have stayed there I also got somewhat odd vibes," to which the original poster replied: "Such weird vibes here."
Despite the apparent spookiness of the situation, not all viewers were convinced the note was genuine. User spetraj5 speculated: "No but this is actually kind of genius and hilarious to leave a review like this in a guest book. They are probably like a short story writer or something."
Another user, @weezer399, echoed the sentiment, saying: "Definitely a goof note. It doesn't even make sense? But I'd be scared staying there and this would make it so much worse."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email. The video has not been independently verified.
Do you have a travel-related video or story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.