The process of remodeling homes comes naturally to Trista Fenner and her husband, Derek, each with nearly a decade of experience in their hometown of Kansas City.
When the pandemic began to impact Missouri, in March 2020, the Fenner family purchased a home (which is also now listed on Airbnb) in the Lake of the Ozarks’ Tan-Tar-A Estates. They soon fell in love with the home—so much so, in fact, that they decided to purchase two more houses in the same cove to remodel. They bought one in March 2021 and another just a month later. By October 2021, the Fenners listed their newly remodeled home on Airbnb as the “Themehouse,” with rooms styled to corresponding decades.
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The 1950s diner aesthetic of the kitchen and living area is the main attraction. Fenner spent time researching the history of decor in the 1950s to ensure the design was as authentic as possible. Boomerang laminate countertops, bright red cabinets sourced from a company in Las Vegas, an “Ozark Diner” neon sign, diner stools and chairs, checkered flooring, and thoughtful signage and decorations pull everything together in a seemingly effortless way. A Bluetooth-enabled jukebox, tucked around the corner from a pool table and darts board, is one of Fenner’s favorite items—and has kept them motivated by playing music corresponding to the decade of the room they were working on.
Other touches include an old-fashioned milkshake machine, a breakfast station with a waffle maker, and an authentic kitchen dining table.
“It was someone’s grandfather’s table that we bought off Facebook marketplace back in Kansas City,” Fenner says. “It’s very heavy, so it’s very, very real.”
Before they began fixing up the property, Fenner describes the house as looking “like a haunted house—it looked like it was basically about to fall over.” Vacant for at least 19 years, according to a neighbor, the house remained unlocked and was frequently visited by other residents in the area who needed updated parts, such as swaths of carpet, electrical parts, and window A/C units. “It seemed like if something broke down on a neighbor’s house, they would just come in the ‘parts house’ and take it from there,” Fenner says.
With a total of five bedrooms, six beds, and three bathrooms, the former ‘parts house’ has come a long way. The 1960s bedroom, which Fenner calls “the Austin Powers room,” has a circular bed frame, bright colors, and a groovy bathroom. (“Groovy” is literally written into the floor tile.) The 1970s bedroom utilizes shag carpet, tones of orange and brown, and macramé decoration.
Although all of the rooms are renovated and furnished, the Fenners plan to turn the remaining three rooms into the other decades spanning from the 1950s to the 1990s. The 1950s room, which is on the same floor as the kitchen and living area, will take inspiration from old drive-in movie theaters, featuring a 1950s truck bed, wall murals, and wall sconces that resemble speakers. Neon lights, arcade machines, and rock music will inspire the 1980s-themed arcade bedroom, and the final room is styled after a 1990s summer camp, with bunk beds, a tent, and plenty of games for kids.
A primary driver of turning the property into the Themehouse was to make it an appealing destination in the Ozarks, despite not being directly on the water. For the same reason, the Fenners made changes to ensure the guests had plenty of space to enjoy being outdoors. The home already had a balcony, but the Fenners added a large deck on the side of the house with plenty of space for a sectional, fire table, and grill.
Guests of the Themehouse have access to all that Lake of the Ozarks has to offer. Community pools within Tan-Tar-A Estates are available during the summer months, and the nearby Margaritaville Resort offers plenty of activities, including an indoor water park, two golf courses, mini-golf, marina rentals, horseback riding, bowling, tennis and basketball courts, an arcade, and restaurants and bars.
“I hope we can make it as authentic as we can and bring back memories from the past while making new memories during their stay,” says Fenner. “We like to travel and make memories ourselves, so that’s always been the goal with this place is to bring that experience to others.”
