Staying at an Airbnb usually means a fun break from routine—whether it’s for a vacation or a quick work trip. But sometimes, what you find inside isn’t exactly comforting.
Things suspected to be hidden cameras disguised as picture frames or decorative owls have been discovered by guests before.
And now, a group of women staying in Victoria, Australia, say they found something else entirely: a secret door behind the kitchen counter.
A hidden staircase behind Airbnb kitchen
TikTok user Rachel (@rachelparkinson5) shared a now-viral video with over 162 million views, where she and her friends are seen reacting to what they describe as a “creepy” door.
The video shows one of the women sliding open a kitchen cabinet, only to reveal a hidden basement staircase cloaked in darkness. Screams erupt immediately before one of them quickly shuts the door.
“What could even be down there?” one asks. “No one can come from down there, right?”
In the caption, Rachel wrote, “Is now a good time to mention none of the doors at this house lock and we weren’t given keys?”
They go down anyway
In a follow-up video, Rachel shows the group holding hands and heading down the stairs. It doesn’t take long before they spot something unsettling: a worn-out tic-tac-toe drawing on the wall.
A few steps later, they see what looks like a black mattress and blanket sitting right in the middle. That’s when they all scream and immediately run back up.
So…was it real?
Turns out, the mattress was staged.
In a third and final video of the creepy basement saga, Rachel revealed that they placed the blanket and mattress there themselves, just to make it more dramatic.
“We decided to go with the creepy theme and chucked a mattress and blanket down there for the drama,” she admitted.
The actual basement, she says, was just a sparse utility space with a few old cups and pitchers lying around. “It’s actually just a pretty empty room.”
That said, the tic-tac-toe scribbles were real—and still gave her the creeps.
“But in all seriousness,” she added, “this Airbnb was beautiful, in the Yarra Valley in Victoria, and we can confirm no creeps were living down there and nobody was held captive.”
What should you do if you find a hidden door in Airbnb?
Hidden rooms and doors aren’t automatically a cause for concern— it actually happens somewhat frequently, often with no dramatic conclusion.
However, if you ever feel unsafe in an Airbnb, contact police or emergency services right away, followed by Airbnb’s 24/7 support.
Depending on the situation, leaving the property might also be a good idea.
If the issue involves unauthorized access or hidden cameras, you can and should report it to local authorities to investigate, too.
Viewers couldn’t believe what they saw
In the comments of the original video, users had a lot to say—some making jokes, others pointing out what could’ve gone wrong.
“The way you immediately closed it,” one said. “I’d be doing the opposite… straight in to see what’s down there.”
Another joked, “This is the first time I have seen white people walk away from such a decision, I am proud of you.”
“I immediately thought of the Barbarian movie,” someone else wrote, referencing the horror movie with its own creepy basement.
Others had concerns. “You know they’re watching you. Secret doors = secret cameras,” one person said.
And a few noticed the same eerie detail: “I don’t like the way it locks from the outside. Why does it need a lock?”
@rachelparkinson5 Is now a good time to mention none of the doors at this house lock and we weren’t given keys ? #airbnb #creepy #fyp #foryoupage #scary #viral #tiktok ♬ Tiptoe Through the Tulips by Tiny Tim – Ghost Experiences
The Mary Sue has reached out to Rachel via Instagram and TikTok direct messages. We’ve also contacted Airbnb via email for official comment.
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