Arrive at the Retreat

Join Cynthia Erivo at This New "Wicked" Airbnb Experience | Condé Nast Traveler

"I had the chance to preview the experience (sans Cynthia), and as a Wicked fan I couldn’t help but geek out at this seriously well-crafted slice of Oz: tucked away on an acres-large farm in Thousand Oaks, California—just past the celebrity-filled areas of Calabasas and Hidden Hills—the retreat is reached by a somewhat tricky route and a final 10-minute all-terrain drive, with a small stack of yellow bricks marking the entrance. The heart of the site is a massive, nest-like structure that feels lived-in—Elphaba’s black pointy hat (an actual film prop) hangs by the entryway, an FBI-style corkboard with pamphlets and newspapers is slung on the wall, her signature glasses sit casually on the table, the real Grimmerie from the movie is available to pick up, and her actual broomstick is displayed amid mystical dried flowers. A canopy-style bed built from twisted tree branches, a central living-room area and a vast lookout with excellent views complete the storybook atmosphere and invite lingering. The experience also includes two interactive moments with Cynthia: tea time around the campfire with Michael Graney of Teawaves, where you pick a foraged tea blend paired with encouragements like power, courage, romance, friendship, or wanderlust, and a broom-weaving workshop with D’Ara Nazaryan of Aris Floral in which guests forage dried flowers and weave them into brooms. Up to 20 guests can enter Airbnb’s lottery (submissions Nov 11–13) to join Cynthia on Dec 3, and two lucky people can request an overnight stay on Dec 6." - Emily Adler