Filmmaker Wes Anderson inspires new retreats

KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — If you’re a fan of eccentric filmmaker Wes Anderson, then you can look around one of the new “whimsical retreats” at Sandy Pines Campground at 277 Mills Road and guess which of his films inspired him.

One of the campground’s nine park-style huts, for example, sports two crossed tennis rackets on the front and is called “Richie.” Inside, the walls are lined with maps and decorated with rackets and paddles. Plus, the color palette of everything inside is different.

If you’re an Anderson fan, you’ll know that this park model was inspired by “The Royal Tenenbaums,” the 2001 comedy-drama about a damaged, dysfunctional family led by a difficult-to-manage patriarch played by actor Gene Hackman. One of the characters is a professional tennis player who’s going through a downturn, which is where these racquets come in.

If you’ve never seen a Wes Anderson movie, that’s okay. No matter which model of park you rent in Sandy Pines, you won’t have to guess which Anderson world you’ve stepped into, because framed movie posters hang inside to tell you the answer. Inside “Richie,” for example, is the poster for “The Tenenbaums,” which features actors Luke Wilson and Gwyneth Paltrow staring right at you through their sunglasses.

Two other park designs, called “Chickchaw Trail” and “Summer’s End,” are inspired by “Moonrise Kingdom,” Anderson’s funny and poignant story about first love. The 2012 film, which stars Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand and others, is partly set at a Boy Scout summer camp. So of course these Sandy Pines escapades are decked out with oars and pillows embroidered with quaint sayings like “Beans on Toast.”

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Why Sandy Pines Pays Tribute to Filmmaker Wes Anderson

According to Cheryl Child, Sandy Pines’ manager, there are nine of these Anderson-themed “Whimsical Retreats.” Four of them are finished and ready to welcome summer guests: the three mentioned above, as well as “Crossed Keys Society,” a nod to 2014’s “The Budapest Grand Hotel,” perhaps Anderson’s most famous film, judging by the number of Oscar nominations it received.

Krista Stokes is the senior art director for Atlantic Hospitality, which owns Sandy Pines and other properties. Stokes said she came up with the Wes Anderson theme while searching for a muse to help bring whimsy to the campground’s “Whimsical Retreats.”

“He’s so visually stimulating and immersive in the way he designs his sets,” Stokes said.

Stokes gave Katie Nielsen, a new member of his design team, an assignment: go home and watch Anderson’s films. Nielsen did just that, and from there, she, Stokes, and their creative team had endless props, themes, and color schemes to use to bring Sandy Pines’ “Accidentally Camping” village to life.

The village’s name is a reference to Anderson’s world and, as Stokes said, it’s fitting for these retreats, which offer luxury in the context of a nature outing and a campfire.

Stokes has said her favorite Wes Anderson film is “The Tenenbaums,” and she gives a hint as to why she enjoys so many of the director’s films.

“I’m a huge Bill Murray fan,” she said, referring to the comedy legend whose deadpan wit makes him a natural for Anderson’s films.

Stokes said Anderson’s style fits well with Sandy Pines, which she describes as a campground where you can relax and “not take yourself too seriously.” In addition to park-style accommodations, Sandy Pines offers “glamping” tents and an assortment of other sites that allow for different approaches to getting out in nature.

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Escapes inspired by “Moonrise Kingdom” to “The Royal Tenenbaums”

The campground held a ribbon cutting ceremony for its “Whimsical Retreats” on Monday, July 1. Shortly after, while standing inside “Richie,” Child applauded Stokes and her team for their creativity.

“The design team definitely deserves credit for the interiors of these models,” she said.

That day, crews were busy working on the final five park models, which Child said will be ready for rental later this month.

According to the Sandy Pines website, each cabin offers enough space for four to eight people and includes a master bedroom, full kitchen, full bathroom, porch with daybed, fire pit and picnic table. Each also offers Wi-Fi, which can come in handy if you want to stream an Anderson movie on the flat-screen TV, as well as clean linens, towels and lawn games.

Currently, each available cabin can be rented for a minimum of three nights, according to Child. The standard rate is $910 per night, which translates to a three-day stay totaling $2,730, according to the campground’s website.

“We also have some special offers that we’re going to launch,” Child said.

Child called Anderson’s “whimsical retreats” a “breath of fresh air.”

“It’s something new for us,” she said. “It’s something new and exciting for everyone.”