The A&E show, Bates Motel, set up a replica of the sinister lodge in the middle of SXSW this week.
From March 13-21, fans can enter to win a night at the motel by waiting in line at the front office or entering online. Guests get to experience a reproduction of the rooms, complete with blood splattered shower curtains and Norma’s robe creepily laid out on the bed. For fans not able to stay inside the motel, a vending machine is set up outside, dispensing free faux pot brownies, inspired by a particular plot line of the show.
One of the smartest moves on A&E’s part was to include fan-created artwork in the setup. Fan art is framed and hung on the walls of the rooms, as well as printed in the pages of the guest book, making the diehard supporters of the show even more loyal.