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Dig This: See a Supersize Sandcastle for Sleepovers on Coney Island

Booking.com’s “sand”-sion offered unparalleled oceanfront views.

Located at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, the giant sandcastle was available for guests to book for $29 per night.
Located at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, the giant sandcastle was available for guests to book for $29 per night.
Photo: Courtesy of Booking.com

NEW YORKTo celebrate National Sandcastle Day, Booking.com unveiled the ultimate beach house—literally.

Constructed from almost 100 tons of sand, the “sand”-sion was designed to look like a modern-day mansion with a faux pool, beach accessories, and the signature Booking.com mailbox.

Located at Luna Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, the sandcastle was available for guests to book for $29 per night. The overnight stays took place this past weekend, August 23 and 24, and both nights sold out within 30 seconds of going live on the site. Booking.com provided 24/7 on-site security for the overnight guests. And even though Luna Park is open to the public until midnight, the structure was located in a private area of the park where the public could not approach. 

The booking also included dinner for two on the Coney Island Boardwalk, sunrise beach yoga, and Luna Park V.I.P. passes.

Booking.com worked with both the City of New York and Luna Park to secure permitting for the structure, which was created in conjunction with the 29th annual Coney Island Sand Sculpting Competition. The event is produced by Brooklyn Community Services and the Alliance For Coney Island, with support from sponsors that included Booking.com.

The interior featured a queen bed, a bar cart, and other accoutrements like flip-flops and sunscreen, as well as beachy decor.The interior featured a queen bed, a bar cart, and other accoutrements like flip-flops and sunscreen, as well as beachy decor.Photo: Courtesy of Booking.comThe “sand”-sion, which measured eight feet tall and 18 feet long and wide, was the largest sand sculpture ever constructed in New York City and took eight days to build. Master sand sculptor Matt Long, who’s known as the “Sandman,” oversaw the project.

Inside, a geodesic dome-type structure featured a queen bed, a bar cart, and other accoutrements like flip-flops and sunscreen, as well as beachy decor. But there was no room service or bathroom. Guests had access to a separate bathroom with showers outside the sandcastle.

The seagull’s-eye view of the ocean was free of charge, though.

The sandcastle was stocked with plenty of accessories for the beach.The sandcastle was stocked with plenty of accessories for the beach.Photo: Courtesy of Booking.com

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