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Kurt Cobain's Olympia Apartment: Now an Airbnb
30 Sep
Summary
- Kurt Cobain's former apartment in Olympia is available on Airbnb.
- The space is where much of Nirvana's 'Nevermind' album was created.
- Nights in the iconic apartment range from $250 to $300.
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's downtown Olympia apartment, a key location for the creation of the 1991 album 'Nevermind,' is now listed as a short-term rental on Airbnb. Situated near East Bay Waterfront Park, the apartment is available for stays with a two-night minimum, and expanded availability is noted for summer bookings. This unique rental space offers guests the opportunity to inhabit a place with significant musical history.
The triplex building, constructed around 1914 on Pear Street, approximately 60 miles south of Seattle, housed Cobain between 1989 and 1991. Historical accounts suggest that Cobain composed about 75% of his lifetime musical output within this apartment, encompassing periods around Nirvana's debut album 'Bleach' and leading up to 'Nevermind.' The listing itself is described as a quiet downtown studio, ideal for musicians, artists, and writers, boasting an 'eclectic space with musical history.'
Visitors can find the fully furnished studio, complete with a queen bed and a serene backyard, equipped with modern amenities like Wi-Fi and cable. The apartment is also a short walk from East Bay Waterfront Park. Notably, the iconic song 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' has a direct link to this apartment, as Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill famously scrawled 'Kurt smells like Teen Spirit' on his bedroom wall in August 1990. Cobain later used this phrase as the song's title, unaware it referred to a deodorant.
Today, the apartment fetches between $250 and $300 per night, a stark contrast to the approximately $137 Cobain and his then-girlfriend paid for rent and utilities for the entire triplex. The listing boasts a 4.8-star rating from hundreds of visitors who praise the intact original fixtures and the palpable historical atmosphere. Guests can explore downtown Olympia's nearby eateries and attractions, making it a pilgrimage site for grunge music enthusiasts.
