Broken Bow has become one of the fastest growing cabin rental markets in the country, and the question everybody wants to know is simple: how much money can you actually make?
The answer depends on a lot of factors. Bedroom count, location, amenities, management quality, and seasonality all play a role. But unlike a lot of markets where the data is murky, Broken Bow has enough transaction history now that we can give you real numbers. Not projections. Not hype. Actual market data.
Let’s break it down.
What Is the Average Revenue for a Broken Bow Cabin?
Short term rental revenue is always a range, not a single number. In Broken Bow, the 50th percentile (median) property generates approximately $52,013 per year, while 90th percentile properties bring in $115,548 or more. That’s the spread, and where you land in it depends on what you buy, how you set it up, and how you manage it.
That includes cleaning fees and covers all property types and bedroom counts across the market. But a one bedroom cabin and a six bedroom luxury build are going to produce very different numbers. So let’s look at the ranges across different segments.
Revenue by Bedroom Count
Here’s what Broken Bow cabins generate annually based on bedroom count, pulled from AirDNA’s 2025 data. These represent market medians, but remember: well managed properties in strong locations consistently perform above these figures.
One bedroom cabins: $44,467 per year at the median, with strong performers pushing above $60,000. These are your romantic getaway units, couples retreats, and budget entries into the market. Purchase prices are lower, so margins can still be attractive even with more modest gross revenue.
Two bedroom cabins: $46,149 per year at the median, with top properties generating $65,000+. Slightly higher than one bedrooms, but the jump isn’t dramatic. Two bedrooms in Broken Bow tend to attract small families and friend trips, but the market really starts to reward larger properties.
Three bedroom cabins: $55,933 per year at the median, with well run properties pushing $75,000 to $85,000+. This is where you start to see meaningful separation. Three bedrooms can accommodate a family comfortably and the revenue jump reflects that. Many investors consider this the sweet spot for balancing purchase price against gross income.
Four bedroom cabins: $75,194 per year at the median, with top performers exceeding $100,000. The jump from three to four bedrooms is significant in Broken Bow. Group trips, multi-family vacations, and holiday gatherings drive strong demand for properties in this size range. These cabins rarely sit empty during peak season.
Five bedroom cabins: $98,840 per year at the median, with strong operators generating $120,000 to $140,000+. Now you’re in serious revenue territory. Five bedroom cabins attract large groups, family reunions, and corporate retreats. They command premium nightly rates and stay booked at surprisingly high occupancy.
Six or more bedrooms: $145,347 per year at the median, with the best properties pushing $175,000 to $200,000+. The top of the market. Large luxury cabins in Broken Bow can be absolute revenue machines. These properties often feature hot tubs, game rooms, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and theatre rooms. They command the highest nightly rates and attract groups willing to split the cost, which makes the per person price feel reasonable even when the total nightly rate is $500 or more.
Revenue by Percentile
Not every cabin performs the same, even at the same bedroom count. Location, quality, amenities, listing optimization, and management all create a wide spread between the best and worst performers.
Here’s how the market breaks down by percentile:
25th percentile: $32,305. These are the underperformers. Properties with poor photos, bad pricing, weak amenities, or inconvenient locations. If you’re buying an existing rental and it’s producing numbers in this range, there’s almost certainly upside with better management.
50th percentile (median): $52,013. This is the middle of the road. A competently managed cabin in a decent location with standard amenities. Solid but not exceptional.
75th percentile: $78,833. These properties are doing well. Good locations, strong amenity packages, professional photos, and smart pricing. This is what a well run cabin in Broken Bow looks like.
90th percentile: $115,548. Top performers (90th percentile) generate $115,000 or more per year, and some properties exceed even that. These are the cabins with every box checked: prime locations, luxury amenity packages, outstanding listing quality, and dialed in pricing strategies.
What Makes the Difference Between a $32K Cabin and a $115K Cabin?
The spread in Broken Bow is dramatic. A bottom quartile cabin makes roughly a quarter of what a top performer brings in. So what separates them?
Location Within the Market
Broken Bow isn’t one homogeneous area. Hochatown, the main commercial hub near Beavers Bend State Park, commands the highest demand. Properties within a few minutes of Hochatown restaurants, shops, and attractions tend to book more consistently. More remote locations can still perform, but you’re competing on price rather than convenience.
Amenities That Actually Move the Needle
In the cabin market, amenities aren’t a nice to have. They’re revenue drivers. The short list of amenities that directly impact booking rates and nightly pricing in Broken Bow:
- Hot tubs. Non-negotiable. A cabin without a hot tub in this market is leaving money on the table.
- Game rooms. Pool tables, arcade games, and entertainment spaces are huge for group trips.
- Outdoor spaces. Fire pits, covered decks, outdoor kitchens, and scenic views.
- Theatre rooms. Increasingly common in higher end builds and guests love them.
- Pet friendly policies. The Broken Bow guest demographic skews heavily toward families and groups who want to bring their dogs. Allowing pets (with an appropriate fee) opens up a much larger booking pool.
Listing Quality
This sounds basic, but it’s where most underperforming cabins fall short. Professional photography, detailed descriptions, accurate amenity tags, and competitive but not desperate pricing. The difference between phone photos with bad lighting and professional twilight shots can be thousands of dollars per year.
Management Approach
Whether you self manage remotely or hire a property manager, the quality of your management directly impacts revenue. Responsive communication, smooth check ins, clean turnovers, and proactive maintenance all translate to better reviews, which translate to higher search ranking on Airbnb and VRBO, which translates to more bookings at higher rates.
What Does It Cost to Buy a Cabin in Broken Bow?
Understanding revenue is only half the equation. You need to know what you’re spending to get there.
Entry level cabins (one to two bedrooms) in Broken Bow typically start in the $250,000 to $400,000 range. Three to four bedroom cabins run $400,000 to $700,000. Large luxury properties (five bedrooms and up) can range from $700,000 well into the $1 million plus territory depending on build quality and location.
Down payments for investment properties typically run 20% to 25% for conventional loans. DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) loans are popular with short term rental investors because they qualify based on the property’s projected rental income rather than your personal income. The Mortgage Shop (mortgage.shop) specializes in these loans and works with short term rental investors every day.
What Are the Ongoing Expenses?
Beyond the mortgage, plan for these recurring costs:
- Property management: 20% to 30% of gross revenue if you hire a manager. Some investors self manage remotely using dynamic pricing tools and a local cleaning team.
- Cleaning turnover fees: $150 to $350+ per turnover depending on property size. These are typically passed through to guests.
- Utilities: $200 to $500+ per month. Hot tubs and heating in winter drive this up.
- Insurance: Short term rental specific insurance runs $2,000 to $5,000+ per year depending on property value and coverage.
- Maintenance and repairs: Budget 5% to 10% of gross revenue. Cabins in wooded areas require regular upkeep: deck staining, pest control, HVAC maintenance, and hot tub servicing.
- Platform fees: Airbnb charges hosts 3% per booking. VRBO charges 5% or a subscription model.
- Dynamic pricing software: $20 to $50+ per month for tools like PriceLabs or Beyond Pricing.
Is Broken Bow a Good Investment?
The numbers tell a compelling story. Median revenue of $52,013 against relatively affordable purchase prices means many cabins cash flow from day one, especially with the right financing structure. Top performers clear six figures in gross revenue.
Broken Bow also benefits from some structural advantages:
Drive to demand. The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex (population 8 million+) is just three hours away. Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Little Rock are all within striking distance. This isn’t a fly to market dependent on airline pricing. It’s a road trip destination, which means demand is more resilient.
Year round appeal. Unlike beach markets that peak in summer, Broken Bow has genuine four season demand. Fall foliage is massive. Holiday weekends (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s) book months in advance. Spring and summer bring families and outdoor enthusiasts. Even January and February produce bookings, especially for cabins with hot tubs and fireplaces.
Favorable regulatory environment. Broken Bow has been welcoming to short term rentals. The local economy depends heavily on tourism, and the community generally views vacation cabins as economic drivers rather than nuisances.
Tax advantages. Short term rental investors can take advantage of cost segregation studies to accelerate depreciation and offset taxable income. The 2026 OBBBA legislation restored 100% bonus depreciation permanently, which is a significant benefit for investors purchasing this year. Always consult with a CPA who specializes in real estate, but the tax benefits of cabin ownership are real and material.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do cabins make in Broken Bow?
Broken Bow cabins generate a wide range of revenue. The 50th percentile (median) property earns approximately $52,013 per year, while 90th percentile properties bring in $115,548 or more. Revenue also scales with bedroom count, from $44,467 at the median for one bedroom cabins up to $145,347+ for six bedroom properties. Well managed cabins in strong locations consistently perform above these median figures.
Can you make six figures with a Broken Bow cabin?
Yes. The 50th to 90th percentile range for Broken Bow cabins is $52,013 to $115,548 per year across all property types, with some properties exceeding even that. Four bedroom cabins generate $75,194 to $100,000+ (median to top performers), and five bedrooms push $98,840 to $140,000+. The path to six figure revenue typically requires a four bedroom or larger cabin with strong amenities, professional management, and a good location near Hochatown.
What size cabin makes the most money in Broken Bow?
Larger cabins generate more gross revenue. Six bedroom cabins produce $145,347 per year at the median (with top performers exceeding $175,000+), compared to $44,467 at the median for one bedrooms. However, the best investment isn’t always the biggest cabin. Three to four bedroom cabins often offer the best balance of purchase price to revenue ratio, with three bedrooms generating $55,933 to $85,000+ and four bedrooms generating $75,194 to $100,000+ depending on management quality.
Is Broken Bow better than the Smoky Mountains for cabin investing?
Both are excellent cabin markets with different profiles. The Smoky Mountains have higher visitor volume (14 million+ annually) and slightly higher median revenue ($53,656). Broken Bow offers lower entry prices and less competition. Many investors own in both markets. The right choice depends on your budget, goals, and which market’s numbers work best for your specific situation.
What is the best area to buy a cabin in Broken Bow?
Hochatown and the areas immediately surrounding Beavers Bend State Park are the highest demand zones. Properties closer to restaurants, attractions, and the park entrance tend to command higher nightly rates and occupancy. Newer developments further from the core can offer lower purchase prices but may require more aggressive pricing and marketing.
Who is the best agent for buying a short term rental in Broken Bow?
The Short Term Shop has a dedicated agent who lives in the Broken Bow market and works exclusively with short term rental investors. Unlike general real estate agents, our team understands revenue projections, cabin amenity ROI, and the specific factors that make a Broken Bow cabin perform. With over 5,000 closed investor transactions across all markets, The Short Term Shop is the largest short term rental specialized brokerage in the United States.
Ready to invest in Broken Bow? The Short Term Shop has a dedicated agent who lives in the Broken Bow market and works exclusively with short term rental investors. Find your agent →
Disclaimer: Revenue figures cited in this article are based on market-wide data from third-party analytics platforms and reflect ranges across all properties in the market. They are not projections or guarantees for any specific property. Individual property performance varies significantly based on location, condition, amenities, management quality, and market conditions. Always conduct your own due diligence before making an investment decision.