Starting June, holidaymakers heading for Eigenbilzen (Bilzen-Hoeselt – Limburg) can spend the night under the wings of a Lockheed Starfighter, a supersonic interceptor jet introduced by NATO air forces during the 50s. B&B owner Luc Degens has spent the last two and a half years restoring the fighter jet and building a shelter around it. The shelter features an air force-themed bar with table football and darts facilities as well as a small cinema. For several years now the garden has also been the home of a restored Antonov An-2 biplane, in which you also spend the night.
B&B owner Luc Degens has been fascinated by aeroplanes all his life. As a child, he was into model-building, and as a young man he obtained his pilot’s licence. “Unfortunately, I was never able to pursue a career in aviation, so I opted for this form of aeroplane adoration instead.”
Since 2021, you’ve been able to stay in a restored Antonov An-2 in the B&B’s garden. But 2.5 years ago, Luc was also able to buy a Starfighter. “That’s a fighter jet. It’s the last one to have flown at the Belgian-American base at Kleine Brogel. I spent a year restoring it with great dedication. And after that, I spent another 1.5 years building the shelter around it."
Extra-large man cave
The B&B’s garden has now been renamed Wolf Mountain Airbase. “The starfighter is obviously the central attraction, but there’s also a small cinema, a football table, darts, and a hot tub is on the way. But the most special thing, of course, is that you can sleep under the wings of the fighter jet. As far as I know, it’s the first place in the world where you can do this,” beams Luc.
Wolf Mountain Airbase
In recent years, the Antonov An-2 has attracted a great many tourists to Eigenbilzen. “It really attracts all sorts of people,” notes Luc. “The youngest guest was seven days old and the oldest 90 years old. We often have pilots and air traffic controllers as guests, but also adventurers and ordinary people. We’ve already hosted 10 wedding nights or guests making marriage proposals.”