The Return of the Painted Rock Craze

🎨 The Return of the Painted Rock Craze – and Why Finlake Holiday Home Owners Should Get Involved 🎨

If you’ve spent any time scrolling through family holiday groups or watching community trends across the UK, you’ll have noticed something wonderful is making a colourful comeback: painted rocks. What started as a simple gesture of joy — leaving a hand-painted stone for someone else to find — has turned into a national craze once again. And we at Devon Holidays are thrilled to say: Finlake is joining back in!

Welcome to the revival of Hidden Rocks of Finlake, your lodge’s newest, simplest — and dare we say, most creative — opportunity for gentle, community-powered marketing and guest engagement. This isn’t just a fun idea for families (although it certainly is that!); it’s a strategic, heartfelt, and low-cost way to connect with park guests and build visibility for your holiday home.

What is the Hidden Rocks Craze?

For those unfamiliar with it, the painted rock movement began as a grassroots community activity. The idea is simple:

  1. Paint a rock with a fun design or kind message.

  2. Leave it somewhere public (usually outdoors).

  3. Someone else finds it, takes a picture, maybe posts about it online, and re-hides it for another person to find.

It’s fun, free, creative, and absolutely perfect for family holidays. What’s not to love?

Bringing It Back to Finlake

The idea was originally introduced at Finlake several years ago and quickly gained traction with young guests, creative adults, and nature lovers alike. We saw painted stones in the shape of bees, pebbles inscribed with inspiring messages, and cheerful smiley faces hidden beside trees or nestled near the pools.

Now, as the trend resurfaces across the UK, Devon Holidays has resurrected the Hidden Rocks of Finlake group, updated the artwork, cleaned the page up, and created a fresh call to action — not just for our guests, but for you, our valued property owners.

How It Works at Finlake Now

We’ve added a small but brilliant twist to the classic painted rock format: a QR code.

When a guest paints a rock, they’re encouraged to:

  • Stick the official Hidden Rocks of Finlake QR code to the bottom of their stone (we provide the downloadable version here: https://bit.ly/HROFI)

  • Seal the code with clear varnish or weatherproof sealant to keep it protected.

  • Hide the rock somewhere within the Finlake resort — by a tree, near the lodge paths, under a bench by the spa — anywhere safe and fun.

  • When another guest finds it, they scan the QR code and are taken directly to the Hidden Rocks of Finlake Facebook Group.

There, they can:

  • Post a picture of the rock they found

  • Share their excitement or leave clues for the next seeker

  • Re-hide the rock for others to enjoy

The Magic of Curiosity and Connection

Here’s where the real value for you, as a lodge owner, comes in.

Every person who finds a rock and scans that QR code will land in our Facebook group — a group that, while solely dedicated to the rock-hiding activity, is managed by Devon Holidays. That means every time someone enters the group, they’ll see our posts, our presence, and ultimately, our holiday homes.

This is what we call subliminal marketing — not in-your-face adverts, but gentle, memorable, and positive exposure to our brand (and your properties).

In an age where authenticity and connection mean more than ever, this kind of marketing is pure gold. It doesn’t interrupt the user’s experience — it enhances it.

And the best part? It works.

Why It Works for Holiday Homes

Let’s break down exactly why this seemingly simple initiative can support real bookings for your holiday home:

1. Emotional Engagement

Painted rocks create moments of joy. Guests feel a sense of surprise, connection, and fun — the exact emotions they associate with their holiday. That emotion sticks. And when it’s tied to the Devon Holidays brand, that memory includes you.

2. Viral Appeal

Guests love to post about their rock finds — especially kids and families. This organically spreads the word, with our QR code serving as a gentle digital handshake that says, “Come see more.”

3. Positive Brand Visibility

It doesn’t scream “book now” — it whispers “we’re part of something lovely.” Guests remember that when planning their next break, and if they’ve already joined the Facebook group, we’ve captured their attention long-term.

4. Cost-Free Promotion

This initiative costs you nothing. No advertising spend, no boosted posts — just community participation that feeds into your lodge’s visibility and Devon Holidays’ wider success.

5. Cross-Promotion Within the Group

Every new member of the group is another set of eyes on our updates, announcements, and availability alerts. This is a collective win — the more rocks placed, the more group activity, the more eyes on everyone’s listings.

How You and Your Family Can Get Involved

This isn’t just for guests — we’re encouraging all owners and their families to join in too!

Why not:

🎨 Have a fun Sunday afternoon painting rocks with your children or grandchildren?

🖨️ Print and stick on a few QR codes (remember to seal them!)

🪨 Leave them around the park on your next visit or during guest changeovers

💬 Post clues or photos of your rocks in the group

This is a brilliant way to stay connected to the Finlake experience, even when you’re not staying at the park.

Simple Rock Painting Ideas to Get You Started

Not sure what to paint? Here are some easy and popular ideas:

  • 🌈 Rainbows

  • 🐝 Bees

  • 😊 Smileys

  • 🐾 Animal prints

  • ❤️ Hearts with positive messages

  • 🎨 Swirls, stars, and colourful patterns

  • 🌸 Flowers and nature themes

  • 🏡 “Hidden Rocks of Finlake” taglines

Even simple designs have a big impact — especially when found by a young guest who feels like they’ve discovered treasure.

Some Practical Tips for Longevity

To make sure your rocks stand the test of time:

  • Use acrylic paints or paint pens – these are more weather-resistant

  • Apply at least two coats of outdoor varnish (especially over the QR code)

  • Make sure your QR is stuck flat and completely dry before sealing

  • Avoid placing rocks on slopes or near high-traffic areas where they could be tripping hazards

Remember: We want to create joy, not mess — so placement should always be safe and considerate of the resort grounds.

 

The Bigger Vision: Let’s Make It Big Again

 

Hidden Rocks of Finlake isn’t just a quirky activity. It’s a gentle movement toward re-enchantment — making the park feel alive with possibilities, surprises, and smiles.

But more than that, it’s an opportunity.

An opportunity for Devon Holidays to reach new audiences.

An opportunity for guests to feel engaged, seen, and part of something magical.

An opportunity for you, as a lodge owner, to stand out in a sea of sameness and offer guests something a little extra — a little unexpected — a little unforgettable.

Let’s make it big again. Let’s turn Hidden Rocks of Finlake into the park’s most talked-about activity — and give your guests one more reason to come back year after year.

What To Do Next:

✅ Join the Facebook group yourself: https://bit.ly/HROFI

✅ Share the link with your family, friends, and past guests

✅ Download and print the QR code – stick it under your rocks

✅ Start painting and hiding!

✅ Encourage your guests to join in — leave a rock in your lodge with a note explaining the game

✅ Tag Devon Holidays in any posts you make so we can share and reshare!

Final Thoughts

In the holiday lettings world, the big marketing channels often dominate. But the most lasting impressions? They come from little things. A kind message. A thoughtful surprise. A tiny rock with a rainbow on it that leads someone to something bigger.

Let’s paint those memories into the very fabric of Finlake — one stone at a time.

Thank you for being part of our Devon Holidays family. Let’s make this summer the most colourful, joyful, and connected one yet.

🪨🎉