Arne's Royal Hawaiian Motel, where John Person resides for most of the movie, is a real business; or at least was at the time of filming in 2003. In 2009 it was officially closed. As of 2018 it is abandoned, but still standing, with it's original signs. The area still holds the sparse, lonely, western ambiance and cinematography that contributed so much to the film.
In an interview, Jon Favreau said that when he read the script for The Big Empty, he was fascinated by its structure, as he didn't see where it was all going in the end.
Among those thanks is Ron Howard.