The weirdest homes in America

We all have different tastes when it comes to architecture, interior design and what it takes to make a house a home, but for some people a run-of-the-mill building with four walls and a roof just doesn’t cut it. And thank goodness! 

These weird, wonderful and whacky abodes highlight the extraordinary range of homes across America. They celebrate our differences, shine a spotlight on our creativity, and maybe even inspire us to think outside the box.

Click or scroll on to step inside the most unusual properties in the United States…

This green, curvy home is nestled on the banks of a lovely creek in Clark Fork, Idaho. Laid on the grass mere feet from the water, the property has the appearance of a mythical sea creature that has accidentally found its way ashore.

Formed from three rotund domes, the mysterious and magical house is certainly one you won’t find anywhere else.

The house was built in 1999 and from above, you can really see the unique layout of the place. The 1,286-square-foot home was formed using concrete and wire, allowing for an organic and rustic finish.

Inside, you’ll find a characterful floor plan, with plenty of unusual nooks and oddly shaped rooms.

A long tunnel leads inside, to where an open-plan living room and kitchen can be found. The biggest dome houses three bedrooms and a single bathroom, the middle dome features two bedrooms and one bathroom, and the smallest has a petite bedroom and bathroom.

Every single element of the house has been hand-crafted, including the kitchen cabinets, closets and built-ins.

The house has no electricity, but since the domes were made from six-inch thick concrete walls, with a layer of insulation and a waterproof membrane, the interior has an ambient temperature all year round.

The property was first listed for sale in August 2008 for $240,000 (£197k) but after a year with no bites it was removed from the market. Since then, the house has been listed and delisted multiple times, most recently in October 2021 for $269,000 (£213k), finally securing a buyer for an undisclosed sum two months later. We’d love to see what the new owner has done to it!

Big, bulging and brilliant in every way, this one-of-a-kind house finds itself on the edge of Lake Bowen in Inman, South Carolina. The barrel-like home was constructed in 1977 and appears to have been inflated like a giant balloon.

Sadly, the listing doesn’t explain why the property has such a unique shape, or the story behind how it came to be.

On the market via Leslie Horne & Associates for $595,000 (£471.3k), the robust round house seems to be in the midst of an interior renovation, but the current owners have decided to wave goodbye mid-way through the project.

The ultimate opportunity for someone seeking a unique house they can put their own stamp on, this bulbous building offers plenty of potential. 

Inside, there’s 1,960 square feet of space, which includes a rounded living room, a dining area, kitchen, three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Some of the rooms even benefit from retro design details from the 70s, such as exposed brick walls and wood panelled ceilings. There are plenty of unusual modern features, too, including custom windows of every shape.

As well as its surreal exterior and fixer-upper interior, the house also boasts a large garden with 73 feet of water frontage. There’s also a dock and a floating patio with wonderful waterfront views.

Over in Terlingua, Texas, you’ll find a custom-built home like no other. From a distance, the property, which was constructed in 2000, appears to be an average residence, created using colourful pebbles.

Yet take a few steps closer and suddenly something else entirely will come into view…

Along with an array of colourful and rugged stones, the exterior of the property also harbours plenty of hidden objects. From vintage cameras to old guns, agate gemstones, crystals, bottles, rotary phones and even fossils, the façade is a treasure trove of trinkets and artefacts.

“Everywhere you turn, there’s something to see,” the listing agent, Skye Farris, told Realtor. “A game of ‘I Spy’ would be really fun.”

Just when you thought the bizarre building couldn’t get any more, well, bizarre, check out the odd interior! As soon as you step through the front door, you’ll instantly spot a swing, suspended in the middle of the living room.

The modest 1,209-square-foot pad has been handcrafted, so many of the rooms feature rough exposed stone, roughly plastered walls and stained-glass windows.

There’s a hand-built kitchen, an all-pebble bathroom (as well as this outdoor bath) and a rather unique master bedroom that has a distinctive medieval feel. Despite being rather old-fashioned, the pad does benefit from some modern touches. In fact, it’s highly eco-friendly and offers solar power and its own water source.

The peculiar property hit the market back in July 2021 for $365,000 (£289k), but perhaps unsurprisingly it struggled to sell. The price was later dropped, before the listing was removed altogether in July 2022.

America is home to some truly fascinating roadside attractions, but the Haines Shoe House in York, Pennsylvania, might just be the most bizarre of them all.

The weird and wonderful home was constructed by eccentric millionaire and footwear tycoon Mahlon Haines in 1948. The self-made businessman was well-known for his odd advertisement campaigns, but this 25-foot-tall shoe-shaped property might just be his most outlandish. 

To create the three-dimensional billboard, Haines constructed a wood frame with wire lath, coated in cement stucco.

Inspired by a high-topped work shoe, the home spans 48 feet in length and 17 feet at its widest part. Decorated with tiny stained-glass windows, the inside is cosy, bespoke and totally befitting of an eccentric millionaire. 

Inside, there are five floors, complete with a living room, kitchen, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

Haines originally opened the property as an unusual holiday home and even allowed newlyweds to stay in the house for free, according to Hellam Township, where the property is located.

After exchanging hands many times over the years, the property is now a popular roadside attraction for people passing along Route 30. In fact, the home has become so iconic that it’s fittingly located on Shoe House Road. 

By far one of the world’s most surreal homes, this property hit the real estate market in 2021 for a cool $4.3 million (£3.4m), but it was more than its price tag that caused a stir.

Aptly nicknamed ‘Darth Vader House’, the dramatic residence has the appearance of a Sith’s helmet, although the original owner was reportedly aiming for an aviation-inspired design. But it’s not just the home’s façade that boasts plenty of personality…

Despite being an unintentional superfan shrine, the house attracted Star Wars enthusiasts from across the country and looked to have finally sold in November 2021 for around $3.1 million (£2.5m). Yet, according to Zillow by 2022 it was listed for sale once again before hitting the rental market and the listing was removed again!

Built in 1992, the house features around 7,000 square feet of interior space, made up of multi-level living spaces, decorated with walls of glass, concrete and stone. The centrepiece of the home is a sunken conversation pit, framed by a dual staircase.

Although the front of the house gives the impression of a dark and mysterious residence, the interior is actually pretty light and inviting, thanks to its abundant glazing.

While the floors are made from hand-cut concrete and stone, the walls were painted to resemble granite or marble.

The space-age home comes equipped with four bedrooms and five bathrooms, as well as a large kitchen, dining room and a glass office. Every room is decorated with a sophisticated monochrome colour palette and statement furnishings.

Outside, there’s even a balcony overlooking the swimming pool. 

From the outside, this rustic castle looks fairly ordinary, but step inside and things begin to get slightly stranger.

Located atop the Seven Sisters above the Connecticut River, Gillette Castle was built in 1914 by notable actor, director and playwright, William Hooker Gillette, famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in 1916.

Sitting inside a 184-acre estate, the magnificent mansion was inspired by medieval architecture but was constructed using steel and local fieldstone.

Gillette designed every inch of the eye-catching castle, including the interior furnishings. According to Connecticut’s official state website, it took 20 men five years to complete the main structure and Gillette checked every phase of the build, keen to create the perfect house. 

Outside, you’ll find walking trails that meander through tunnels and feature near-vertical steps, a three-mile narrow gauge railroad and even a private train station known as Grand Central. 

Inside, the impressive property boasts 24 one-of-a-kind rooms, overflowing with quirky touches. Every room boasts incredible woodwork, created from hand-hewn southern white oak. There are 47 doors inside and no two are the same. Each one boasts a unique latch, intricately carved from wood by five local artisans.

Undeniably inspired by the complexities and flair of Sherlock Holmes himself, the property is entirely eccentric. The unusual interior re-opened to visitors in May 2023 after it was closed for several months while the castle’s terrace underwent a $500,000 (£396k) facelift.

The 14,000-square-foot mansion cost Gillette $1.1 million to build in 1914, which equates to around $33.8 million (£26.8m) in today’s money. Inside, you’ll find built-in couches, a movable table that sits on tracks and wooden light switches (pictured) that were made to resemble the levers you find backstage at theatres.

But that’s not all. The house is also said to be filled with secret passageways, hidden doors and clandestine rooms. 

From the outside, the home is imposing and fantastical, resembling something from a Brothers Grimm fairytale. Inside, you’ll find 18,777 square feet of space, encompassing eight bedrooms, an entry hall, a bespoke kitchen and endless formal living rooms, kitted out with large stone fireplaces.

Throughout the American castle there are plenty of distinctive architectural touches too, such as inlaid floors, stained-glass windows and doors formed from over 25 different hardwoods imported from around the world.

While some consider this modern castle in Woodstock, Connecticut to be one of the world’s oddest homes, others see it as a feat of engineering.

Positioned on a prominent 75-acre estate, the mesmerising house was built in 2010 by Christopher Mark, an entrepreneur and figurine creator with a unique sense of style. The home’s wow-factor façade features a moat and 126-foot towers.

Other curious design choices include hand-painted statement ceilings, suits of armour, a dungeon and a glass observation tower. 

Elsewhere, you’ll find a luxurious basement that spans 4,500 square feet, a raised stage and auditorium, a staff apartment and numerous outdoor decks equipped with radiant floors, which keeps them snow-free in the winter. 

The kitchen is one of the home’s most unusual spaces, thanks to its rotund fixtures, dark cabinetry and eccentric cloud-motif ceiling.

In November 2021, this American castle hit the property market for a cool $35 million (£27.7m) and despite not securing a buyer, in January 2022 it received a price hike to $60 million (£47.5m). However, the quirky home struggled to secure a buyer and the listing was mysteriously removed.

As unique as it is adorable, Pickle Barrel House can be found in Grand Marais, Michigan, and is undoubtedly one of America’s quirkiest roadside attractions.

The weird and wonderful building was originally built in 1926 by the Pioneer Cooperage Company as a summer home for cartoonist William Donahey.

Donahey created the Chicago Tribune‘s popular Teenie Weenie cartoon strip and even drew advertisements for pickle vendors, Reid-Murdock & Co., who just so happened to sell their product in a small-scale version of the Pickle Barrel House.

Quirky and characterful, the tiny cabin once sat next to Sable Lake, but in 1937 it was moved to Grand Marais and placed on the corner of Lake Avenue and Randolph Street, where it can be found today.

The characterful cottage comes equipped with a living room, a kitchen, a pantry and a bedroom, spread across two floors.

After it was a celebrity holiday home, the property became a visitor information centre for the town, as well as an ice cream stand and gift shop. In 2003 the Historical Society purchased the building, restoring it to its original condition.

Today, the bizarre building operates as a museum and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. So, if you’re passing Pickle Barrel House, stop by to soak up its unique design and cosy 1920s interior.

When you think about lakeside homes, you’ll probably conjure up images of idyllic Cape Cod-style properties or rustic cabins with cosy interiors. But it’s unlikely you’d imagine anything quite like this next house in Bremen, Alabama.

Almost defying description, Smith Lake Castle is one of the quirkiest residences in America, if not the world…

The home’s characterful waterfront exterior with its unusual spine-like column certainly makes a statement, as does its angular landward side. Positioned on the edge of scenic Lewis Smith Lake, this modern castle was built in the 1980s from masonry and steel.

While its appearance might be divisive, there’s no denying it’s a feat of engineering. From its sloping walls and ceilings to its prominent towers, windows and stonework, the property was a long time in the making.

Things are no less strange inside either. The 5,500-square-foot spread is laid out over four floors and features a medieval-style aesthetic throughout.

From custom tile work and quirky built-in cabinetry to asymmetrical ceilings and walls that appear to be falling in on themselves, the interior is fabulously eclectic.

The bathroom might be one of the home’s most unusual spaces, thanks to its built-in tub that takes on the appearance of a coiled snake. 

The castle is currently on the market for an impressive $4.9 million (£3.9m) and comes with around six acres of land, with the option to buy additional waterfront and woodland space.

Luna Parc is the home of American multimedia artist Ricky Boscarino, who designed every inch of the property himself.

Located within a sprawling eight-acre wood in the Sandyston Township, New Jersey, the residence was inspired by the Hundertwasser House in Vienna, Austria, and Gaudí’s Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain. 

Ricky began transforming the property in 1989. When he first bought the quirky house it was an entirely ordinary 600-square-foot cabin.

Over the last three decades, Ricky has dedicated his life to creating a whimsical, fairytale home almost ten times its original size using a variety of media, including metal, clay, glass, wood and cement. He often shares his creativity on Instagram.

While the exterior of the home is loud and colourful, decorated with characterful faces and giant mosaic artworks, the interior is reminiscent of a fairytale castle, with porthole windows, cosy reading nooks, handmade furnishings and hand-carved statues.

No matter your thoughts on the property, it’s clear a lot of time, care and love went into building it.

Now open to the public, the 5,000-square-foot building houses thousands of absurd and exotic artefacts for visitors to discover.

The unique home comprises living quarters, a museum and a workshop, which is generally open on select weekends throughout the year, although guests must book a timed reservation slot. How’s that for unique?

We know what you’re thinking – what’s weird about this rather unassuming home? Well, the property appears completely normal from the outside. That is, however, until you take a look at the floor plan…

That’s right, the house is shaped like a guitar! But for good reason. The property was designed by country music star, Elvis Carden, back in 1986. What better way to celebrate his career than by building a house shaped like his favourite instrument?

Complete with a curving body, long fret board and a headstock, the roof even features a bridge and a faux sound hole (formed from a circular skylight). The pad was Carden’s home for many years, but it also acted as his muse…

In fact, one of Carden’s most famous songs was called Living in an Old Guitar! As soon as you head inside though, you discover the 3,122-square-foot home is pretty stunning.

Thanks to its unusual shape, every room benefits from quirky alcoves, curving walls and curious architectural touches. The unusual celebrity home has an open-plan living room with a compact kitchen, five bedrooms and four bathrooms. 

Since Carden’s ownership, the house has been fully renovated and is now light-filled, modern and chic. Other highlights include the pad’s two in-law suites (one can be found in the basement) and its lovely period fixtures, think original wood plank floors and 10-inch ceiling beams.

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny the amount of thought that went into the construction of this weird and wonderful home. If you fancy owning it for yourself, then it’s currently up for grabs for $685,000 (£643k).

How’s this for a bijou boathouse? While you won’t be able to hit the high seas in this unique home, it certainly has buckets of character. 

Built in 1998, the Bull Ship Gulf Front Getaway is an iconic one-bedroom, two-bathroom property built on stilts and surrounded by palm trees on the main street of Horseshoe Beach, Florida. 

The 544-square-foot interior is floor-to-ceiling wood and feels authentically nautical. Despite the small space, it has a tiny kitchen with a breakfast bar and a table for four, as well as one master suite.

The polished wood floor, porthole windows, thick ropes and a log burning stove all create a cosy space to kick back in and pretend you’re out on the open ocean.

Perfect for pirates, the top deck features a wheel, as well as a (hopefully non-functional) canon, perhaps to warn away pesky seagulls. If that sounds a little too dramatic, there’s also plenty of space for catching some rays. In fact, the one-of-a-kind home boasts several decks, each with plenty of seating space.

While The Bull Ship is certainly somewhat strange, there’s nothing wrong with the peaceful sea view that stretches beyond its jetty. If this home floats your boat, you’re in luck: it’s currently on the market for $580,000 (£459k).

Described in the listing as a “very, very awesome” place to escape to and watch the “birds and the boaters”, we can imagine The Bull Ship making a fun holiday home for sailors and landlubbers alike. 

All aboard for a tour around this historic home! Built in 1925, this unusual abode is a Pullman Standard 3 train compartment, with three bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, an oak-panelled office with built-in desk and an industrial kitchen.

Currently located in Montana, ‘Nhn Nka’ is every rail enthusiast’s dream. Let’s take a look around…

Mechanically overhauled and refurbished in 1998, the owner has tipped their Stetson to the Wild West and decorated the space in a western theme throughout.

Antler light fixtures and equine photographs adorn the walls, while the window blinds have been decorated with cowboy stencils. There are even cattle brands burnt into the wood everywhere from bunk beds to toilet seats.

The 900-square-feet home features plenty of living space, including this dining room, complete with antler chandelier and cowboy-themed stained-glass cabinets with wooden lasso details. 

Elsewhere there’s a spacious observation room, which would have originally been used by passengers to take in wide views of the passing scenery.

The weird and wonderful home is on the market for $249,000 (£197k) and comes fully furnished. The current owner is even willing to help facilitate the railcar’s transport to its new location.

So far, it’s never been off the rails, but it could be placed on an empty lot or in a garden as a home, guest house, vacation rental or even a tourist attraction. 

Is it just us, or does this house have a distinctly feline feel? Built in 1969, it’s described in the listing as an “Asian influenced masterpiece of architecture and Japanese design”.

The distinctly unusual imported New Zealand blue metal tile roof looks remarkably like cat ears, with two round windows in place of eyes and a circular entryway for a nose.

Inside, the Japanese theme continues throughout the five-bedroom, four-bathroom home, although with less feline flavour.

Decorative Asian-style metal work separates a walkway from the formal living area, while enormous urns, red oriental rugs and matching pendant lights all serve to emphasise the concept. 

A second living area features a sunken living room, a hallmark of 1960s American design. A black and pink colour scheme continues to the kitchen beyond, as well as to a black bar, which is just out of shot – even the metal hood over the fireplace is bright fuchsia! Sliding doors in the style of shoji, Japanese room dividers, open to a courtyard with a pool.

The Japanese style isn’t as pronounced in the kitchen, but that’s more than made up for by the abundance of bright pink, which adorns almost every element of the room other than the ceiling.

Beyond the kitchen, a mirrored dining room adds another eccentric element to the weird and wonderful space. Floating glass shelves display porcelain figurines, while ceramic elephants soften the corners of the room. 

Outside, the half-acre corner lot features zen waterfalls, neat lawns and a canal.

While it may be unusual, this house is purrfect for lovers of cats and Japanese design alike – and if that’s you, you’re in luck! The quirky home is currently available for s shade under $1.3 million (£1m). 

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