Are these the most bizarre buildings in the US?

For some people, four square walls and a white picket fence just don’t cut it. From the Flintstone House in California to a guitar-shaped home in Georgia and even a psychedelic artist’s retreat in New Jersey, these crazy homes go to the extremes of architectural possibilities. Click or scroll on to step inside the weirdest properties in the United States.

Bulbous dome house, Clark Fork, Idaho

This green, curvy home is nestled on the banks of a lovely creek in Clark Fork, Idaho. Laid on the grᴀss 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.

Bulbous dome house, Clark Fork, Idaho

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 floorplan, with plenty of unusual nooks and oddly shaped rooms.

Bulbous dome house, Clark Fork, Idaho

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

Bulbous dome house, Clark Fork, Idaho

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 countless times, without securing a buyer. We can’t think why…

Barrel house, Inman, South Carolina

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.

Barrel house, Inman, South Carolina

On the market via Leslie Horne & ᴀssociates for $650,000 (£534k), 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.

Barrel house, Inman, South Carolina

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.

Barrel house, Inman, South Carolina

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.

Treasure house, Terlingua, Texas

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…

Treasure house, Terlingua, Texas

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.”

Treasure house, Terlingua, Texas

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 hand crafted, so many of the rooms feature rough exposed stone, poorly plastered walls and stained glᴀss windows.

Treasure house, Terlingua, Texas

There’s a hand-built kitchen, an all-pebble bathroom 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 (£300k), but rather unsurprisingly it struggled to sell. The price was later dropped, before the listing was removed altogether.

Flintstone House, California, USA

Located in the town of Hillsborough, California, this otherworldly house has attracted a fair amount of controversy over the years. Constructed in 1977 by architect William Nicholson, the property was bought by media mogul Florence Fang in 2017, who turned the already unusual house into a treasure trove of quirky furnishings and ornaments.

Flintstone House, California, USA

Resembling Fred and Wilma’s Stone Age home from the popular cartoon The Flinstones, the surreal residence is made up of a series of large rotund shapes painted in bright purple and red hues. The home’s unusual curves were created using wire and sH๏τcrete, a type of concrete that is sprayed through a hose. Fang added the large purple dome in 2017, which further enhanced the home’s unusual visual finish.

Flintstone House, California, USA

The iconic bubble house hit the headlines numerous times when Fang became wrapped up in a legal battle with the town of Hillsborough. Lawyers representing the up-market community argued that the house was an eyesore after Fang painted the exterior from its original white shade. Of course, the home’s interior is just as strange. Its rugged, rounded walls create a cave-like atmosphere, while its colorful decorations include Flintstone motifs, dolls and naive-style modern artworks.

Flintstone House, California, USA

Other unusual additions include Jerusalem stone floor tiles, curved back-lit alcoves, sunken furnishings and a kitchen that resembles a spaceship. To make matters worse, Fang chose to decorate the backyard with giant dinosaur statues, which her neighbours took a great disliking to. It’s really no wonder this property has been hailed one of the weirdest in the world.

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California

Known as the Winchester Mystery House, this grand mansion in San Jose, California, has often been described as the strangest home in America – and for good reason! With a long and fascinating history, the property was extended and renovated for more than 36 years, but to this day it remains unfinished.

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California

The iconic stately home was purchased in 1885 by Sarah Winchester, the heir to a gun manufacturing firm. The original property was a fairly nondescript eight-bedroom farmhouse, but with money in her pocket, Winchester decided to transform the home into something a little more unique. By the time she pᴀssed away in 1922, it had become a vast mansion covering 24,000 square feet, with 160 rooms.

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California

In 1924, Illusionist Harry Houdini visited the property, dubbing it ‘The Mystery House’, which helped elevate the property to icon status. Today, the house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and operates as a museum. Inside, the weird property features a network of shadowy pᴀssages, twisting staircases and clandestine doors, not to mention unusual interior design choices. The ballroom, for example, boasts brocade wallpaper and a carved wood organ.

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California

Rumour has it that Winchester’s obsession with the number 13 influenced many of her design decisions, so much so that there are 13 steps on each staircase, 13 lights in each chandelier and 13 panels in every wall. Apparently, Winchester employed a team of contractors to work day and night on the house, spending a reported $5.5 million (£4.5 million) in the process.

The Haines Shoe House, York, Pennsylvania

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.

The Haines Shoe House, York, Pennsylvania

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-glᴀss windows, the inside is cosy, bespoke and totally befitting of an eccentric millionaire.

The Haines Shoe House, York, Pennsylvania

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.

The Haines Shoe House, York, Pennsylvania

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

Darth Vader House, Houston, Texas

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 (£3.5m), 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…

Darth Vader House, Houston, Texas

Despite being an unintentional superfan shrine, the house attracted Star Wars enthusiasts from across the country and finally sold in November 2021 for around $3.1 million (£2.6m). 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 glᴀss, concrete and stone. The centerpiece of the home is a sunken conversation pit, framed by a dual staircase.

Darth Vader House, Houston, Texas

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.

Darth Vader House, Houston, Texas

The space-age home comes equipped with four bedrooms and five bathrooms, as well as a large kitchen, dining room and a glᴀss office. Every room is decorated with a sophisticated monochrome colour palette and statement furnishings. Outside, there’s even a balcony overlooking the swimming pool.

Sand Dollar House, Lakeway, Texas

With its unique, mushroom-like form, Sand Dollar House was designed by John Covert Watson, who studied under one of America’s greatest architects, Frank Lloyd Wright. Undeniably unique, some believe the property was inspired by the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, which Wright was working on at the time – and it isn’t hard to see the resemblance. With its white rotund exterior and organic shape, this dazzling residence definitely reminds us of the iconic art gallery.

Sand Dollar House, Lakeway, Texas

Despite its similarity to the Guggenheim, the house was actually inspired by sand dollars, a type of sea urchin. An important piece of organic modern architecture, Sand Dollar House was completed in 1979 using a mix of steel and gunite. Spanning 2,240 square feet, the round home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, as well as light-filled living spaces.

Sand Dollar House, Lakeway, Texas

Inside, you’ll find stunning living spaces, kitted out with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors, teardrop-shaped skylights and gorgeous beehive fireplaces. The spacious kitchen cantilevers over the water, while a beautiful custom spiral staircase leads to the heart of the home. Many of the rooms spill out onto exterior patios and suspended decks, which gradually wind down towards the water and offer unobstructed views across Lake Travis.

Sand Dollar House, Lakeway, Texas

Over the years, Sand Dollar House has been listed for sale numerous times, for as much as $2.2 million (£1.8m) and as little as $899,000 (£742k). In 2020 it hit the market again and finally sold in January 2021 for $1.8 million (£1.5m). If this house is wrong, then we don’t want to be right!

Gillette Castle, Lyme, Connecticut

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 Castle, Lyme, Connecticut

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.

Gillette Castle, Lyme, Connecticut

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.

Gillette Castle, Lyme, Connecticut

The 14,000-square-foot mansion cost Gillette $1.1 million (£907k), which equates to around $28.3 million (£23m) in today’s money. Inside, you’ll find built-in couches, a movable table that sits on tracks and wooden light switches 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 pᴀssageways, hidden doors and clandestine rooms.

Unique castle, Woodstock, Connecticut

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, encompᴀssing 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-glᴀss windows and doors formed from over 25 different hardwoods imported from around the world.

Unique castle, Woodstock, Connecticut

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.

Unique castle, Woodstock, Connecticut

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

Unique castle, Woodstock, Connecticut

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 (£29m) and despite not securing a buyer, in January 2022 it received a price hike to $60 million (£50m). But as of yet, the quirky home has struggled to secure a buyer.

Pickle Barrel House, Grand Marais, Michigan

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.

Pickle Barrel House, Grand Marais, Michigan

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.

Pickle Barrel House, Grand Marais, Michigan

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.

Pickle Barrel House, Grand Marais, Michigan

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

Smith Lake Castle, Bremen, Alabama

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…

Smith Lake Castle, Bremen, Alabama

The home’s characterful exterior with its unusual spine-like column certainly makes a statement. 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.

Smith Lake Castle, Bremen, Alabama

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.

Smith Lake Castle, Bremen, Alabama

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 hit the market in January 2019, for a whopping $5.2 million (£4.3m), complete with all the furnishings, but for some strange reason, it failed to sell…

Luna Parc, Sandyston Township, New Jersey

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 Hundertwᴀsser House in Vienna, Austria, and Gaudí’s Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain.

Luna Parc, Sandyston Township, New Jersey

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, glᴀss, wood and cement. He often shares his creativity on Instagram.

Luna Parc, Sandyston Township, New Jersey

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.

Luna Parc, Sandyston Township, New Jersey

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?

Guitar House, Fayetteville, Georgia

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

Guitar House, Fayetteville, Georgia

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 soundhole (formed from a circular skylight). The pad was Carden’s home for many years, but it also acted as his muse…

Guitar House, Fayetteville, Georgia

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.

Guitar House, Fayetteville, Georgia