Sometimes the way to go isn’t up — it’s below! Just an hour outside of Waco, Texas, in the small town of Buffalo, lies one of The Lonestar State’s most curious domiciles, one you might have trouble finding from the air because it’s located totally underground.
Set on a little more than 39 acres of rolling Texas countryside, the by-every-standard quirky residence is fashioned out of a monolithic dome and measures in at a roomy 3,000 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Plus, it’s completely prepared to accommodate a survivalist “prepper” lifestyle — its off-grid capabilities include a deep well, its own septic tank and a gated entrance. The not-so-little Texan wonder is currently asking $1.9 million.
The thought of living underground without any windows might seem depressing, but never fear! The previous owner made sure to remedy that — despite its lack of windows, the home definitely does not lack for scenery. Stepping into the vine-cloaked construction through its hobbit-like front door, visitors will immediately find themselves in a wonderland of arguably cheesy murals that will have them wondering how far they stumbled down the rabbit hole.
Splashed with vivid neon colors, the atrium area of the home is painted in a psychedelic wash of eccentric patterns that leads to a long tunnel that features a trompe l’oeil paint job that looks like rough cut stones. The faux-stone tunnel leads to the great room, which contains the dining room, kitchen and family area. The cavernous space’s curvaceous walls depict a vaguely Mediterranean scene with buildings that overlook the sea with trees and vines that reach towards the arched ceiling. And, for those who are allergic or just don’t care for real-live canines, the wrap-around mural in the great room even includes a very happy looking pooch.
The lounge area is centered around a large TV and boasts a built-in entertainment center and a wet bar, while the dining area is set against a mural of a stone terrace with serene sea view. And, though the open-plan kitchen is not exactly up to date, it has plenty of counter space and all of the necessary culinary accouterment needed to whip up a kiss-your-mother-good bowl of pasta.
Some other places that one could visit within the tunnel home include a Mayan jungle, an Egyptian tomb and, if they’re feeling like getting their toes wet (in spirit at least), they could head over to one of the guest bedrooms that’s been painted to resemble a wide crescent beach. The main bedroom, on the other hand, is painted as if it’s in the middle of the Mayan jungle.
A Mediterranean theme dominates the master bath where grand Corinthian columns guard either side of the garden-style tub that is backed by a mural that depicts a view overlooking sea-side cliffs. Other notable rooms include a vaguely dungeon-themed home office gloomy enough to serve as Dracula’s vacation home and a second exit tunnel that shows a fantastical ocean-scape complete with friendly sea creatures like dolphins and an octopus.
In addition to all it has to offer below ground, the property’s above-ground features include a garage and two workshops. The workshops collectively offer more than 7,000 square feet of work space, plus three additional rooms and a full bathroom. However, the amenities that the residence has to offer are understandably shadowed by its outré décor.
The listing is held by Terri Alexander of Re/Max.