Three bedrooms. One full bath with an additional partial bath. Thirty-foot ceilings. An indoor natural groundwater spring pool.
The listing for the property in Festus, Missouri, starts off like any other real-estate listing—and then it gets interesting. That’s because the whole home is built inside a 17,000-square-foot cave.
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Owners Curt and Deborah Sleeper found the man-made cave on eBay in late 2003 and spent the next four years constructing a 5,000-square-foot house inside. Now, real-estate agent Rhonda Overberg says the Sleepers are ready to downsize, and the 2.91-acre property is on the market for $349,900.
The cave was originally a mine and later became the site of Caveland Roller Rink, in the 1950s. Today, the property sits along a cul-de-sac, not far from local shopping and dining options.
The cave is divided into three chambers. The front chamber contains the main living areas, including all three bedrooms. The middle chamber houses the laundry room, storage, and a spare bathroom. The back chamber, where the roller rink was once located, still has the stage where Ted Nugent, Bob Seger and others are rumored to have performed.
The house doesn’t have a furnace or air-conditioning, but the cave’s natural features keep it a consistent temperature throughout the year. It also features large windows to let in as much light as possible. “It has a lot of sunlight coming through the front,” Overberg says. “You really wouldn’t know you’re not in a regularly constructed home when you walk in.”
The Address: 1101 N. 11th, Festus
The Price: $349,900
The Agents: Overberg Team RE/MAX Best Choice, 314-650-3024, overbergteam.com
