Abandoned Mushroom House in Northern Michigan Lists for $4.5 Million

Nate Granata, a listing agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, was quoted as saying, “I knew it has gone crazy, but I didn’t know it was the most popular home—ridiculous.” that’s [Citation needed] “This thatch house is kind of like the face of Charlevoix, and when it went [up] for sale, there was a frenzy, and everyone kind of went wild,” the realtor said. As everyone in our community started acting crazy, it was like a bomb went off.

Both the main house and the detached guesthouse that comes with it are currently available for purchase for a combined price of $4.5 million.

The magnificent main house, which is around 4,000 square feet in size, was constructed by Earl Young in 1918 when he built the stone walls, which are still standing today.

Granata explains that the stones originated in Lake Michigan, which is located diagonally across the street from the property in question. “From the living room, you have a view of the nearby lake. During the winter, when the leaves are off the trees and the weather is colder, you might obtain better vistas.

Entry(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)

This residence is created by Young, who is responsible for the creation of a couple of dozen other mushroom-style dwellings in the Charlevoix area.

Young was infamous for building homes without utilizing blueprints, which is why each house is unique. He tailored the design of each one to be in harmony with the surrounding environment, and taken as a whole, they exude a sense of whimsy with their rounded lines, rough stone, copious amounts of wood, and wonderful mushroom-shaped roofs.

The present owners purchased this foreclosed home in 2012 for the price of $349,000 after it had been vacant since 2012. These included the thatch roof, a characteristic that grabbed the curiosity of home enthusiasts from coast to coast all the way throughout the country. They designed the house on a napkin and decided to leave Young’s stone walls in place during the major renovation they undertook. This was the beginning of a massive endeavor.

“The owner has a doctorate in engineering and took it upon himself as a side project since he is passionate about it.” Granata affirms, “He renovated the entire house, from the floors to the roof, and it looks just stunning.” Everything was made to order and brought in from abroad.

Granata explains that the thatch that was utilized for the roof “was imported from Europe, and he had a master thatcher come out and come and install the roof.” “In the past, it had a roof shaped like a mushroom, but it wasn’t composed of any kind of thatch material. It was just your everyday shingle.”

Aerial view(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)
Bedroom(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)
Bedroom(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)

According to Granata’s calculations, the renovation set them back a considerable amount of money.

There are a total of five full bathrooms and six bedrooms available in the main house. The living space in the guesthouse is around 2,000 square feet, and it includes a loft in addition to the main bedroom.

Although the furnishings are not included in the sale, their inclusion may be open to discussion throughout the transaction. Each item was handpicked with precision in order to compliment the one-of-a-kind allure of the house.

There is not a door that leads to Home Depot anywhere in the house. “I believe I really love the originality of it and that everything in that house has been thoroughly thought of,” Granata adds. Everything in the house has been imported or custom-made just for the house.

Bedroom(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)
Fireplace(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)
Dining room(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)

The owner lives in the home personally and also lets other people rent it out. On a website that advertises holiday rentals, the nightly rate is listed as ranging between $1,100 and $1,900.

According to Granata, the prospective purchaser will most likely be someone who values the creative elements of the residence and takes pleasure in its one-of-a-kind character.

“If you had $4.5 million, you could literally create or buy anything you wanted to. There would be no restrictions. “To spend that type of money on this style of home, you really need to find satisfaction in living in it,” he explains. “It’s really quite stunning. It’s beautiful from the ground up to the very top.”

Bedroom(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)
Wine cellar(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)
Exterior(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)
Kitchen(Courtesy Dr. Michael Seitz)

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