Tucked away in the hills of River Falls is the Wisconsin Hobbit House, a mesmerizing 2,300-square-foot underground home. Originally built in the 1970s by local architect Michael McGuire, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom property features a whimsical exterior that blends right into the earth. While the outside looks like a fantasy set, stepping through the front door reveals a design that defies all conventional expectations.
This unique property is technically a bermed earth home, meaning the soil is packed directly over the roofline to provide natural geothermal insulation. The structure is actually formed by two staggered Quonset huts connected by a wooden hallway. Because it sits in the unflattened driftless region of Wisconsin, the home was perfectly built right into the side of a cliff.
Because the house is built underground, visitors can actually walk right over the top of it. Up on the grassy roof, five massive skylights plunge natural sunlight into the living spaces below. This upper level also discreetly houses the home's essential technical equipment, like air conditioning units and exhaust vents.
The interior feels like a modern art museum. The bright white, cavernous walls are made from steel culverts sprayed with closed-cell foam, creating a beautifully amorphous, sculptural texture. Nearly all of the minimalist furniture, including the massive built-in couch, is completely original to the 1970s build.
The home's design was heavily inspired by visionary architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Paolo Soleri. Amazingly, the current owners still have Michael McGuire's original 1972 blueprints. These hand-drawn floor plans are works of art in themselves, showcasing the beautiful curvilinear elements long before computer-aided design existed.
The kitchen wraps elegantly around the curved walls, featuring original built-in cabinetry and a cozy breakfast nook that sits low to the ground. It is fully modernized with sleek white Cafe appliances and a retro SMEG refrigerator. A floating wooden beam serves as open shelving, adding a warm touch to the bright space.
To reach the bedrooms, guests walk through a wooden hallway that connects the two underground Quonset huts. This transition area cleverly doubles as a utility room, housing a full laundry station and HVAC equipment. Overhead, custom lights hang down like glowing stalagmites, giving the space a fun cave-like atmosphere.
The second hut is split into two distinct halves, each featuring its own living area, bedroom, and bathroom. The first living space boasts tall ceilings, dark built-in cabinetry, and a cozy seating area set under custom, irregularly shaped windows. It is a quiet, beautifully lit corner perfect for reading or relaxing.
Just up a few hidden steps from the lounge is the first bedroom. Sitting on an elevated platform, this space overlooks the living area while remaining tucked away in the darker, cozier center of the underground hut. It features a king-size bed and plenty of built-in wardrobe storage seamlessly integrated into the walls.
The attached full bathroom continues the home's striking aesthetic with bright white, textured walls. It includes a bathtub and shower combination that feels like a natural extension of the house. Even the light switches are playfully built right into the thick spray-foam insulation.
Because the huts are so massive, the other end of the structure mirrors the first with a second living area. This side features the home's third fireplace and a comfortable daybed nestled in the corner. Massive windows on this end lead right out to another outdoor seating space.
Walking up another short flight of stairs brings visitors to the second bedroom. Though slightly smaller with a queen-size bed, it feels incredibly open thanks to a skylight positioned directly overhead. Depending on the time of day, natural light pours in to illuminate the entire sleeping platform.
The second bathroom holds one of the home's most fascinating surprises: a corkscrew-style shower. Guests wrap around a curved wall to step inside, where the waterproof spray foam continues seamlessly. A shared skylight from the bedroom bleeds light right into the shower, making it feel like a hidden, sunlit waterfall.
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