The Door County Mushroom House

It is in Whitefish Bay and was built by artist and art director Albert Quinlan.

I've been there many times when I was a teenager. The original furniture and everything is still in it. It's really a cool place to see.

My wife and I rode past this place on our bikes this summer and had no idea that it was there... bummer

Good thing I'm opposed to private property, free to explore at my own risk :)

It looks like a hobbit home to me.

From what I can tell I think the property may now be for sale: http://www.trulia.com/homes/Wisconsin/Sturgeon_Bay/sold/1000317588-5015-S-Cave-Point-Dr-Sturgeon-Bay-WI-54235

This is my dream home, to tell you the truth. Mr. Quinlan, the builder, was way ahead of his time when he "dreamed it up." Due to years of unfettered vandalism, much of the wiring and plumbing have been stolen and destroyed. However, it is still beautiful, the stuff of wonder and wishes. There is a living Christmas tree in it. I am sure we would love it there but cannot afford it. It is NOT in Fish Creek or in Sturgeon Bay; it is near Whitefish Dunes, I believe, and near Valmy. You take T off of 57 to get there. We met a good friend of the previous owner, who died, and it hurts him a lot to see the condition these vandals have left the house in.

This property is currently listed. For more information please contact Bonita Smrz at bsmrz@coldwellhomes.com

The property is currently for sale. For information please contact Bonita Smrz at bsmrz@coldwellhomes.com
This is private property. DO NOT ENTER THE PROPERTY

The "Mushroom House" was built by Al Quinlan. The inside temperature was to replicate that of a cave - 49 to 42 degrees on average in Wisconsin. It is not in Fish Creek south of Jacksonport and just about 16 miles north of Sturgeon Bay. The front of the house is the shape of a "nun's hat" - think of the the TV show "The Flying Nun." I am not certain if he was influenced by Herb Greene. The fireplaces, and the central heating was a boiler from a ship, I believe bought from salvage in Sturgeon Bay from one of the shipping companies. It was huge and could fit the largest logs imaginable. The front of the house was to be all glass, for an atrium affect. The house was designed, in the simplest description - framed, wrapped with the heaviest chicken wire (I remember this being a stumbling block, as the original wire was not strong enough), then sprayed with concrete. When that was complete, the sand and dirt removed from the land, was placed on top of the structure. Ultimately for it to "blend" into the land, and keep insulated, again, for the replicating a cave. There were two floors. One cause for concern of the shape was there are no corners/straight walls, so all furniture would have to be custom made to fit in curved space. Many green aspects were ahead of their time.