What would you do with a 17,000-square-foot cave house in Missouri if it belonged to you? Would it occur to you to convert it into a home and live in it? Maybe it wouldn’t to most people, but for the Sleeper family, it most certainly did.  And they found it on eBay! Let’s have a look at one of the most interesting houses in Missouri.

Caveland.us
The "Cave House" in Festus started out as a mine. Later, it was owned by a man who used it to raise mushrooms and fishing worms. In the 1950s a woman named Sue Morris converted it into a roller skating rink and concert venue called "Caveland." Over its time as this incarnation, it hosted such famous performers as Tina Turner, Bob Segar, and Ted Nugent. It closed in 1985 and basically remained unused until the Sleeper family bought the property off of eBay in 2003, and converted it into a home.
The front chamber, under construction.
Caveland.us
The sitting room.
Caveland.us
There are some lovely views from the cave home.
Caveland.us
They worked on the property over the course of several years, spending four years in a tent next to the cave at one point. Their hard work paid off because it became one of the most unique places in Missouri. In 2009, they appeared on television because they were putting the property for sale online due to potential foreclosure.

Watch it here:
Looking out from the front chamber.
Caveland.us
Caveland.us

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Bathroom vanity.
Caveland.us
Bathroom.
Caveland.us
Entrance to the third chamber and former roller rink and concert venue.
Caveland.us
The 17,000-square-foot home contains three chambers. The first chamber, which takes up two floors, is 2,240 square feet. The upper level contains three bedrooms and a bathroom. On the lower level is the kitchen, entrance and family areas. The second chamber has the laundry room, a shower area, storage space and stairs leading to the upper level. The innermost chamber is the third chamber, which is where the roller rink and concert venue were located, currently only being used for storage.
Caveland.us
The kitchen.
Caveland.us
Tent World early on in construction phase.
Caveland.us
In addition, the home also features an indoor natural ground-water spring pool. Although it is a rather large space, no furnace or air-conditioning is needed. Geothermal and passive solar systems keep the home a comfortable 70 degrees all year-round.

The website, https://www.caveland.us, is currently run by the Sleeper family and they still live in the home. It is located at: Address: 215 Cave Dr, Festus, MO 63028

Have you heard of this home before?  Have you seen it?  What do you think of the concept of living in a cave house in Missouri?  Share in the comments below.

If you are interested in learning about more unique houses in Missouri that will make you look twice, you can read our previous post.

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Cave House In Missouri

Melissa Mahoney | March 25, 2021

What caves can I visit in Missouri?

Caves are incredible places to explore and are always at a much cooler year-round temperature than the surface, which is great especially in the hotter months. If you are looking for an adventure, there are many caves in Missouri that allow visitors. At Marvel Cave in Branson, the deepest in the state, you get the best of both worlds - a cave AND a waterfall. A guided tour of this cave will also give you a light show at the waterfall. Bridal Cave in Camdenton is a stunning sight and is one of the most scenic in the country. For an extra unique experience, take one of the lantern tours that are offered.

What are the most unique places in Missouri?

It’s always fun to make a point to seek out unique and unusual attractions because that is part of what makes a state so special. Missouri has some of the most interesting spots including Laumeier Sculpture Park which is set on 105-acres and features over 70 large outdoor sculptures. It’s a place where art is incorporated into the natural landscape. If you like mazes, head to Kansas City to figure your way through the glass labyrinth (it’s harder than it looks). Learn more about these attractions and more in our article, 13 Weirdest Places You Can Possibly Go In Missouri. 

What are some other underground buildings in Missouri?

There is a 55,000-square foot business complex in Kansas City called SubTropolis which is in a man-made cave built into the bluffs above the Missouri River. This subterranean development is the largest of its kind in the world and has businesses, a storage facility, and even a paintball arena featuring seven fields. Springfield Underground is another commercial facility that resides below the earth and has 3.2 million square feet of space. Both places have cooler temperatures year-round which is an important feature for certain businesses.

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215 Cave Dr, Festus, MO 63028, USA