Wyoming's Famous Glass Bottle House Is For Sale

From stunning mansions in the mountains to beautiful beachfront homes, there are many examples of remarkable architecture throughout the country.

One amazing residential masterpiece in Cheyenne, Wyoming recently hit the market, allowing someone new to own this unique property.

The Wyoming home known as "Crystal Castle" has been featured on HGTV and in numerous publications. That's because the dynamic dwelling at 1023 Cotton Tail Drive was built using 30,000 glass embalming fluid bottles, making it truly one-of-a-kind.

Construction on the 766-square-foot home was completed in 1963 by J.H. (Harry) Widholm. The design was inspired by a similar structure he’d seen in 1946 at Knott’s Berry Farm in California. Surprisingly, bottle houses were actually quite common during the 1960s, but they were usually made from liquor bottles.

Rather, Widholm picked up case after case of embalming fluid bottles from morticians in the region until he had enough to build his three-turret castle by the lake.

According to Zillow Gone Wild, it took two years to collect all the colored bottles, most of which once contained formaldehyde. Widholm laid each bottle down in the mortar with the tops of the bottle facing inward and the square bottoms out. An article by CowboyStateDaily.com explains that the plaster walls hide the bottles from view from the inside, however, there are a few in the entryway that put off some colors inside the cabin. When the sun shines just right, the bottles on the outside are a colorful spectacle to behold. Apparently, they also do a pretty good job of keeping the home insulated.

The total cost for all the materials that went into building the house, including cement and other supplies, was just $3,500.

For how funky the exterior of this home is, the inside is surprisingly traditional. The single-story residence has one bedroom and one bathroom. Gorgeous hardwood floors run throughout the cozy living space. Many of the features have been recently updated, including the water heater, bathroom, and windows. A brick-laid wood-burning fireplace is the focal point of the family room. Almost all of the furnishings are included in the sale.

Another perk of this property is that it sits on 3.3 acres, overlooking Curt Gowdy State Park. It's also in very close proximity to several reservoirs.

The quirky property currently serves as a vacation cabin. Crystal Castle is currently listed at $325,000.

Check out another interesting Wyoming home below.

Gallery Credit: Kelsey Nistel