Illinois man built underground ‘caveman’ home in 1977; now listed for $59,000
An underground house located in Armington, Illinois, is currently on the market for $59,000. Built in the 1970s, the home features unique rock-lined interiors and circular windows. While the home offers significant size, much of the interior remains unfinished and requires renovation. Buyers should consider potential renovation costs alongside the low asking price per square foot. This property…
In the 1970s, as energy costs began to rise, an Illinois man named Andy 'Caveman' Davis decided to build his home underground. Located at 508 S Jefferson Street in Armington, Illinois, this 2,300-square-foot earth-sheltered house was listed for $59,000 and quickly became one of the most popular homes in town. The property remains in a natural state, with its rock interior intact and unfinished kitchen and rooms.
The Davis family gathered river stone on annual trips to Colorado, and each stone was carefully handpicked to create the cave's ceilings, walls, doorways, and arched corridors. The house features an undulating concrete exterior and a bermed roofline that blend seamlessly into the landscape for natural climate control, predating the eco-building trend by decades. Inside, the rock-covered interior boasts hobbit-style windows, a full bathtub surrounded by rock, and a fireplace.
The property also includes five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and two brand-new argon-gas circular windows, valued at $15,000 and offered as potential replacements for the existing ones. Buyers should know that the house is unfinished, meaning they will need to hire a contractor to complete the kitchen and interior renovations. Despite the unfinished state, the home's unique design and location offer significant value, with a price per square foot roughly $26, compared to Armington's median of $77.
This cave house presents endless possibilities for its future residents, whether they envision it as a single-family home, Airbnb, or multi-unit rental.
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