The Tennessee Spaceship House, also called the Spaceship House of Tennessee, Space House, or Flying Saucer House is a custom build located in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. It is not the only saucer-shaped house in the United States or the first, but it is certainly a famous landmark that draws a lot of attention.
In 1973, a building contractor named Curtis W. King spent a quarter-million dollars to build the Space House. It was meant to be a bachelor pad of sorts for his sons and also an example of future-oriented homes; a “home of the 21st century”. King, his three sons, and his son-in-law did most of the work.
With a small crew and seemingly constant interruptions from passersby, construction of the Space House took three years. Once finished, the home was a steel frame covered in concrete and sheathed in fiberglass. It was 52 feet in diameter, had 1,960 square feet (some sources round this up to 2,000), and featured three bedrooms and two full baths along with plenty of unique home design elements.
After passing through a few owners over the years, the Space House was sold at auction in 2009. James Faris, a local developer, bought it for $119,000 with the goal of refurbishing it and using it as a rental property. During remodeling, he added some unique design elements, like new floors made from recycled tires, but most of the interior was gutted and 1970s decor replaced. It’s possible he also added a bathroom as many listings now show the home to have three bathrooms instead of two.
The Spaceship House was available to rent for several years; it is unclear whether it is currently available to rent. Although the Space House is still a popular roadside attraction, it is privately owned and not open for tours. It’s also located along a hairpin turn, which makes it a dangerous place to stop.