Vegas is known for its glitz and glamour, which means jaw-dropping homes. But there aren’t any as unique as the iconic Underground House!
However, you would probably drive past this one-of-a-kind house without a second thought. That is because it looks like a relatively mundane two-story house. So what makes this property so unique? Well, just 26 feet below this average 80s house is a fantastic treasure trapped in time.
The iconic Underground House Las Vegas was put on the market in 2020, and the owners are asking for a pretty penny, or 18 MILLION! Well, if you happen to have the cash around, this is what you can get…
As you descent down the elevator hidden in a faux bolder and walk into the Underground House, you will find a luxurious cold-war era style 15,000 square feet time capsule. Its artificial trees, rocks, and the painted sky really set the tone. The light in the property can be adjusted to imitate different times of the day, and there are even special lights on the ceiling to mimic a starry night! As if this all wasn’t enough, the Underground House has an indoor underground pool, a sauna, two hot tubs, a carpeted six-hole putting green, a dance floor, a bar, and a barbecue! This would have made the ultimate 2020 quarantine house! The house only has two bedrooms and three bathrooms, but it comes with a casita!
This piece of Vegas history (the underground portion of the property) was built in 1978 by business executive Jerry Henderson and his second wife, Mary.
There are many unique details of this house, such as its short stools. Mary Henderson was less than 5 feet tall, and Henderson was only a few inches taller. The kitchen has pink-trimmed flooring and cabinetry and has an original toaster built into the wall and a food processor in a cabinet.
Jerry Henderson was a businessman and philanthropist, a director of Avon Products, and the Alexander Dawson Schools founder. Henderson was a pioneer for underground living. In 1964-1965, he sponsored the Underground Home exhibit at the New York World’s Fair. Henderson had invested in a company with the very creative name, Underground World Homes. This company was started by the Swayze brothers, who built the underground homes. Henderson swiftly bought a 51% share of their company which promoted the benefits of underground living in the years following the Cuban missile crisis. Henderson then built his first underground home near Boulder, Colorado.
P.S There is speculation about the underground house built for the World’s Fair still being around today! Henderson and his second wife, Mary, eventually moved to Vegas, so the Vegas Underground House was born in 1978!
However, you wouldn’t be wrong to think that by 1978 it was a little late to continue building cold-war era homes, as the nuclear threat was no longer as relevant. Henderson instead wanted to continue promoting underground living as a healthier alternative living since one spends less on utilities and since it is overall better environmentally! After Henderson died in 1983, his wife decided to build a surface-level home, which is where she lived until she died in 1989.
The house went on sale, and its new owners rented out the underground portion for events such as retreats and parties.
The odyssey of the house continues, and in 2014 is was sold for $1.15 million to the Society for the Preservation of Near Extinct Species! This secretive group describes their organization’s goal to promote the extension of human life. The owner then decided to put it on sale last year and hopes to get the 18 million.
This one-of-a-kind home has hosted many elaborate receptions, weddings, corporate events and has been featured in film, television, and many amazing print campaigns like for Miu Miu. The house’s history will continue to capture our attention for years to come, as Vegas’s most unique home!
Featured image: GLVAR