Remodeling : Illinois Cave Home : Home & Garden Television

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

In 1976, Andy Davis began building one of the country's original underground homes. The Davis's home, nicknamed "The Cave" by Davis’ son Marty, is hidden deep in the corn country of Armington, Ill., and has become a local landmark (figure A). Visitors come for miles around to see this prehistoric tourist attraction (figure B). This subterranean cave, built like a rock, is the Davis's bedrock home (figure C).

At supper one night, Davis asked his children, "How would you kids like to live in a cave?" according to Davis's wife, Margaret. Davis was pursuing an affordable, energy-efficient and amusing plan for his future home. Davis's brainchild, back-to-bedrock cave house, a.k.a. the Yabadabbado Chateau, took one year to complete, 14 tons of concrete and 16 tons of river rock (figure D).

Figure E

Figure F

As you enter the Davis' bedrock home, you pass through a dinosaur screen door, then through the fur-covered front door and into a 1,000-square-foot open living space (figure E) filled with whimsical animal prints (figure F).

Figure G

In the living room, sculptured carpet accentuates the surrounding stone walls. In the kitchen (figure G) and throughout the home, fake fur borders the cabinets and windows versus the traditional woodwork borders.

Figure H

Figure I

Figure J

The bedrock theme continues in the bathroom, where a towel rack is made from bone imbedded into stone (figure H) and an antler is used as a toilet paper holder (figure I). The children’s bedroom features an animal print dresser (figure J).

Figure K

Figure L

Lighting is one of the most challenging issues for underground homes. Davis designed large circular windows by the front door to take advantage of natural light (figure K).

Hidden lights are recessed into stone throughout the house (figure L). The first year the Davis's spent in their home, their heating bill was $2. Underground home temperatures maintain a natural mid-50-degree temp year-round, even in the coldest of winters.

Resources
book on building homes underground
Underground Homes by Louis Wampler
Firebird Press, 1980
Order this title from Amazon.com.

book on building homes underground
Complete Book of Underground Houses: How to Build a Low-cost Home by Robert Roy
Sterling Publications, 1994
Order this title from Amazon.com.

book on building homes underground
The Natural House Catalog by David Pearson
Fireside, 1996
Order this title from Amazon.com.

book on building homes underground
The Earth Sheltered House by Malcolm Wells
Chelsea Green Publishing, 1998
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Guests
Margaret Davis
Davis Cave Construction, Inc.
P.O. Box 69
Armington, IL 61721
Phone: 309-392-2574
Website: www.daviscaves.com
Also in this Episode

Special Presentation : Episode SUB-S
•	Illinois Cave Home
•	Texas Dome Home
•	Kansas Missile Site
•	Ohio Pyramid House
•	California Sphere House
•	Idaho Mountain Hideaway
•	Stover House in Illinois

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