Offbeat America Season 3 Episode 2 Shell House and More

Offbeat America is a unique travel show that explores some of the most unusual and fascinating places in the United States. In season 3, episode 2, the show takes us on a journey to some of the most unusual and quirky homes in the country.

The episode is titled "Shell House and More" and it begins with a visit to the iconic Shell House in California. The Shell House is a truly unique structure, covered in thousands of seashells. It was built by a father-son team in the 1920s, who collected and carefully placed each shell by hand. Today, the house is a popular tourist attraction, and visitors come from all over the world to see the incredible display of shells.

Next, we visit the Mushroom House in Cincinnati, Ohio. This whimsical home was designed by architect Terry Brown in the 1990s, and it looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale. The house is built with a series of domes, covered in clusters of shingles that give it the appearance of a giant mushroom. Inside, the house is a wonderland of round rooms and curved windows.

The episode then takes us to the Bottle House in Rhyolite, Nevada. This home was built using over 50,000 beer and soda bottles, by a man named Tom Kelly in 1905. The bottles were placed in concrete and used to build walls, which gave the house a distinctive look and kept it cool in the hot desert climate. Today, the Bottle House is a historic landmark, and visitors can tour the home and learn about its unique history.

Next, we visit the Upside-Down House in Orlando, Florida. As the name suggests, this house is built upside down, with the roof on the ground and the rooms suspended from the ceiling. Visitors can walk through the house and take photos that make it look like they're walking on the ceiling. It's a fun and quirky attraction that's perfect for families and anyone who loves unusual architecture.

The final stop on this episode is the Shoe House in Hellam, Pennsylvania. This house was built in the 1940s by a man named Mahlon Haines, who was known as the "Shoe Wizard" because of his successful shoe business. The house is shaped like a giant shoe, complete with shoelaces and a chimney that looks like a smoking pipe. Inside, the Shoe House is a charming and cozy retreat, with a living room, bedroom, and kitchen.

Throughout the episode, we meet the quirky and fascinating people who own and maintain these incredible homes. We learn about the history of each home, and what inspired its unique design. We also get a sense of what it's like to live in these unusual and unforgettable spaces.

"Shell House and More" is a fun and engaging episode that will appeal to anyone who loves architecture, history, and travel. It's a reminder that there are always new and interesting places to explore, no matter where you go.