Looking for a new place to live, but tired of the same old, boring four walls and a roof? The so-called 'World's most luxurious cave' has gone on sale, and yeah, it's a far cry from the cave dwellings of our ancestors.
Located in a remote area of Arkansas, Beckham Creek Cave Lodge was originally built as a bomb shelter, but has been renovated into a luxury hotel. It can accommodate up to 8 guests in a subterranean maze of stalagmites and stalactites, its own waterfall and even a helipad outside for those who need to arrive in a hurry. Lodge manager Rayne Davidson, who is also the listing broker, spoke to Bored Panda about his passion, he loves sharing the cave with people and seeing their minds just blown when they first enter it. He was there during the renovations to turn it into what it is today. “We nearly gutted it and started over to address some of the water issues we were having,” he explained. “Now, there's rubberized membranes over the 3 downstairs bedrooms, hidden guttering systems where some of the major water drippage was occurring, and this falls into french drains along the perimeter walls. There's also a very expensive geothermal unit that takes humidity out of the cave and warms it up a little - it's still cool, can't heat it up too much or it condensates.”
“The water for the cave comes from the 1.5 mile interior of the cave and flows into a holding tank which goes through a purification system. What is not used and is overflow, travels under the floor of the lodge and comes out into another holding pool beside the front door, then overflows down the mountain (in the times of heavy rain - it's a waterfall of sorts) to then be held in the large pond down in the pasture beside the heli-pad. The water in the pond is a beautiful azure blue from all the rich minerals and it's stocked with fish.”
Now, the owner of the $1200 dollar a day hotel is selling up, and whoever buys it can do whatever they like with it. Superheroes and Bond-villains will no doubt be looking on with interest, but if you are in need of a little seclusion, surrounded by nature and a whole network of caves to explore, you can start the bidding yourself at a cool $2.75 million.
“The level of interest has been terrific! Everyone LOVES the cave!” Rayne told us. “The buyers so far have been looking at it from an investor point of view and the rate of return isn't there. There's 256 acres which bring in no income and, you're buying a CAVE, which is hard to recoup $$ for. The lodging income does however cover all the bills. It would be better if someone with plenty of funds could just buy it as their spectacular one and only home. Or, invest a little bit more and build several cabins and use the lodge for the central gathering place, then you'd have a proper rate of return.”
Would you like to make this your one an only home? Scroll down below to check the pics of the interior for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!
Though actively used for exploration since the early 1800s, this cave in Arkansas was left unchanged until 1983
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Celestial Tea co-founder John Hay then purchased it along with a 240-acre spread for $146,000
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
He believed this cave could be an amazing hideout if things during the Cold War would heat up
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
He then spent four years and $2 million converting the cave into a fallout shelter
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
People's article from 1988 stated, "First, 20 laborers removed 250 million years worth of silt from the subterranean chamber"
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
"The cave’s mouth was then covered with three-foot-thick concrete walls and faced with quarried stone"
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
"Openings were left for windows for the oak-paneled kitchen and living room and for an arched, walnut-framed entrance way"
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
"In the event of the Holocaust, all these openings can be sealed with concrete blocks"
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
"Inside, Hay followed the cave’s natural, high-roofed contours “The architect was God,” he said". It even has a natural waterfall inside
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
After the Cold War ended, he realized a bomb shelter was no longer needed and sold it
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Now the current owner of "World's most luxurious cave" put it up for sale again
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
This time it can be yours for $2.75 million
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Last updated in 2014, this 5,800-square-foot cave home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
It has got all the modern amenities of a regular home, including a 75-inch LED TV in the living room
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Comfy couches and thermal heating will keep you warm and cozy in the living area
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
The kitchen is state-of-the-art, and there is a large custom-built wooden bar for guests to come and gather around
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
All the rooms are rich in natural rock formations as most of the cave was preserved during all phases of building and remodeling
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
The spacious master includes a unique round queen-sized bed and a spa-like private bathroom, all surrounded by the natural formations of the cave
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Surrounding rock walls and overhead rain showers offer a waterfall-like experience
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Each of the 4 bedrooms is unique, offering queen-sized beds, exposed cavern walls, and lavish bathrooms
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
When you’re not gazing at exposed cavern walls and natural hanging stalactites you can grill up a steak while taking in the amazing view from the front deck
Image credits: Mallory Gallery
And last but not least, it even has it's own helipad so you'd always have a place to park your chopper!
Image credits: Mallory Gallery