Mushroom Homes of Michigan
“I always build and design the roofs of my houses first and then shove the rest under them. ~Earl A Young, designer
Located on a narrow piece of land between Lake Michigan and Lake Charlevoix in Northern Michigan sits a quaint little town called Charlevoix. Settled by fishermen in the mid-1800s, Charlevoix has maintained a modest community despite its picturesque landscape and profound history. It is often referred to as Charlevoix “The Beautiful.” Located on Hwy 31, Charlevoix sees a lot of tourists passing through from Traverse City to the south and Mackinaw City to the north providing a welcoming charm worth stopping for a visit. It was here that I along with my husband, Herb, and our friends, the Osbys, spent a sunny Spring morning meandering by the display of charming “Mushroom Homes” in 2021.
The Mushroom Homes are made with unique lines and distinct limestone and rock boulders from Lake Michigan to create an eccentric design for each home. This neighborhood of homes is often referred to as “Gnome Homes” or “Hobbit Houses,” in addition to “Mushroom Homes.” There are 26 residential homes and four commercial properties in all creating a fairy-tale atmosphere. These fascinating and inspiring structures are the architectural designs of Charlevoix native and legend Earl A Young. Over a span of 50+ years, his creations helped develop the identity of Charlevoix.
The Background:
An American architectural designer, realtor, and insurance agent, Earl A Young started designing and building homes in 1918. After enrolling in the School for Architecture at the University of Michigan in 1908, Young got discouraged by the classic philosophy of architectural design being taught and dropped out of school after one year. With no intent to go back to school, Young joined his family’s insurance business which later expanded into real estate. As fate would have it, Young inherited the family business in 1914 after both his parents passed away which presented the opportunity for Young to take the company in a more personal direction.
Young continued to educate himself about architecture, design, and construction while running the family business. In 1918, he started building his first home. He built it for his wife and children. It was mostly stone with a few wood details. Built into the landscape, the home respected the contours of the land and contained the first of his notable fireplaces. The two chimneys were designed to look like melting cement. (see photos below)
In 1923, Young was approached with an opportunity to build a neighborhood of homes. He bought a large piece of land on Lake Michigan that became known as Boulder Park. Plots of land were sold for $100, and the first floor of each house had to be made of stone, brick, or stucco. His vision was a fairy-tale village of stone houses. Young was obsessed with boulders. For years, Young had studied, collected, and dredged boulders from Lake Michigan. As his designs evolved, the boulders were then incorporated into his house designs.
As a designer, Young was difficult and chaotic to deal with. He never followed a blueprint. He often drew his design in the sand with a stick. Young was an on-the-spot designer. His wife often had to translate his ideas to confused builders. He never leveled off the terrain before he built on it. The result was earthy houses that grew like natural extensions of the land. Doorways were very short and kitchens were like hallways. For each house, it was important that the front doors were not visible from the front of the house. Rooflines became wavy and were made of cedar. These signature designs began taking over the landscape and became known as Gnome Houses.
By the 1930s, Young had started building and remodeling homes in the area, all with the same basic properties. The Mushroom Houses that are most recognizable from the street and by passersby started to pop up in the 1950s. In 1971, the Ludington Daily News described Young’s homes: “Sometimes the rooflines sweep so close to the ground that side windows are cut into them. The homes feature large fireplaces, generous use of stonework, and creative landscaping which helps the houses blend and snuggle into the hillsides.” Because Young refused to cut down trees on the property, they looked like they grew around the house.
In 1975, at the age of 86, Earl A Young passed away after an unfortunate accident. His contributions to the community landscape is still treasured today. On any given summer day, hundreds of cars from all over the country line up to tour these fascinating properties…myself included.
A true fairy-tale worth seeing!
Below are just some photos of the Mushroom Homes I took during our self-guided tour in 2021. The history behind these homes makes it even more intriguing. A truly unique neighborhood worth your time if you are in the area.
