Forged by ice ages, earthquakes and early American mineral hunters looking to make a buck, this extraordinary cave system is up for sale as part of an amazing 223-acre Missouri estate complete with a readymade business. Strap on a headlamp and let's go potholing on an action-packed property tour filled with natural wonder...

What may look like a seemingly ordinary home, has gone on the market for $3.4 million (£2.5m). Of course, for that money you're not just getting the house – the property comes with a huge money-making side hustle...

Located in the town of Versailles, north of Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, the main home on this sprawling 223-acre estate boasts four bedrooms and four bathrooms. But just next door to the relatively nondescript home there's an amazing secret that's just waiting to be discovered.

Underneath the rolling hills and outbuildings lies a tunnel of hidden caves. The largest in the Lake of the Ozarks, according to the website, the underground marvel has turned into a thriving business over the years. 

Named Jacob's Cave after Jacob Craycraft, a local tiff miner who discovered the secret underground maze in 1875, the caverns have been a tourist hotspot since 1932. In a nod to its fascinating history, the cave is dotted with the signature of Jacob Craycraft throughout where he carved his name into the rock. 

The property and tourist attraction has been owned by Frank Hurley since 1965, according to the New York Post. After selling 200 acres of land in Iowa and quitting the dairy industry, the entrepreneur moved his family to Missouri, where he took over the already thriving business from Russell Hall who had reopened the caves to the public in 1950 after modernising the walkway and lighting.

"Jacob's Cave is famous for its depth illusion, reflective pools, ceiling sponge work and the world's largest geode," according to the website. Owned by the same family for 49 years, the magnificent home, cavern complex and business could now be yours for $3.4 million (£2.5m). With a steady and generous annual income, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity! 

Inside, the natural space is a sight to behold. With 'every type of cave formation imaginable from millions of 'soda straws' and massive stalactites and columns, to delicate helictites, according to the Jacob's Cave website. For visiting tourists, the mile-long tour is wheelchair accessible and dotted with spotlights to show off the stunning features at their best. 

The cave is thought to be at least 16 million years old and has survived six ice ages and three earthquakes, whilst temperatures inside remain a constant 11.7 degrees celsius, no matter what the weather outside. "Evidence in Jacob's Cave shows there were formations broken from the ceiling by the truckloads during the second earthquake," it says on their website.

The cave is composed of limestone bedrock and has a system of circulating groundwater within it. As part of the tourist offering, glass display cases showcase fascinating displays of prehistoric bones including mastodon, bear and peccary, also known as skunk-pigs.

After the original gift shop and entrance to the cave burned down in 1982, it was replaced by a two-storey building. The perfect money-maker for the new owner, it currently sells a number of native minerals including 'tiff' or barite and galena, which were the rocks being mined by Jacob Craycraft when he discovered the cave.

Full of potential, the sprawling grounds are also home to a number of outbuildings and properties. The winding paved roads are dotted with small cottages, which could easily be utilised by the new owner for even more business ventures. 

The price may seem steep for a cave, but with the inclusion of countless buildings and a huge car park to house visitors from all over the world, we can't help but think it's a wise investment.

Surrounded by acres of stunning land, the home is also ideal for grazing animals should the new owner want a different venture. There's also access to camping grounds where visitors can enjoy the onsite lake in the warmer months.

Elsewhere, there is also a workshop and hobby area, complete with space to store vehicles, and a visitors bathroom that can cater to your guests.

As the listing surmises, "the possibilities surrounding the ownership of this unique property and thriving business are endless." We can't wait to see what becomes of this stunning property!

From private train stations to secret lazy rivers, skateparks and zoos, these clandestine houses are no ordinary family homes. Concealing unexpected extras that'll astound and amaze, you won't believe what's hiding within their walls. Click or scroll through and prepare for your jaw to drop...

This amazing property, once owned by retired professional ice hockey player Milan Hejduk, has some pretty jaw-dropping home features hiding inside. Recently sold for $3.5 million (£2.6m), the Denver mansion sits within the Colorado Golf Club.

The 8,600-square-foot property boasts a wine cellar, seven fireplaces, a hot tub, a home gym and a wet bar, just to name a few of the jaw-dropping amenities. Sitting on just over two acres of land, there are breathtaking views over the Denver countryside out of nearly every window.

It has all the trappings of a mansion, with five bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes and basement media room – but even that's not the biggest surprise.

Hidden deep inside the house is an indoor ice rink, which comes complete with a custom Zamboni for the lucky buyer. Czech-born Hejduk scored 375 professional goals over his career, playing for the Colorado Avalanche and for the Czech Republic at the 1998 Winter Olympics, so having a place to practice must have paid off!

From the outside this charming three-bedroom detached house in Oldland Common, Bristol looks completely normal, offering a slice of the quiet life in a typical English village.

Inside, the home has four reception rooms with original stone walls and wooden beams that only add to its sense of history. However, you won't believe your eyes when you enter the dining room...

Mind your step, because you'll unexpectedly find a large traditional stone well going right through the floor. All you need is a pail and you can draw the water up yourself!

If you want to escape to the country, but have easy access to the world of civilisation, this house in Snowdonia, Wales is the perfect place for you.

Built in 1836, the six-bedroom country estate comes with four bathrooms, three reception rooms and, if you can believe it, a private railway platform. Aside from calling a train home, it's as good as it gets for a trainspotter, particularly as you'll see locomotives speeding past.​

The private platform is strictly for the use of residents and visitors only. It's a request stop, and the timetables are dependent upon the different seasons. Still, you might not want to give up your car just yet.

This 19th-century three-bedroom property in Terrington St Clement, in the English county of Norfolk may only look small but has more to it than you might expect.

Once a village youth club, the property has now been revamped into the perfect family home, with modern and neutral interiors. The small galley kitchen has been decked out with white gloss cabinets and a dining space big enough for all the family.

The home comes equipped with one bathroom and a living room, and a little added extra for kids and brave adults to enjoy...

Feast your eyes on the in-house skatepark bowl, built inside the property by the current owner. It's a skateboarder's dream and you'd never suspect it was there!

Looks are certainly deceiving when it comes to this terraced cottage in the historic English town of Bridgnorth. The picture-perfect exterior holds a surprising secret on the inside.

The interior of Number 30 Railway Street has been hand-carved into a magnificent cave home complete with dozens of Gothic archways. The impressive architecture is the work of the home’s late former owner Anthony Dracup, who was an artist.

The intricate carvings weren’t complete until nearly a decade after Dracup moved in during the 1980s as they were all done by the artist himself. Not only does the vaulted cave look spectacular but the excavations were also quite practical as they led to the creation of 650 extra square feet of living space.

In addition, the unique property has two bedrooms, a living room, galley-style kitchen and a unique tiered back garden, complete with fake sheep, adding to the quirkiness of the property.

Setting foot in this house in Newport, Oregon will immediately make you feel as though you’ve travelled back in time to the 16th century. It may look like a modern-day home on the outside, but inside it's hiding a historic secret.

Everything, right down to the windows which display intricate stained glass designs depicting prominent historical figures, has been altered to keep in line with a renaissance theme. However, it’s not been an easy, or cheap, feat with one set of curtains alone valued at over $14,000 (£10.4k).

The homeowner, the Right and Honorable Dowager Countess of Shannon, or Almine Barton as she’s less formally known, is an artist who’s travelled the world and transformed her house as a result. She’s completely redeveloped her average-looking home to mimic a renaissance-era castle, procuring every piece of art and décor during her travels.

In the time-warp home, there’s a kitchen that’s 45 feet in length and completely panelled in birch, as well as a trunk at the foot of the four-poster guest bed that dates back to 1066 and a 30-foot-long master bedroom complete with authentic knight’s armour. 

Woodsong, near Miami, Florida, is a magnificent property in many ways. Designed by mid-century architect Alfred Browning Parker in 1968, the home has been beautifully restored and includes an amazing surprise feature running throughout.

The property has a man-made 'lazy river' running right through it – a feature often found in water parks – with a gentle current that carries swimmers along at a slow pace.

Constructed from Honduran mahogany, the house is as much an ode to wood as it is to water – hence the name 'Woodsong'. The free-flowing home also includes a sauna, lap pool and a wet room.

The grounds of the property are lush with palms and vegetation, elements the architect was keen to protect and maintain within his design, offering green views from all sides. 

This property in Perthshire, Scotland may look like a grown-up house from the outside, but it's in fact the perfect playground home for kids that never grew up.

Recently renovated, the property has period features with a modern twist. With seven reception rooms and two annexes, the house is perfect for flexible and multigenerational living.

Situated on nearly an acre of land, the house has nine bedrooms, including the grand master bedroom with an ensuite. However, it's one of the children's bedrooms that has the most unique feature.

The amazing twirling slide, which cost $13,000 (£9.6k) to create, leads from the top floor right down to the playroom, which is next to the kitchen. It really is the perfect family home and one any children would love to grow up in.

Located across four picturesque acres on the outskirts of Potomac, Maryland, USA, this gated residence makes a regal first impression. Last on the market in 2019 with Washington Fine Properties, a long, sweeping driveway leads up to an elegant seven-bedroom mansion, complete with colonial-style shutters and meticulously landscaped gardens.

Inside, the 12,000-square-foot property is classic and refined, from ornate arched windows to carved wall panelling and antique-inspired fixtures. The mansion has its fair share of luxury amenities too, with a tennis court, heated swimming pool and pool house nestled in the extensive grounds. But despite the traditional veneer, something altogether more unusual lies underground...

Descending the staircase into the basement, you're transported into a quaint chocolate-box town, complete with cobblestones. Created by the current owner for their then-teenage children, this jaw-dropping replica features 15 storefront façades, including a post office, cinema, café, church and mechanic's shop.

While most of the doors open to cinder blocks, a few do harbour recreational rooms. Signposted as the Old Sailor's Drinking Society, this charming brick-effect façade leads into a games room with a pool table and TV. Elsewhere, a hidden door in the street offers access to a small garage to allow cars to be brought in. We reckon this must be America's most adorable small town...

This jaw-dropping mansion can be found on the prestigious Strait Lane in Dallas, Texas. The impressive driveway offers a tantalizing first taste of the elegance and intrigue that awaits...

The home is equipped with eight beds, 22 baths, four acres of land, two cabanas, multiple games rooms and living areas with medieval-style décor throughout.

The master bedroom is just as lavish as the rest of the home with a giant chandelier in the centre, a four-poster bed and a decadent fireplace. Boasting his and hers bathrooms and closets, it's the ultimate retreat. 

And if you thought this place couldn't get any better, there's also an indoor basketball court, bowling alley, tennis court, sport court, padded gymnastic room, DJ area and 10-car garage! But we've saved the best secret for last...

The back garden has a one-of-a-kind waterpark complete with flumes and even a waterfall. A summer in this house would be the best one ever.  

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