From private train stations and gold mines to historic ruins, underground cave systems and even ancient dinosaur bones, these unassuming homes have plenty to hide. Concealing unexpected extras that'll astound and amaze, you won't believe what's lurking within the walls and grounds of these seemingly ordinary properties. Click or scroll through and prepare for your jaw to drop...
This quintessentially English country house can be found in Truro, Cornwall, and has space, style and scenery in abundance – not to mention the odd surprise! Known as Trehane House and Gardens, the property is enclosed by nine acres of land and blissful rolling countryside.
On the market with Lillicrap Chilcott for £2.4 million ($3m), the mysterious historic home is grade II listed and offers over 4,000 square feet of inside space. There's a bright entrance hall, a cloakroom, a kitchen, a dining conservatory, a sitting room, a study, a drawing room, five bedrooms and two bathrooms. The property also boasts a modern, two-bedroom guest lodge. But that isn't nearly all...
That's right, head into the grounds and you'll stumble upon this majestic sight – the ruins of a huge, grade II listed, Queen Anne manor house. According to ITV, the estate dates back to the 13th century and belonged to Sir John Trehane, who was a soldier during the Spanish Armada invasion. In 1700, the then-owner, John Williams, built the newer house for his family, a project that took three years to complete. The estate passed through the Williams family until 1861, when it was bought by Captain William Stackhouse Church Pinwill.
Amazingly, the estate was utilised during the Second World War. Reportedly, Austrian Jews fleeing the conflict stayed on the grounds, in temporary huts. In 1946, the Queen Anne manor was left devasted by fire and soon fell into a state of disrepair. Now, the estate, including the ruins themselves, are up for grabs. Plus, planning permission is already in place for the buyer to renovate and restore the former country pile. How's that for a unique real estate opportunity?
Read on for more houses that come with the most unexpected extras...
On the opposite end of the scale, you'll find this stunning modern mansion in Orlando, Florida. Currently for sale for £2.8 million ($3.5m), the property appears to be a pretty standard luxury home from the outside, but there's far more to this place than first meets the eye...
Built in 2022, the 5,953-square-foot property benefits from a chic, open-plan layout, with living spaces that open up to a beautiful backyard, complete with a swimming pool. The 10-bedroom, 10-bathroom house has a designer kitchen, a lounge, a dining room, a movie theatre and a games room. There are also a number of distinctly curated rooms, designed by HGTV’s Theme Queen, Moe Anato.
The main feature is this retired military helicopter, which flew during combat in Afghanistan and Iraq and has been valued at over £19.8 million ($25m), according to the listing. The helicopter has been sectioned and converted. The first part can be found in the games room and has been turned into a flight simulator, complete with original plane seats. The cockpit upstairs is now part of an ultra-cool themed bedroom with bunks and lights that can be controlled via the original control panel.
There’s even a 1930s Jaguar that is now a racing car simulator, while another of the home’s bedrooms features a real biplane transformed into a bunk bed. Plus, one of the helicopter rotors has been repurposed and affixed to the staircase as the ultimate statement artwork. Everywhere you look you'll spot military memorabilia, like flight suits, tables made from plane wings, flags, photos and statues. You weren't expecting that, were you?
Over in the Byron Bay Hinterland of New South Wales, Australia, you'll find a rather unassuming property on just shy of 12 acres of land. Located next to Nightcap National Park, the estate is home to five large detached buildings, all of which need some TLC and are in a state of decay. In fact, it's almost like a private village. But that isn't why this lot is interesting...
Built by eccentric architect Ed Kingsbury, the visionary behind local tourist icon Crystal Castle, the property is almost too unusual to be true. This is the entrance to the estate – a pretty castle front with two identical towers. Head through the gate-like doors and you'll find yourself in a tranquil, forested property. Here, you'll find two medieval-style structures that resemble castle ruins.
This is one of the unique properties on the estate and it boasts gorgeous decorative brickwork, climbing ivy walls and a dramatic outdoor terrace that's almost suspended over the valley below.
Inside, each of the buildings is in a sorry state, but there are plenty of amazing features that would be well worth preserving. These include pretty tiled floors, soaring beamed ceilings and arched windows. The ultimate fixer-upper project, this incredible property could certainly be described as one of a kind! If you love it, it's for sale right now for offers over AUD$995,000, which is £520,000 ($655k).
Colorado is home to countless ranches with seemingly endless land and majestic scenery, but Three Springs Ranch in Moffat County might just win the prize for being the most unique. The estate stretches a staggering 108,277 acres and was listed for sale in October 2022 for the first time in 50 years – for no less than £12.3 million ($15.5m)! However, once house hunters and real estate professionals started looking closely at the property, it quickly went viral.
The estate offers two owners' homes, a hunting cabin, two employee properties and a gift shop. The acreage also boasts amazing rock formations, mountains and hillsides, as well as cattle and big game – in fact, it’s been a hunting ranch for many years. But deer and elk aren't the only creatures to have roamed the land here...
The remote property is located slightly east of the aptly named town of Dinosaur and borders Dinosaur National Monument, which is filled with fossils and prehistoric footprints. In 1979, while visiting the ranch with her mother, 12-year-old India Wood noticed a piece of bone sticking out of the ground. After further investigation, it was determined that she’d found the hip bone of an allosaurus, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Over the years, India discovered more bones and eventually gifted them to the Denver Museum of Nature and Sciences, which sent a team to the estate to assist her in her excavations. The land remains filled with fossils that are waiting to be found, as well as ancient and well-preserved indigenous American petroglyphs.
When this quaint rural home in the heart of England's Norfolk Broads landed on the market in late 2022, it went viral almost instantly. While its exterior might seem fairly ordinary, the property is hiding a rather unexpected surprise in the garden...
The three-bedroom home, known as Marsh Cottage, is characterful and historic in equal measure. From its pretty open fireplaces to its exposed timber beams, there's much to love. Yet while the property has plenty of interior charm, it's really all about what's going on outside...
Part of Thurne Mill and the Wind Energy Museum, the property comes complete with a collection of wind and water memorabilia, including wind pumps from Great Britain, America and Australia, which stand tall above the area's renowned waterways. The only collection of its kind in the UK, according to the listing agents Sowerbys, this unusual property has to be seen to be believed.
A labour of love for the previous owner, the museum has become a popular local tourist attraction and now plays a part in preserving pioneering heritage engineering from the last 200 years. We look forward to seeing what the next owner does with it.
More often than not, American castles are overflowing with unique features that make them truly one-of-a-kind. But this 30-acre state in the Californian city of Jackson might just win the award for the most unusual castle of all time. Let's take a closer look...
The fairytale castle was constructed in 1985 and stretches an impressive 8,500 square feet. Traditional and elegant, the interior is kitted out with plenty of high-end architectural details, such as timber-panelled walls, hardwood floors and ornate fireplaces. There's a cosy living room, a formal dining room, two kitchens, seven bedrooms and six bathrooms. Currently set up as a bed and breakfast, the house also has a private apartment on the lower level.
But this castle has far more to offer than that. Outside, the sprawling estate is home to its very own miniature theme park, complete with two Ferris wheels, bumper cars, a merry-go-round, a train ride and various other attractions that were installed by the previous owners.
The park also has life-size metal animals and circus characters dotted around, as well as a 3,000-square-foot banquet hall that has previously been used to host weddings. Fancy snapping it up for yourself? Well, you're in luck because the property is currently for sale with Foundation Real Estate for just under £2.2 million ($2.8m), after several price cuts.
Over in San Antonio, Texas, you'll find this rather humble home. Built in 2006, the property sits on just shy of three acres of land and offers a 2,745-square-foot interior. Yet there's far more to the property than initially meets the eye...
The traditional home has light-filled living spaces, such as a lounge, dining room and kitchen, as well as four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a four-car garage. But the home's interior isn't nearly as exciting as what lies in the backyard...
That's right, in the garden, there's a small decked area with a built-in trapdoor. Open the door up and you'll discover a set of steps that lead underground. At the bottom of the stairs, there's a series of huge caverns about 30 feet down, that boast stunning nine-foot-tall stalagmites.
The current owners discovered the natural wonder when they were clearing the land to build their house in 2004. They've since spent over £69,000 ($87k) excavating, improving and lighting the space, according to Realtor. Experts from the nearby Natural Bridge Caverns also explored the caves and estimated them to be between 100,000 and 2 million years old. The house sold in the summer of 2022, for around £694,400 ($875k).
This amazing property, once owned by retired professional ice hockey player Milan Hejduk, has some pretty jaw-dropping home features hiding inside. On the market back in 2021 for £2.8 million ($3.5m), the Denver mansion sits within the Colorado Golf Club.
The 8,600-square-foot property boasts a storage cellar, seven fireplaces, a hot tub and a home gym, 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 plush mega-mansion, with five bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes and a luxurious basement media room – but even that's not the biggest surprise this estate has in store.
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!
Listed back in March 2022 for just under £4.6 million ($5.8m), this Arizona estate is more than just a remote outpost in the mountains. The historic Rackensack Mine property in Cave Creek hides more than its fair share of exciting features both inside and underground...
This 62-acre spread, which includes a main house and even a helipad for making a quick getaway, is a survivalist's sanctuary. From the rainwater-harvesting system and storage tanks to the solar power array, it has everything you need to be completely self-sufficient.
The property also comes complete with a fitness centre and yoga studio where you can break a sweat while admiring the spectacular view. The estate overlooks the dazzling vistas of the Tonto National Forest and outside you'll find numerous patios, a grill, a hot tub and a firepit. But what about the secret that lurks beneath?
As you may have guessed from the name, the residence boasts dozens of underground tunnels that were once part of a working gold mine. Although much of the mining operations ceased in the 1930s, those cool, dry tunnels could be used to store your own treasures.
From the outside, this charming three-bedroom detached house in Bristol in the UK looks completely normal, offering a slice of the quiet life in a typical English village in the bucolic countryside.
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!
This jaw-dropping mansion can be found on the prestigious Strait Lane in Dallas, Texas. The impressive driveway offers a tantalising first taste of the elegance and intrigue that awaits...
The home is equipped with eight beds, 22 bathrooms, four acres of land, two cabanas, multiple game rooms and living areas with medieval-style décor throughout. The master bedroom features a giant chandelier in the centre, a four-poster bed and a grand 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, sports 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. This spectacular feature will surely be a hit with kids and big kids at heart! A summer in this house would be the best one ever...
If you want to escape to the country while still having easy access to bustling towns and cities, then this one-of-a-kind 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. With the exception of calling a train home, this unique property is as good as it gets for a trainspotter, particularly as you'll get to see locomotives speeding past every day.
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. So while in the winter there are few trains, in August there are eight each way. Still, you might not want to give up your car just yet.
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, a 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 customised in authentic Renaissance style. However, it’s not been an easy, or cheap, feat with one set of curtains alone valued at over £11,100 ($14k).
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 an authentic knight’s suit of 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...
Incredibly, 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 luxurious 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 regal property in Perthshire, Scotland, may look like a grown-up house from the outside, but inside it's actually the perfect playground home for kids that never grew up, thanks to one particularly unique feature.
Recently renovated, the property is decked out in period elements with a modern twist. With seven reception rooms and two annexes, the house is designed for flexible and multi-generational living.
The amazing spiralling slide, which cost £10,000 ($12.6k) 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 child 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. Previously on the market 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 tiny 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.
If you were idly scrolling through this particular real estate listing, you might just miss its astounding secret. Located beneath this three-bedroom property, and slap bang in the middle of the array of promotional images, you’ll find more than just a secret room within…
Located in Marietta, Pennsylvania this characterful home boasts exposed beams and fresh white walls, so you could be forgiven for overlooking a small wooden doorway in the corner of the living room...
Alongside the spacious 2,178 square feet of accommodation on offer, this bright and airy home also plays host to an illuminated subterranean tunnel, accessed via this Lord of the Rings-esque doorway in the lounge. But where does the mysterious passageway lead?
This isn’t just a secret room tucked away out of sight. In this beguiling property, you’ll find an entire cave hiding in the basement. While some real estate window shoppers may feel too spooked out by the idea of having an underground cave in their home, others may see its true potential!
From the outside, this amazing holiday home in the resort community of Reunion, Florida, appears pretty ordinary – if not ultra-luxurious. Yet as well as endless contemporary living spaces for hosting and relaxing, the pad is also harbouring some extremely unexpected extras. The 8,712-square-foot mansion was completed in 2018 and lies minutes from Orlando's world-renowned attractions, making it perfect for children and big kids alike.
Clearly whoever commissioned the home doesn't want to grow up anytime soon and ensured their modern mansion was filled with plenty of features to keep the whole family entertained. There's a gorgeous open-plan living area, eight bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. There's also a huge movie theatre, an Avengers-themed arcade kitted out with dozens of games, a gym, a rooftop deck and an outdoor pool overlooking a golf course. Yet that isn't all...
That's right, this ultra-modern mansion also boasts hidden Harry Potter rooms, which lie behind a secret door decorated to look like Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station – an iconic part of the books and movies. The clandestine door pivots open and leads through to a hidden section of the house, where a life-size replica of the Hogwarts Express train can be found.
Harry and Dobby await anyone lucky enough to step inside, while the train itself comes complete with a luxurious sleeping car, decked out with bunk beds for the ultimate kids' slumber party. This isn't all, though. There's also a room decorated with a huge dragon and the Whomping Willow, as well as a Beauty and the Beast-themed bunk room – apt considering it's located just 10 miles south of Walt Disney World. The house last sold in February 2022 for a cool £4.2 million ($5.3m).
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