Around six decades ago, Arizona residents Theodore and Meletis (Mel) Bryson went out and gathered tons of discarded bottles from roadsides, landfills and even the Pepsi corporation, and then used them to build a carport next to their mobile home on the outskirts of Tucson. The creation eventually morphed into a fully bespoke homestead known as the “Bottle House”; and now that eye-catching property has popped up for sale, asking a modest $432,500.
“The Bryson family wanted something unique that didn’t disturb the desert landscape and with materials that were going to last a long time,” says listing agent Holly Greenhalgh of Coldwell Banker Realty. “They started with the carport and it continued from there, one section at time, which took over the span of about 15-20 years.”
Made not only from an array of colorful bottles, but also rocks and mortar, the unique digs were completed in the late 1960s, and later updated and preserved by a subsequent owner in the ’80s. Featured are three bedrooms and a matching number of baths in 2,700 square feet of single-level living space boasting a mix of concrete and flagstone floors, high wood-beam ceilings, built-in furnishings and myriad other special flourishes throughout, plus a trio of fireplaces and two wood-burning stoves.
Tucked away on a nearly 3-acre parcel of land in the Avra Valley, just west of Saguaro National Park, the striking dwelling is highlighted by a fireside living room and an eat-in kitchen outfitted with tile countertops, as well as a dining room sporting saguaro rib-lined cabinetry and an octagon-shaped table inset with fragments of cholla wood.
Elsewhere are an office space, a study and two “hidden” alcoves, along with a primary bedroom that connects to a bath containing a tub and shower. Outdoors, the grounds host a kitchen setup, an open-air game room equipped with a custom-built pool table and more than 2,000 square feet of hand-crafted arched passageways. A guest cottage and workshop also can be found on the premises.
According to Greenhalgh, the ideal buyer for the place would be an artist or investor who would operate it as a bed-and-breakfast. “It does capture your attention,” she told the Arizona Daily Star. “Some people think it’s like a cave, but it doesn’t feel that way when you are inside.”
Click here for more photos of the “Bottle House.”
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