The Quirkiest Home in the Ozarks: Quigley’s Castle
- Marisa DeRoma ( a.k.a The Wandering Oddball)
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
While visiting family in the Ozarks, we took a visit to an unusual home. This was suggested by my aunt and uncle as they knew I loved odd things. This home has both nature inside and outside. This is Quigley’s Castle home to over 400 species of flowers in the perennial garden. It is also covered in stones, fossils and arrowheads. All collected by the previous lady of the house, Elisa Fioravanti Quigley.
History
In 1943, Elise Quigley had always dreamed of a home, and her husband, Albert, was working on one for her. Both she and her husband would have a back-and-forth on how it was being made. One day, when her husband went to work at the lumbermill, she enlisted her kids to help tear down the home and start from scratch. When he got back, she told him he would be living in the chicken coop.
The Home
Only a whopping $2000 was spent on the construction of the home, other than that found objects were parts of the house construction. For 3 years, the house did not have windows as glass was hard to come by due to demand during the war. So during the winter, the holes would be covered up. Commitment to make a dream come true. She had rocks, arrowheads and fossils in the walls. Elise wanted to bring nature in, hence why there is soil in the house with plants growing. Some plants even grow tall enough they reach the second floor of the home. These were things she had collected over the years, ever since she was a kid precisely nine years old. One bedroom has a butterfly wall with butterflies behind glass. Elise loved collecting insects as well.
Outside the home, there is an elaborate perennial garden surrounding it. Making this a truly remarkable home. In 1984, Elise Quigley would pass, but family would continue to take care of her lavish home.
Popularity
Today, it is a popular tourist spot in the Ozarks and is still being looked after by descendants of Elsie Quigley. Admission into the home costs $10 and is open March-October. The house has gained so much attention it was even featured on HGTV.
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