#See the Ozarks: The Touristic Image
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PEARL SPURLOCK, the Tourist’s Friend
Pearl Spurlock, tourist guide and raconteur extraordinaire of the early Shepherd of the Hills days in Branson. “Sparky” was such a legend herself; we used this photograph as a full page illustration in See The Ozarks Pearl Spurlock became as well known as the characters and locations of Harold Bell Wright’s best-selling 1906 novel, The Shepherd of the Hills. As ‘furners’ traveled to Branson to…
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#Branson#Harold Bell Wright#Mary Elizabeth Mahnkey#Pearl Spurlock#See the Ozarks: The Touristic Image#Shepherd of the Hills
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Mark Kumming, Collector of Ozarkiana
By Curtis Copeland, The Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters
In the world of the Internet and social media, Mark Kumming is becoming well known for his knowledge of Ozarks history, memorabilia, and almost all things Ozarkiana. From posting photos of his personal Ozarks book collection, to images of Silver Dollar City and Branson area tourism memorabilia, to answering questions from followers about people and places of the Ozarks, Mark is actively becoming a guru of Ozarks regional culture.
A follower and fan of Mark myself, I felt fortunate to interview him and ask several questions, for his collection and knowledge is fascinating to me as well. Although Mark spent his earliest years in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, he eventually moved to Branson in his early teens. Like many people, Mark Kumming’s interest in regional and local history was influenced at an early age by his parents. “My dad would carry my brother and I, later our sister, all around St. Louis in the family van in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He took us to all kinds of museums and historic sites, primarily to keep us occupied on a day off from school or during summer vacation from school,” Mark said, when asked about how he became interested in history.
His father had some interesting occupations. These occupations, along with his father’s devoted interest in spending time with his children, led to some interesting experiences for Mark. “Dad was a licensed embalmer and funeral home director when I was very small, and so he had an interest in old cemeteries, too. I have been to all kinds of odd, strange, and unusual places around St. Louis that few life time residents even knew about. I thought it was fascinating to go to the Old Courthouse and stand in the room where the Dred Scott Decision was made or see all the stuff in the St. Louis Art Museum, the McDonnell Planetarium, and other such places.”
Mark’s father later went to work for McDonnell-Douglas, an aerospace firm in St. Louis that had a US Government contract during the Apollo and Skylab Eras with NASA. He met many of the astronauts when they came to St. Louis for training prior to their space flights. He personally knew Gus Grissom and Neal Armstrong. Mark recalled one special experience, “Once, on a day off from school, my dad took me in the family car to a warehouse in the St. Louis area, so he could pick up some parts for Skylab and take them to another location to deliver them. When he came out a few minutes later he had a little Ziploc bag with some electronic circuits in it...part of Skylab! I got to hold that bag in my hands and take a good look at it...something that soon would go up into space! That was a big deal for a little kid, and I remember it well.”
In 1973, Mark’s father felt that after spending time in the suburban areas of St. Louis, that he wanted his children to experience life in the country. The family moved to Perryville, MO, to a small farm on an Ozarks ridge just above the Mississippi River bottom lands. Relocating to this region of the Southeast Missouri Ozarks reinforced his interest in the Ozarks, it’s culture and history. “I was about 11 years old. That summer, a local publisher printed THE PERRYVILLE ADVERTISTER, a little magazine with a bunch of ads in it. The publication featured several articles about local history and folklore, lost treasure legends, historic spots, church history, settlement history, and so on. It was something I ate up! I loved the legends and local history stories. It was the first piece of regional material that I kept. I still have it today.” But it was not only the history of the local museums and history sites of the area that influenced Mark. He began to have an appreciation for the natural features that make the Ozarks region so special. “My brother and I explored the Ozarks woods around our farm. We had a natural spring that bubbled up in our pasture, and we followed it through the woods down to a much larger creek that eventually dumped into the Mississippi. Along that stream there were caves, limestone water falls, and all sorts of cool things for little early teenaged boys to explore. That left a big impression on me, too.”
During this time of the mid 1970’s Marks parents divorced. Although this was an unfortunate event, the silver lining was that his mother and stepfather worked for a large healthcare company, which had transferred them to Branson, Missouri. His family back in 1968 or 1969, had visited Branson for the first time on vacation right after the Beverly Hillbillies episodes aired on TV. They spent several days in Branson then, doing Silver Dollar City, Baldknobbers Jamboree, and other sights, which had made a great impression on young Mark. In 1978, after his mother and stepfather had been transferred, Mark found himself in Branson once again, but as a resident, and thrilled to be living in the town that brought him so much joy as a young boy. “We lived for the first two weeks in the Branson Inn, while mom and stepdad looked for a house. Then, I got a job at the age of 15 at SDC in the Foods Department, working at the Vineyard (now the Wagon Works Restaurant.) We were enrolled in Branson schools in the fall. Life was good! Of course, now with the SDC "pass exchange program" a benefit which let employees of the park into Branson attractions at no charge, I had the ability to go to all the music shows, attractions, just about everywhere in town for free! It was fantastic!”, said Mark of his moving to Branson.
This is the time when Mark began his collection of Branson, Silver Dollar City, and Ozarks memorabilia. Many people are now thankful that Mark saved every pamphlet, small trinket, and many things people of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s considered unimportant, or even trash. “I slowly accumulated Ozarks related material beginning in this period. I kept everything my employers gave me at SDC. ...I am proud of saving from the SDC dumpsters several small pieces salvaged from the float trip and diving bell attractions when they were torn out and updated with the American Plunge and the Lost River.” These early Silver Dollar City and Branson places of employment during his high school years gave Mark the opportunity to be surrounded by and participate in the “Ozarks-themed” tourist industry which he loved. He also made a lot of friends in this “golden age” of early Silver Dollar City and Shepherd of the Hills attractions, that would become well-known locally, and influential to the community even today. “I got a job as the concessions manager at Hee Haw Theater in 1981, it was a showcase for the Hee Haw TV stars. I transferred to the Attractions Department at SDC in 1979, and worked at Jim Owens Float Trip Ride, Rube Dugan's Diving Bell, Flooded Mine, Fire in the Hole, Grandfather's Mansion, Tree Top House (Huck Finn's Hideaway) the One Mule Swing, and did ad-lib street entertainment and was involved in one of the street feud skits regularly in the 1980 season. In 1981 I was second lead man at the diving bell. During this period, I graduated from Branson High School in 1980 and attended College of the Ozarks.” Mark stated about his early employment.
Mark’s experience and knowledge was not only increasing in the areas of Silver Dollar City and Branson tourism, but also the Ozarks region and its history and culture. “My collecting continued, primarily buying Ozarks books at the SDC book store. I worked with many people from the old days of Branson tourism at SDC, so I heard many old stories of what it was like in the area from decades past. Also, I went to high school with Jack Herschend's son, Bruce Herschend (who now runs Talking Rocks and Butterfly Palace) and Kelly Trimble, Mark Trimble's son, who had Shepherd of the Hills at the time. I went to high school and college with Jace Land, whose grandpa was Townsend Godsey, noted photo journalist of the Ozarks, and a contemporary and friend of Vance Randolph, Otto Ernest Rayburn, Harry Truman, and Thomas Hart Benton. Jace taught me some photography basics, too.”
In 1984, Mark’s educational and career path took him away from his friends and favorite places of Branson. He went to Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau to study mass communications and business. During this time at SEMO University he was classmate with a man that went on to a big career in TV and film, Cedric the Entertainer. They had mass communications classes together and were friends at the time.
Later in 1984, Mark began a 20-year career as a radio broadcaster, working as a disc jockey, announcer, news reporter and news director at radio stations in Cape Girardeau, Dexter, and Kennett, MO. All these towns are in the bootheel area of Missouri. In 1990 Mark moved to Forrest City, AR to continue radio there, and met and married his wife, Janette. He became an instant husband and stepfather. In less than three years their oldest daughter had her first child, and he was a grandpa for the first time. Mark and his wife now have two daughters and ten grandkids.
Mark had a very successful career during his twenty years in radio. He received several awards and met many celebrities, politicians and influential people. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Journalism Department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2000. He was a stringer for the ARKANSAS GAZETTE newspaper in Little Rock, and THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL newspaper in Memphis, TN. Mark contributed news on a regular basis to the Arkansas Associated Press Broadcasters Association, the Arkansas Radio Network, the Brownfield Ag Network, and the Learfield Data News Service. As a news reporter he covered events attended by President Reagan, Vice President George Herbert Walker Bush, and met and interviewed such people as Barbara Bush, Bill Clinton, Academy Award winning actress Mary Steenburgen. Mark also went to press events featuring Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. He interviewed Ricky Phelps of the Kentucky Headhunters. Mark also had the opportunity to interview Jesse Jackson, was part of a press pool that covered a press conference featuring author John Grisham, and met and interviewed three Missouri governors, and five Arkansas governors and was on a first name basis with Mike Huckabee when he was Arkansas governor.
During that 20-year timespan of being in his radio career and raising a family, Mark’s collecting of Ozarkiana and memorabilia had come to a standstill. They had vacationed in Branson a couple of times over the years, but that was about all. “I still was interested in local and regional history, and as a news reporter did many stories on local and regional history topics, festivals, and so on. All that stuff was Mississippi Delta Region material, not Ozarks material.”
Then in 2003, Mark’s wife, Janette, had an opportunity to move to northwest Arkansas and double her salary. She had a great career working in medical offices doing billing, Medicare, Medicaid, insurance contracts, etc., so they moved to Rogers, Arkansas. Unfortunately, Mark’s radio career had ended, and he went into construction work for a while, then was a clerk in an emergency room at a hospital in Springdale, Arkansas for nine years. “My, how my eyes were opened! This was much different work than entertaining in Branson or being a radio broadcaster.”
When that job ended, Mark became a clerk in a government contractors firm in Rogers for four years. When that job ended in 2017, he became a substitute teacher in the Pea Ridge School District. Mark and his Janette moved to Pea Ridge in 2007. In January of 2018, the Pea Ridge Community Library made Mark their children's storyteller. He also has done freelance writing on Ozarks topics since 2010. “No money in it, but I have had about 150 articles published in regional magazines and newspapers. I am regular contributing writer for THE MISSOURI CHIGGER magazine published at Lowry City, MO.”
After moving to Rogers, Mark was once again able to turn his sights towards his Ozarks collection. “I went at it full throttle when we moved to Rogers. My wife and I began going to yard sales, and I started picking up material like old out of print books on Ozarks topics. Then I discovered several fine used book stores and "friends of the library" type book stores, where material was sold cheap. I built a library of Ozarks material over the last 15 years. At times, I ran out of space, or found myself in an economic bind, and sold huge chunks of the library for cash at yard sales we held or traded material for better stuff with the secondhand book stores. I have two double book shelves full of Ozarks material. I have a closet packed full of other material I have found in flea markets and antique stores.”
Mark’s collection began to make its online appearance in 2010, when he joined the www.sdcfans.com web site, a web page for the fans of Silver Dollar City. “I posted over 2000 posts on that site [www.sdcfans.com] and began a Flickr account to post SDC and Hee Haw Theater photos. I found that all that stuff I had saved for over 30 years from my youth at SDC and Hee Haw was now interesting to someone other than myself! A younger generation who had only heard about this stuff was amazed when I started posting scans of my collection on line, and they marveled at the stories of old time Branson and SDC of the 1970s and early 1980s.” In 2013, Janette bought him a computer tablet, and his son in law signed him up for a Facebook account. “Over time I discovered the Facebook group pages I now contribute to. Now I administer the Hee Haw Theater Facebook page in honor of the people who worked at the theater with me. SDCFans.com began a Facebook page, and the administrator asked me to be a co-administrator with him, so I do some work there. I am very pleased to be able to share my knowledge about Ozarks topics with folks on those group sites.” Mark also stated that he is pleased to be an active member of the Society of Ozarkian Hillcrofters and enjoys sharing his collection with that group as well.
Mark’s sharing of his collection is not just in cyberspace. He was amazed when Josh Heston invited him to the State of the Ozarks Festival in 2017 at Hollister, where he had a booth with items from his collection. He felt honored to be a part of the festival and could visit with people directly about his collection of Ozarks memorabilia.
I asked Mark some specifics about his collection. “Regarding the rarest piece I have, it is a copy of M.E. Oliver's "STRANGE SCENES IN THE OZARKS," a handmade book limited to a printing of 400 copies. I’m very pleased to have that. I have tons of brochures, postcards, and many other pieces of paper goods that promoted or told of aspects of Ozarks.” Mark has some advice for those interested in being collectors themselves. “If I could give anyone a tip on what to collect I would say to seek out the many, many small cheaply made booklets that Ozarks natives made and peddled to tourists in the 1950s through the 1980s. These little books contain many gems of Ozarks history, little tidbits that the bigger books by the university presses don't discuss. Some of those books include one by Silver Dollar City's first Marshal, one by a miller at Sullivan's Mill at SDC. Also, books written by the eccentric "Coin" Harvey at Rogers, AR who founded the Monte Ne Resort in the 1920’s, and books by a Bentonville, AR man, J. Dickson Black, who did several books on northwest Arkansas history.”
Mark met several interesting people, some of them old timers, along the way during his collecting. He had the opportunity to get acquainted with Walker Powell from Silver Dollar City, he met Ozarks author Phillip Steele a couple of times, during his time freelance writing. Mark had encounters with Jack and Pete Herschend, and helped train Branson area entertainment legend, Terry Wayne Sanders at Silver Dollar City. “I was a coworker with many good, good people who worked at SDC, the Branson music shows, Shepherd of the Hills play...gosh, I worked or was friends with many good folks from Shepherd. There are many stories I could tell if time permitted.”
Not only is Mark a collector, but he is also an accomplished author. He has had some 150 freelance stories published in regional periodicals. He also used the CreateSpace platform on the Internet to publish his first collection of poetry. It is a small chapbook of poetry and photos titled “REFLECTIONS ON THE BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE IN POETRY AND PHOTOGRAPHS”. It is currently available on amazon.com. “I have seen the printed proof of the little book, and I'm proud of it, although I do not expect a little book of Ozarks poetry to sell more than a handful of copies.” He stated with a chuckle.
Mark intends to continue his writing efforts. “I do have plans on publishing some of the Ozarks articles that have appeared in print in magazines and newspapers in the months and years ahead. There is a lot of material that I have in my filing cabinet. I do have plans on issuing a history and memoir of my diving bell days and my time at Hee Haw Theater when time permits.”
Mark is also continuing his new career in education as well. Although he is currently substitute teaching in Pea Ridge Schools, he hopes to be able this summer to begin to study and obtain a teacher’s license, and teach full time in Pea Ridge Schools, hopefully beginning in fall. “It will be a long, hard process for me, but I hope at this time to accomplish this. It hopefully will be a career until I am eligible to retire at age 68.”
Mark Kumming’s lifelong interest in the Ozarks, and his collection of Ozarks memorabilia has become something much more than the hobby of an individual. It has become an important historic record of the region and a source of education for this and future generations. The excitement that Mark has had for Ozarks history and culture, and his willingness to share the collection, has created an interest in the Ozarks that is essential for the preservation of the unique culture of the region. □
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GP713 Preacher Finds a Corpse - Episode 13
In this 13th podcast episode (Chapter 20), Evan goes to see his old mentor Rev. Thurston, who won't let him off the hook. #podcast #audiobook #mysterythriller
We'll be podcasting the other chapters daily at 7:30 pm Eastern until July 30.
About the book. A lapsed divinity student who is fascinated by astrophysics finds his best friend shot dead in a cornfield. It looks like suicide. Having returned to his farm roots near Lake of the Ozarks, Evan works as a skip tracer for the local car dealer. He learns his friend was involved in a dispute over farmland ownership that goes back two centuries - complicated now by plans to make an old weapons facility into a tourist attraction. First in a series.
Image credit: Jose De Jesus Cervantes Gallegos © 123rf.com. Audiobook © 2019 La Puerta Productions.
Check out this episode!
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King of the Clicks: What Was the Most Popular Home of 2018?
realtor.com
We love looking at all manner of homes—beautiful, weird, massive, tiny, outrageously expensive, or dirt-cheap. But what we enjoy even more is seeing which ones you like looking at. (Creepy, we know.)
Every week, we tally up your interest on realtor.com® listings and report back with the 10 properties you couldn’t resist clicking on.
Now that the year is almost done, we set out to pinpoint the 10 homes capturing the most views for the entire year. Our top home wasn’t a surprise by any stretch of the imagination, but it was nice to see the return of some familiar facades—some of which are still in search of a buyer.
Ready to take a walk down a unique (and expensive) memory lane? Join us as we gaze upon 2018’s most popular homes. Even if you’ve seen them before, we guarantee you’ll want to take another peek.
10. Cerro Gordo, Lone Pine, CA
Status: Sold for $1.4 million in July
Why it’s here: Seeking a little solitude? Look no further than Cerro Gordo, a bona fide ghost town perched 8,000 feet up in the Inyo Mountains in Southern California. This 1867 silver mining camp is credited with providing some of the wealth that built Los Angeles—even if the town was abandoned in the early 1900s when the mines dried up.
The listing for a Lone Pine, CA, camp on 300 acres included 22 buildings—including a hotel, bunkhouse, bar, and cemetery with “substantial numbers of reported hauntings,” listing agent Jake Rasmuson said in June.
Some buildings were restored, but many of them were left in a state of “protected arrested decay.” Although now mainly available for walking tours, the ghost town has been used as a shooting location for movies, including “Iron Man,” Rasmuson said.
The ghostly listing appeared on the market for $925,000, and scared up a ton of interest. It sold way over asking, for $1.4 million, in late July.
Cerro Gordo ghost town
realtor.com
———
9. 5407 Water View Dr, Granbury, TX
Status: Sold in July 2018—price undisclosed
Why it’s here: At first glance, you might be surprised that this modest little number—45 miles outside Fort Worth, TX—made it to the top 10.
Just kidding. Everybody can see why it’s here.
This cozy 800-square-foot home, listed for just $89,900, got a blockbuster boost in views after listing photos surfaced featuring a T. rex doing everyday household activities (e.g., raiding the fridge, lounging on a bed, and mowing the lawn).
Aside from the Jurassic edge, the home features two bedrooms and one bathroom, and is situated on a lake with access to a community boat slip around the corner. (Can a T. rex water-ski?) The dino-mite sales tactic worked wonders, because the home sold in a month’s time.
Pros: Mows the lawn. Cons: Wants to eat you.
realtor.com
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8. Beckham Creek Cave Rd, Parthenon, AR
Status: Currently off market
Why it’s here: This rustic estate carved into the side of the Ozark Mountains captured attention for its storied history of renovations. What started as a doomsday shelter was transformed into an A-list nightclub that Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor are rumored to have visited. The cave was then remodeled into a resort that hit the market for $2.75 million.
As far as we can tell, the enormous cave never snagged a spelunking buyer to write its next chapter. Instead, its owners are renting it out to tourists. Talk about a rockin’ vacation!
Cave home in Arkansas
realtor.com
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7. 659 1st St, Woodland, CA
Status: For sale for $3,850,000
Why it’s here: Considered a “work of art,” this gorgeous example of Victorian Italianate architecture north of San Francisco took our collective breath away—and our “most popular” title—when it appeared on the market in April.
Built in 1885 for two pioneering ranchers, the historic home known as the Gable mansion eventually fell into disrepair. In the 1970s, though, it was given landmark status and was painstakingly restored with classic touches like sparkling chandeliers, hand-stenciled wallpapers, stained-glass windows, and hand-decorated ceilings. In the 1990s, the mansion again changed owners, who added a few modern features, including an indoor pool, theater room, an aquarium in the kitchen, and a gym.
Woodland, CA
realtor.com
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6. 1649 Cherry Creek Dr, Waco, TX
Status: For sale for $950,000
Why it’s here: Even though “Fixer Upper” is off the air, we’re still a nation obsessed with it. In Season 2 of the show, renovation gurus Chip and Joanna Gaines worked their magic on this 1976 home, known as the “Faceless Bunker.”
Fans flocked to the listing when the house appeared on the market in June for a staggering $1.15 million. (Waco‘s median home price is $265,000.) Math is hard, so we refuse to do it for you, but suffice it to say there’s a big premium on this 4,113-square-foot home. A little too rich for even the biggest “Fixer Upper” fan’s blood, the asking price has now been reduced to just shy of a million bucks. Will you be the face this TV-famous home needs?
The Faceless Bunker
realtor.com
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5. 4585 Kiftsgate Bnd, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Status: Off market
Why it’s here: Music lovers everywhere jumped at the chance to peek inside the Michigan Colonial that was home to Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. Listed for $800,000 just weeks after the singer’s death in August, the gated estate was the first of many properties she owned to appear on the market.
The custom estate, built in 1990, has five bedrooms, 6.5 baths, and more than 4,100 square feet. According to the listing, the home has been pulled from the market, but it may make an encore appearance in the new year.
Bloomfield Township, MI
realtor.com
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4. 2851 Marshall Blvd, Sullivans Island, SC
Status: For sale for $4,495,000
Why it’s here: When this dome-shaped house blew onto the market for the first time in May, it grabbed our attention for its one-of-a-kind perk: It’s hurricane-proof! Dubbed “Eye of the Storm,” the 4,000-square-foot home is made of a whopping 600 tons of reinforced concrete and was designed after Hurricane Hugo ripped apart its original owner’s abode in 1989.
While this storm-resistant structure garnered a rainstorm of clicks, buyers have yet to bite. Listing agent Michael Royal is still hopeful he’ll nab a unique buyer for this iconic home.
“I’m trying to connect with the person who really falls in love with it, and sees the work of art it really is,” he said.
Eye of the Storm dome home
Michael Royal (Pareto Group)
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3. 924 Bel Air Rd, Los Angeles, CA
Status: For sale for $188,000,000
Why it’s here: The posh Bel Air estate known as the “Billionaire” made a gigantic splash in 2017, when it hit the market for a mind-boggling $250 million—the country’s most expensive listing at the time. For good reason, we guess—it boasts three chef’s kitchens, two fully stocked wine cellars, 135 art installations, three theater areas, an auto gallery, and a helipad with helicopter.
This year, the megamansion was back in the headlines when a cool $62 million was slashed off its price. The shocker? The price reduction was not for a lack of interested buyers. An offer on the home fell through, so the 12-bedroom, 21-bathroom behemoth was relisted for $188 million. A steal, perhaps? We don’t know. We’ll never know. Sad!
Los Angeles, CA
realtor.com
———
2. 450 W Grixdale, Detroit, MI
Status: For sale for $375,000
Why it’s here: This Motor City masterpiece went on the market for $550,000 in March, and the internet went nuts. It’s not hard to see why: One peek inside will blow you away with over-the-top decor, kitschy knickknacks, custom cars, and other collectibles—all of which were included in the original purchase price (which has now been reduced to $375,000).
The intriguing interior is the brainchild of homeowner Ronald Nassar—known by some as Mr. Ronnie—who’s looking to downsize and leave his carefully curated time capsule behind. Will it be your treasure trove?
Detroit, MI
realtor.com
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1. 11222 Dilling St, North Hollywood, CA
Status: Sold for $3.5 million in August
Why it’s here: This home is a facade. An evocative exterior. A national icon! This ranch-style home captured the memories of a generation of adults who grew up seeing a static image of the place during endless reruns of “The Brady Bunch.”
The interiors of the “Brady” home were filmed on a soundstage, but the actual home, with its memorable exterior—on the market for a brief period this summer—caused clicks to come flooding in.
It didn’t matter that the interior of this house was dated and a bit of a mish-mosh—the crucial element was the outside of the house. Altered a bit from how it appeared in the early ’70s, it was still easily identifiable as the iconic home. So much so that it is reportedly the second most photographed home in America, after the White House.
The immediate popularity resulted in a heated bidding war, with HGTV emerging victorious. The network paid nearly double the home’s asking price, but will recoup its outlay with a series based on the home’s remodel, set to air in 2019. The network’s designers will aim to make the home’s interior match the facade of this memorable TV residence.
Studio City, CA
realtor.com
Allison Underhill contributed to this report.
The post King of the Clicks: What Was the Most Popular Home of 2018? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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King of the Clicks: What Was the Most Popular Home of 2018?
realtor.com
We love looking at all manner of homes—beautiful, weird, massive, tiny, outrageously expensive, or dirt-cheap. But what we enjoy even more is seeing which ones you like looking at. (Creepy, we know.)
Every week, we tally up your interest on realtor.com® listings and report back with the 10 properties you couldn’t resist clicking on.
Now that the year is almost done, we set out to pinpoint the 10 homes capturing the most views for the entire year. Our top home wasn’t a surprise by any stretch of the imagination, but it was nice to see the return of some familiar facades—some of which are still in search of a buyer.
Ready to take a walk down a unique (and expensive) memory lane? Join us as we gaze upon 2018’s most popular homes. Even if you’ve seen them before, we guarantee you’ll want to take another peek.
10. Cerro Gordo, Lone Pine, CA
Status: Sold for $1.4 million in July
Why it’s here: Seeking a little solitude? Look no further than Cerro Gordo, a bona fide ghost town perched 8,000 feet up in the Inyo Mountains in Southern California. This 1867 silver mining camp is credited with providing some of the wealth that built Los Angeles—even if the town was abandoned in the early 1900s when the mines dried up.
The listing for a Lone Pine, CA, camp on 300 acres included 22 buildings—including a hotel, bunkhouse, bar, and cemetery with “substantial numbers of reported hauntings,” listing agent Jake Rasmuson said in June.
Some buildings were restored, but many of them were left in a state of “protected arrested decay.” Although now mainly available for walking tours, the ghost town has been used as a shooting location for movies, including “Iron Man,” Rasmuson said.
The ghostly listing appeared on the market for $925,000, and scared up a ton of interest. It sold way over asking, for $1.4 million, in late July.
Cerro Gordo ghost town
realtor.com
———
9. 5407 Water View Dr, Granbury, TX
Status: Sold in July 2018—price undisclosed
Why it’s here: At first glance, you might be surprised that this modest little number—45 miles outside Fort Worth, TX—made it to the top 10.
Just kidding. Everybody can see why it’s here.
This cozy 800-square-foot home, listed for just $89,900, got a blockbuster boost in views after listing photos surfaced featuring a T. rex doing everyday household activities (e.g., raiding the fridge, lounging on a bed, and mowing the lawn).
Aside from the Jurassic edge, the home features two bedrooms and one bathroom, and is situated on a lake with access to a community boat slip around the corner. (Can a T. rex water-ski?) The dino-mite sales tactic worked wonders, because the home sold in a month’s time.
Pros: Mows the lawn. Cons: Wants to eat you.
realtor.com
———
8. Beckham Creek Cave Rd, Parthenon, AR
Status: Currently off market
Why it’s here: This rustic estate carved into the side of the Ozark Mountains captured attention for its storied history of renovations. What started as a doomsday shelter was transformed into an A-list nightclub that Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor are rumored to have visited. The cave was then remodeled into a resort that hit the market for $2.75 million.
As far as we can tell, the enormous cave never snagged a spelunking buyer to write its next chapter. Instead, its owners are renting it out to tourists. Talk about a rockin’ vacation!
Cave home in Arkansas
realtor.com
———
7. 659 1st St, Woodland, CA
Status: For sale for $3,850,000
Why it’s here: Considered a “work of art,” this gorgeous example of Victorian Italianate architecture north of San Francisco took our collective breath away—and our “most popular” title—when it appeared on the market in April.
Built in 1885 for two pioneering ranchers, the historic home known as the Gable mansion eventually fell into disrepair. In the 1970s, though, it was given landmark status and was painstakingly restored with classic touches like sparkling chandeliers, hand-stenciled wallpapers, stained-glass windows, and hand-decorated ceilings. In the 1990s, the mansion again changed owners, who added a few modern features, including an indoor pool, theater room, an aquarium in the kitchen, and a gym.
Woodland, CA
realtor.com
———
6. 1649 Cherry Creek Dr, Waco, TX
Status: For sale for $950,000
Why it’s here: Even though “Fixer Upper” is off the air, we’re still a nation obsessed with it. In Season 2 of the show, renovation gurus Chip and Joanna Gaines worked their magic on this 1976 home, known as the “Faceless Bunker.”
Fans flocked to the listing when the house appeared on the market in June for a staggering $1.15 million. (Waco‘s median home price is $265,000.) Math is hard, so we refuse to do it for you, but suffice it to say there’s a big premium on this 4,113-square-foot home. A little too rich for even the biggest “Fixer Upper” fan’s blood, the asking price has now been reduced to just shy of a million bucks. Will you be the face this TV-famous home needs?
The Faceless Bunker
realtor.com
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5. 4585 Kiftsgate Bnd, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Status: Off market
Why it’s here: Music lovers everywhere jumped at the chance to peek inside the Michigan Colonial that was home to Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. Listed for $800,000 just weeks after the singer’s death in August, the gated estate was the first of many properties she owned to appear on the market.
The custom estate, built in 1990, has five bedrooms, 6.5 baths, and more than 4,100 square feet. According to the listing, the home has been pulled from the market, but it may make an encore appearance in the new year.
Bloomfield Township, MI
realtor.com
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4. 2851 Marshall Blvd, Sullivans Island, SC
Status: For sale for $4,495,000
Why it’s here: When this dome-shaped house blew onto the market for the first time in May, it grabbed our attention for its one-of-a-kind perk: It’s hurricane-proof! Dubbed “Eye of the Storm,” the 4,000-square-foot home is made of a whopping 600 tons of reinforced concrete and was designed after Hurricane Hugo ripped apart its original owner’s abode in 1989.
While this storm-resistant structure garnered a rainstorm of clicks, buyers have yet to bite. Listing agent Michael Royal is still hopeful he’ll nab a unique buyer for this iconic home.
“I’m trying to connect with the person who really falls in love with it, and sees the work of art it really is,” he said.
Eye of the Storm dome home
Michael Royal (Pareto Group)
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3. 924 Bel Air Rd, Los Angeles, CA
Status: For sale for $188,000,000
Why it’s here: The posh Bel Air estate known as the “Billionaire” made a gigantic splash in 2017, when it hit the market for a mind-boggling $250 million—the country’s most expensive listing at the time. For good reason, we guess—it boasts three chef’s kitchens, two fully stocked wine cellars, 135 art installations, three theater areas, an auto gallery, and a helipad with helicopter.
This year, the megamansion was back in the headlines when a cool $62 million was slashed off its price. The shocker? The price reduction was not for a lack of interested buyers. An offer on the home fell through, so the 12-bedroom, 21-bathroom behemoth was relisted for $188 million. A steal, perhaps? We don’t know. We’ll never know. Sad!
Los Angeles, CA
realtor.com
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2. 450 W Grixdale, Detroit, MI
Status: For sale for $375,000
Why it’s here: This Motor City masterpiece went on the market for $550,000 in March, and the internet went nuts. It’s not hard to see why: One peek inside will blow you away with over-the-top decor, kitschy knickknacks, custom cars, and other collectibles—all of which were included in the original purchase price (which has now been reduced to $375,000).
The intriguing interior is the brainchild of homeowner Ronald Nassar—known by some as Mr. Ronnie—who’s looking to downsize and leave his carefully curated time capsule behind. Will it be your treasure trove?
Detroit, MI
realtor.com
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1. 11222 Dilling St, North Hollywood, CA
Status: Sold for $3.5 million in August
Why it’s here: This home is a facade. An evocative exterior. A national icon! This ranch-style home captured the memories of a generation of adults who grew up seeing a static image of the place during endless reruns of “The Brady Bunch.”
The interiors of the “Brady” home were filmed on a soundstage, but the actual home, with its memorable exterior—on the market for a brief period this summer—caused clicks to come flooding in.
It didn’t matter that the interior of this house was dated and a bit of a mish-mosh—the crucial element was the outside of the house. Altered a bit from how it appeared in the early ’70s, it was still easily identifiable as the iconic home. So much so that it is reportedly the second most photographed home in America, after the White House.
The immediate popularity resulted in a heated bidding war, with HGTV emerging victorious. The network paid nearly double the home’s asking price, but will recoup its outlay with a series based on the home’s remodel, set to air in 2019. The network’s designers will aim to make the home’s interior match the facade of this memorable TV residence.
Studio City, CA
realtor.com
Allison Underhill contributed to this report.
The post King of the Clicks: What Was the Most Popular Home of 2018? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
King of the Clicks: What Was the Most Popular Home of 2018?
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GP709 Preacher Finds a Corpse - Episode 9
In this ninth podcast episode (Chapters 14-15), Evan does some more data drilling and remembers a time when he and Bob went hunting with Uncle Dick. On his way to see crusty old attorney Angus Clapper, Evan drives through the town of Peculiar. #podcast #audiobook #mysterythriller
We'll be podcasting the other chapters daily at 7:30 pm Eastern until July 30.
About the book. A lapsed divinity student who is fascinated by astrophysics finds his best friend shot dead in a cornfield. It looks like suicide. Having returned to his farm roots near Lake of the Ozarks, Evan works as a skip tracer for the local car dealer. He learns his friend was involved in a dispute over farmland ownership that goes back two centuries - complicated now by plans to make an old weapons facility into a tourist attraction. First in a series.
Image credit: Jose De Jesus Cervantes Gallegos © 123rf.com. Audiobook © 2019 La Puerta Productions.
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We've told the story of tourism in our Ozarks with vintage images, early postcards, tourist brochures and advertising ephemera as well as souvenirs of all kinds - ruby glass to printed tablecloths. From even before the Shepherd of the Hills Country to the splashy days of Lake of the Ozarks speedboats, SEE THE OZARKS covers them all!
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