The ghostly Smith house that swallowed its creator (21 photos)

For many years, a rickety five-story log structure with bizarrely twisting staircases and haphazardly overhanging balconies has stood on a hill in the Wapiti Valley near Cody, Wyoming, adjacent to Yellowstone Park. It was the single-handed creation of eccentric engineer Francis Lee Smith.





Smith spent twelve years constructing the log cabin, using timber lost in the Rattlesnake Mountain fire. After the fire damaged the trees, the half-burned timber was allowed to be hauled away free of charge by anyone who helped clear the slopes. Hiring a few helpers, Smith transported the logs to the valley and set about realizing his dream.



Smith, a Cody native, moved into the house with his wife and two children immediately after completing the first floor, but he never stopped building. Night after night, he worked on the house by the light of a single light bulb, until his mad obsession destroyed his marriage and ultimately took his life.





The house wasn't even remotely cozy. There was no running water, no sewer, and no electricity other than what a small generator provided. The only source of heat was a wood stove on the ground floor, which was also used for cooking. The family dining table was a wide tree stump, surrounded by similar tree stumps for chairs.

In winter, the entire family slept in sleeping bags on the floor, huddled around the stove—the only source of heat. In the summer, Mr. Smith slept in a hammock, and the children sometimes slept in a separate, spacious doghouse on the porch. While the family lived in the house, it was home to numerous wild animals. Raccoons, skunks, wild cats, owls, and other creatures found shelter inside the structure or under the floor.



After several years, his wife tired of the vagabond lifestyle and divorced Smith, taking the children to another city. The children visited their father and sometimes stayed overnight.



Alone, a dejected Smith threw himself into construction, completing the house without drawings or plans. The chaotic architecture is reminiscent of Sarah Winchester's famous mansion in San Jose, which the widow of the arms magnate spent thirty-eight years completing. In 1992, Smith's obsession cost him his life: he fell from a balcony during construction and died from his injuries. His body was discovered only two days later.



Since then, the mansion has stood empty and abandoned. The wooden structure, exposed to the elements, is slowly rotting and deteriorating. Vandals have also taken their toll.



Francis Lee Smith designed and built the "Smith Mansion" from scratch.

According to the latest reports, the obsessive architect's daughter, Sunny Smith-Larsen, sold the house several years ago. The new owners (local business owners) have announced plans to stabilize and preserve the building as a historical landmark, rather than fully restore it for residential use. They are collaborating with Smith's daughter.









Sunny Larsen





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