Charlevoix Mushroom Houses: Earl Young’s Hobbit Homes of Northern Michigan

Last Updated: July 2026

by Aiden Peltier

If you’re into Michigan architecture, you’ve probably heard about the Charlevoix Mushroom Houses. Scattered across the small Lake Michigan city of Charlevoix are a series of organic stone homes known as the “Mushroom Houses” — sometimes called Hobbit Houses, Gnome Homes, Hansel and Gretel Houses, or Harry Potter Houses. They were designed and built by self-taught architect Earl Young in the early-to-mid 1900s, and they remain beloved treasures of Charlevoix to this day. Here’s everything you want to know before you visit — the story, the must-see homes, and how to tour them respectfully.

Visiting the Mushroom Houses of Charlevoix, MI

Visiting the Mushroom Houses is a great travel idea, with both guided and self-guided tours available. Let your imagination roam and discover these artistic, photogenic structures. Below I’ve pulled together the history and the practical details so you know exactly what to expect when you see Young’s homes.

Please note: These are privately owned residential homes and must be respected as such. You can look and take photos from the street, but please do not disturb the residents or try to go inside. Thank you!

History of the Mushroom Houses in Charlevoix, MI

Earl Young began designing and building the Mushroom Houses in 1918, starting with a home for his own family. Over the span of 52 years he designed and built 31 structures throughout Charlevoix, Michigan — most often described as 26 homes plus four downtown commercial buildings, with the rest being remodels and additions.

While Young was considered an architect and worked as one, he was never registered. He dropped out of the School of Architecture at the University of Michigan after just one year — discouraged that the lessons didn’t reflect Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy that architecture should respect the surrounding land, which had captured him. He never went back to school. Instead he taught himself through books and magazines and by talking to stonemasons and construction workers.

Boulder Park, Charlevoix, MI

Young designed and built 10 of the houses in Boulder Park, near Lake Michigan, but it’s a common misconception that he built all of the houses there. Many Boulder Park homes were commissioned to reflect Young’s “style” without actually being designed by him. A tour guide or self-guided map will tell you which ones are truly his.

The most well-known home Young built in Boulder Park is Boulder Manor, considered a turning point in his career (more on that below). The houses were built with limestone, fieldstone, wood, and other natural indigenous materials, along with boulders and rocks he found — and often dredged from Lake Michigan — throughout Northern Michigan.

Amazingly, Young never used blueprints. He built from vision and rough sketches — sometimes drawn in the dirt with a stick — handed to his crew. He worked from the shapes of the boulders, which he had towed himself by work horses, shaping each house naturally to the land. In more modern terms you might call him a “boulder whisperer”: he claimed he could listen to the voices of the boulders.

The Rise to Popularity of the Mushroom Houses

While Earl Young’s Mushroom Houses are magnificent works of architectural art, they went largely unrecognized for a long time. Part of that was because Young wasn’t formally licensed, worked strictly in Charlevoix, and most people didn’t understand his vision — especially the low ceilings and cramped kitchens (Young didn’t find much importance in cooking).

It wasn’t until 2004, 29 years after his death, that his creations really began to gain recognition — thanks to David Miles, the son of one of Young’s friends. Miles got a panicked call from the Charlevoix Chamber of Commerce that tourists aboard a bus tour were bored and didn’t want to shop. He boarded the bus, directed the driver to Young’s Mushroom Houses, and narrated as they drove. It was a huge success, and Young’s creations have been a popular attraction ever since.

The story has only grown from there. In 2015, Emmy-winning filmmakers released The Wizard of Boulder Park, a documentary about Young built partly from 13 hours of home video he shot of his own family life and house construction — worth seeking out before a visit.

The Boulder Manor in Charlevoix, MI

As I mentioned, Boulder Manor is significant as the turning point in Earl Young’s architectural career. He purchased the land in 1924 (later Boulder Park) and began construction on the house in 1928.

Unfortunately, the Great Depression hit the following year, which forced Young to lose the unfinished structure and sell it to the bank. But the setback didn’t stop him. For several years he worked on other houses until he finally regained ownership of Boulder Manor in 1937, finishing it around 1940 — a strong comeback.

Boulder Manor still stands proudly, with an impressive fireplace and a giant arched window framing a fantastic view of Lake Michigan. There’s even a miniature replica of the house in the back that served as a playhouse for his children during construction — complete with working electricity and a fireplace. Who wouldn’t want to hang out in a playhouse like that?

Mushroom House Self-Guided Tours and Map

Interested yet? If you’re planning a visit to see the Mushroom Houses, it’s worth planning your route so you don’t miss anything. You can take a self-guided tour by picking up a map from the Charlevoix Visitors Center or printing one online. Most of the homes sit within an easy walk of downtown, clustered on Park Avenue, Grant Street, and Clinton Street near Round Lake.

The self-guided tour is one of the most popular free activities in Charlevoix, especially in the autumn months, when the wavy roofs, cedar-shake shingles, and stone walls of these “Hobbit Homes” stand striking against the fall foliage.

If you’d like an expert to provide commentary, guided options are available too. The Charlevoix Historical Society Museum sponsors walking and bus tours, and you can also book a private GEM car tour (details below). Whatever you choose, remember these are people’s homes — view from the street, keep your distance, and don’t block driveways or traffic.

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Must-See Mushroom Houses

Here are some of the most popular and frequently photographed Mushroom Houses, with a little about each:

• The Mushroom House — Built in 1951–52 at the corner of Clinton and Grant Streets, this is the most photographed home in Charlevoix, with rounded walls and a wavy, rounded roof. It shares its name with — and lends it to — all the rest.
• The Half House — Named for the way it appears to be cut clean in half. Local lore says Young built it that way after a dispute with a neighbor.
• The Owl House — Built 1930–31 entirely of granite, with two rounded front windows that read just like the face of an owl.
• 306 Park Avenue — Young’s own later residence, with two chimneys that look like they’re melting. He and his wife Irene lived here after their children moved out.
• The Thatch House — A thatched, sweeping roof that arches upward. Recently remodeled, but it keeps Young’s charm.
• The Sucher House — Blends into its Lake Michigan lot so completely it reads as one-third land, one-third sky, one-third water. Its famously low ceilings reflect Young’s short stature.

Local Establishments in Charlevoix Built by Earl Young

Downtown, two establishments Young built are still open to the public: Stafford’s Weathervane Restaurant and the Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites, along with Hotel Earl (formerly The Lodge). The Weathervane was the location of Young’s office before he passed away in 1975. You can still eat and stay at these places today — a rare chance to actually step inside his work.

More About Charlevoix’s Mushroom Houses

If the Mushroom Houses have piqued your interest (I’m sure they have), the Harsha House Museum in Charlevoix has an exhibit all about Earl Young and his creations, at 103 State Street.

Mushroom House Tours of Charlevoix, run by lifelong local Edith Pair, offers narrated GEM car tours that visit around 28 of Young’s houses on a relaxing cruise through the neighborhoods. Tours run daily on the hour, roughly 10am–4pm in season, and are consistently rated the #1 thing to do in downtown Charlevoix — they’re dog-friendly and do book up, so reserve or text ahead. [VERIFY: confirm current meeting address, hours, and phone before publishing — the business has used both 106 Park Ave and 211 Bridge St.]

The photo book Mushroom Houses of Charlevoix is a great way to get to know the homes before your tour. If you purchase through Amazon here, we receive a small commission.

Vacation in a Mushroom House

Did you know some of the Mushroom Houses are available to rent? It’s one of the few ways to actually experience the inside of an Earl Young home. Here are some of the options:

• 🛏️ Six-Bedroom Mushroom House — Sleeps six, with both a lake view and a garden view plus a comfortable patio.
• 🛏️ Four-Bedroom Mushroom House — Sleeps seven across 1,500 square feet, with a fireplace and porch.
• 🛏️ Three-Bedroom Mushroom House — Sleeps 10, with a large living room and a comfortable sofa for relaxing.
• 🛏️ One-Bedroom Mushroom House — A one-bedroom with a loft, dining room, and patio.
• 🛏️ Upscale Earl Young Cottage with Deck — Two bedrooms, two baths, a fully equipped kitchen, and a patio with lake views.

Visit Charlevoix

“Charlevoix the Beautiful,” on the shores of Lake Michigan, is one of Michigan’s top travel destinations. There’s plenty to do here year-round, from swimming at Lake Michigan Beach Park to shopping Bridge Street downtown — it belongs on your Michigan bucket list.

It’s also a short drive from other popular Northern Michigan destinations like Traverse City, Petoskey, Mackinac Island, and the Upper Peninsula just across the Mackinac Bridge. If you’re planning to see the Mushroom Houses, consider extending your stay to really explore this amazing spot.

Charlevoix Mushroom Houses FAQ

How many Charlevoix Mushroom Houses are there?

Earl Young designed and built 31 structures in Charlevoix over 52 years — most commonly described as 26 homes plus four commercial buildings, with the remainder being remodels. Guided tours typically visit around 28 of them. Numbers vary between sources because some count remodels and commercial buildings differently.

Where are the Mushroom Houses located?

The Mushroom Houses are in Charlevoix, Michigan (49720), most of them clustered within walking distance of downtown around Park Avenue, Grant Street, and Clinton Street, plus the Boulder Park neighborhood along Lake Michigan. A few are only visible by car.

Is it free to see the Charlevoix Mushroom Houses?

Yes. A self-guided walking tour is completely free and is one of the most popular free things to do in Charlevoix — just pick up or print a map. Guided GEM car and walking tours are paid options that add expert commentary and history.

Can you go inside the Mushroom Houses?

No — almost all of the Mushroom Houses are privately owned residences, so you can only view and photograph them from the street. The exceptions are the Earl Young buildings that operate as businesses (Stafford’s Weathervane Restaurant, Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites, and Hotel Earl) and the handful of Young homes offered as vacation rentals, where paying guests can experience the interiors.

Who built the Charlevoix Mushroom Houses?

They were designed and built by Earl Young (1889–1975), a self-taught Charlevoix designer, realtor, and mason who worked without blueprints and shaped his stone homes to fit the land. He was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright’s philosophy but developed his own organic style, sometimes called “lithotecture.”

What’s the best time of year to visit?

Fall is a favorite, when the wavy roofs and stone walls stand out against the color, and it’s also when the self-guided tour is most popular. Summer offers the fullest guided-tour schedule and the best weather. The houses are viewable year-round, but Northern Michigan winters bring heavy snow and icy sidewalks, so wear proper footwear if you visit in the cold months.

Can you stay in a Mushroom House?

Yes — several Earl Young homes are available as short-term vacation rentals, ranging from a one-bedroom with a loft up to a six-bedroom with lake views. They book up fast in summer and fall, so reserve well ahead. You can also stay at the Weathervane Terrace Inn & Suites or Hotel Earl, both Earl Young buildings.

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