If You’re in a Strange Mood This Week, Take a Virtual Tour of Austin’s Weird Homes

You’ve seen the slogan: Keep Austin Weird. The capital city embraces it.

This week is a good opportunity for home lurkers to soak up some weirdness via virtual tour. The Weird Homes Tour, originating out of Austin, is offering high-quality, on-demand videos of seven uh, weird, homes. The virtual tour started Saturday and continues through May 15 when many of the homeowners will be available to answer questions about their homes via live streaming.

You have to buy tickets. They’re $25 per device or $45 for VIP guests who will get a ticket in addition to a copy of the coffee-table book: “Weird Homes: The People and Places That Keep Austin Strangely Wonderful.” Buy tickets here.

Ten percent of ticket sales go to LifeWorks, an advocacy group that provides housing, counseling, and workforce/education opportunities to 4,000 youth and families in the Austin area. The event began in 2014.

“Like a ton of Austin live events our business has been severely affected by COVID-19,” co-founder David J. Neff said. “But on the positive side, this eighth year, we can now bring you homes virtually that we could not have shown before, allowing you to armchair travel even more extensively and visit some spectacular places in and around Austin. There’s no eggshell white or shiplap in these homes.”

What kind of weird homes can we expect? In no particular order:

West Austin Lighthouse: OK, so it’s not a real lighthouse, but this west Austin home is described as a meditative space and beacon for all things artistic and intangible from atmospheric lighting to stained glass pieces. It’s also an art school for children and adults.

Morningwood: What do two ancient cars, ancient beads, doll parts, pulp erotica, and forgotten esoterica have in common? Well, it all collides and coalesces at this house, otherwise known as Morningwood. Be sure to check the garage, a seven-foot tower of flat files overflowing with art and ancient and tribal beads.

Havenwald: This house built from mostly salvaged and reclaimed materials has everything from Gothic Victorian to Steampunk. The medieval storybook cottage features a stone shower and a cedar tree capping the loft balustrade. A teeny Gypsy Wagon with antique stained-glass windows is included.

Cypress Valley: This place gives visitors a bird’s-eye view from five eco-designed tree houses made from ancient cypress trees (some over 500 years old) nestled above a spring-fed creek. The treehouses can be booked together for special events for up to 30 people.

The Graeber House: Is it a residential home or a small boutique hotel? Hidden in the heart of 6th Street, this protected Historic Landmark is one big-time capsule of all the eras and lives lived over 130 years in this one location.

The Giraffe House: The owner likes giraffes. She has art made of real giraffe hair. She wears giraffe-themed clothes. She uses giraffe-themed plates, cups, sheets, and blankets.

Ebba Springs Wildlife Refuge: The house incorporates wildlife habitat elements in every corner. For proof, check out the 27-foot tall artistically designed tufa bat cave that stands prominently in the front yard.