If you’ve always dreamed about having your very own network of cathedral-like hand-carved caves (who hasn’t?) you’re in luck – such a dreamscape can be yours for less than the average cost of a single-family home in San Francisco. Artist Ra Paulette has spent the last 25 years carving a network of 14 caves beneath the desert of Northern New Mexico with little more than a pick axe and a wheelbarrow, and one of the most impressive of them is now on the market.

Paulette’s endeavors were the subject of a documentary called Cave Digger, directed by Jeffery Karoff and shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination. The carvings have been called the Eighth Wonder of the World, each one incredibly detailed with shell-like relief sculptures. Paulette was commissioned to create the caves by private property owners near Taos. Unfortunately, creative differences between the sculptor and the patrons have prevented most of them from being entirely finished.

Until now, Paulette’s work has gone largely unrecognized. But ‘Tree of Human Kindness,’ a whopping 208-acre cave, has been listed by Sante Fe Properties for $995,000, with subdivided lots available for just $49,000 each. Underground power and telephone is available at the lot line. The caves have previously been used for meditation and concerts.

Nuclear missile silos, former quarries, natural caves and man-made hills camouflage homes ranging from rustic and understated to modern and luxurious. Seeming ideally suited to shield unsavory dealings from view, these subterranean lairs are perfect for villains – or just ordinary people who want to live in a really cool place.

Secret Subterranean Passage Connects Barn to Home

Looking out over the land, all you’ll see here is a very unassuming stone-and-wood barn. But go inside that barn and you’ll discover a concealed entry to an underground passage that leads to a hidden home. Villa Vals emerges from the hillside to look out onto a beautiful view. Located in Switzerland, this subterranean residence is also a part-time rental.

Subterra Castle Converted Nuclear Missile Silo

When Ed Peden first laid eyes upon what would later become his home, it was little more than a dark, dark, unmaintained hole in the ground. This underground nuclear missile silo wasn’t exactly welcoming, but Peden bought it for the relatively low cost of $48,000 and transformed it into a comfortable family residence. The home is topped by a modest-looking wooden structure, and nothing would look amiss at all if it weren’t for the escape hatches that have been altered to look like castle towers. The home takes up just a third of the nearly 20,000 available square feet of space underground.

Cave House, Festus, Missouri

A 17,000-square-foot artificial cavern left by a 1930s sandstone mine in Festus, Missouri is now a beautiful modern family home. Located 45 feet below a forest (and a neighboring home), Cave House was temporarily a roller rink and concert venue hosting the likes of Tina Turner and Bob Seger, and the back chamber still has the stage they performed upon. The middle chamber measures 80 by 80 feet, used by the family as a ‘party room’, and the front chamber holds most of the home. The property is 2.8 partially wooded acres with three freshwater springs and fourteen waterfalls.

Atlas F Missile Base House, Abilene, Texas

Inspired by Ed Peden’s Subterra, a man named Bruce Townsley purchased an Atlas F missile base near Abilne, Texas for $99,000. Townsley transformed just 1,000 square feet of the sprawling base into his living space. Notable features like the massive blast doors have been preserved, while much of the home now has a coat of bright white paint that makes it feel surprisingly welcoming.

Malator, Wales

Commonly known by neighbors in Wales as the ‘Teletubby House’, Malator is mostly hidden within a hill, with no more than a clear glass facade and a steel chimney to give it away. Built in the town of Druidstone in 1998, the small underground dwelling has a turf roof and working porthole windows.

Underground House in a Former Quarry

An old quarry in the Eden Valley of Cumbria, UK hosts a two-story house with a massive glass facade to bring in daylight and warmth. The earth-sheltered, eco-friendly home was designed by architect John Bodger for Phil and Helen Reddy.

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Fit For A Villain 12 Surprisingly Homey Underground Lairs

Stone houses invoke thoughts of dark, cold, and damp places full of creepy creatures. Some cultures have battled these prejudices for centuries, building dwellings deep into rock, and now modern architects are giving it a shot. With all of the warmth and convenience of a suburban home, a cave house is beginning to look a lot more tempting.

(Images via vncegroup, cabinzoom, cavesspain, inhabitat, channel4)

Underground homes are most well known in films like Lord of the Rings, but there’s actually a large green movement promoting their expansion into the currently conformist development culture. Underground homes are cheaper to heat and cool, allow for a lot more plant life, and require less materials to build.

(Images via samanthamuse, inhabitat, localpropertyindex, regent-estates-group)

Spain is known for the running of the bulls, and its fine wine and food, but a less well known tourist destination is Spain’s variety of cave homes. Subtly built into existing stone, or built at large cave entrances, these homes are stunning and organic. Tourists will pay a hefty price to spend a night in such unusual settings.

(Images via chinablog, pbase)

Yaodongs are dug out shelters found throughout northern China, sculpted straight out of the hard rock walls. Requiring less material to create these homes, yaodongs are quire popular. Entire villages have been built into the sides of mountains.

(Images via theshady80, hotelclub)

Rocks homes are by nature unique, but some are more interesting than others. A home built into a freestanding stone looks unusual but amazing, whereas an entire monastery built out of the very rock it rests on is wondrous in its own right.

(Images via spasticgoat, dgpublications, 24-timepass)

Missouri is home to a lot of random things, including a sprawling cave home built directly into a cliff face. The owners have designed around the natural rock formations and managed to include all the amenities of the modern home. The house even has its own performance area – a huge underground room large enough to host entire parties or bandstands.

(Images via theshady80, chatdd)

Iran has its own set of incredible homes built in the valleys and cliffs. It would be fantastic to be privy to the interior of one of these edifices, though just viewing the unique design of their entrances is enough to pique any architect’s interest.

(Images via copleys, weirdomatic, thedailygreen, thedailygreen)

Cave interiors aren’t necessarily as cold and damp as one might expect. With a little organic lighting and some careful interior design choices, they can be just as cozy as anything above ground.

(Images via arkansas, tashaschmidt, spasticgoat, hotel-in-cappadocia)

Imagine staying as a guest in someone’s home, or in a hotel room, that involved entering the heart of a mountain. The living room seems a bit more exciting when it’s surrounded by natural rock formations and oddly shaped stone walls.

(Images via welton, seehere, pitt, turkeytravelplanner, lazybeggers, rolfgross)

While the depth of a cave is the measure of its worth, it’s okay to be a little shallow in one’s appreciation. A quick glance across a variety of cave home entrances and one easily notices what works and what doesn’t; windows are a must, and a little greenery doesn’t hurt.

(Images via planetware, spotcoolstuff, spotcoolstuff, kusadasi, geodeluxe)

Cappadocia is a region in central Turkey that is famous for its gorgeous and interesting architectural specialty… entire villages and hotels have been dug deep into the rock. The hotels and resorts in this area are internationally renowned for their unique design and luxurious accommodations.