This Man Turned A Cave Into An Incredible Home That You Can Rent Out

Sometimes, people need to get away from their cities and spend some time outdoors. Grant Johnson felt that way, even though he was a former miner and spent a lot of time outside (or at least underground).

He decided to purchase a plot of land that was miles away from civilization, but then he got an idea. Therefore, he chose to turn it into a unique house that you can’t find anywhere else on earth. Plus, he’s made it to where anyone can stay there to get away from it all. Here’s his amazing story; check it out to learn more!

Working As A Miner

Grant Johnson was 17 years old when he decided to work as a miner in Utah. It was hard to be underground all the time, but he was up to the challenge. Plus, the career set him up to be resourceful and self-sufficient, helping him in the long run.

Moving To Boulder

Grant loved the Moab area and chose to buy land nearby. Eventually, he settled on a space right on the outskirts of Boulder. In 1980, he found himself with 40 acres of untouched land that was to be his new home.

Living The Remote Life

Now, Grant was about two hours away from all civilization, so people and basic roads were rare to find. However, he made the best out of that situation by setting up a riding trail business for travelers to move about on horseback. That wasn’t his real goal, though!

Making His Dream A Reality

It was 1996 now, which was 16 years after Grant purchased the land. He was ready to build his dream home and required some dynamite to get things done. First, he blew up the holes on the side of some bedrock. It wasn’t that dangerous because he knew what to do.

The Visionary

Though it seems reckless to create a huge hole inside a rock, Grant was just starting. He said that most people don’t know what they want, but he knew, even if it might be ridiculous. This man was a visionary!

Can’t Give Up

Grant had doubts about the house he wanted to build out of rock, but he figured out how to reach the goal. Originally, he planned to locate a place in the canyons and wilderness to irrigate so that he could grow food.

He Started With Nothing

Grant was in the middle of nothing when he bought the land in the 1980s, so he had to determine how to get supplies. He said that there was nothing but desert. They had to live without running water and electricity, staying in a 19-foot trailer.

Bring On The Dynamite

The first thing he had to do was get some dynamite. This rock was perfect, and he knew it. However, he didn’t think he could walk into a store and get the dynamite. After working with a road crew back in 1998, he met a supplier who had no issues.

A Huge Blast

He said that he blasted a small tunnel first, and then he was committed. There were eight winters of blasting, and he was in the wilderness throughout the year. Slowly, he made progress on his new home.

There Was Potential

After roughly eight years of construction, the former miner built a series of caverns into his bedrock. That might not seem like a lot, but he knew it had potential as a cave home. The idea in his mind meant that it blended into its surroundings.

Putting It Together

Grant claimed that he wanted to just see glass when he looked out. Therefore, he asked a construction friend to piece the home together with him. They carved out wall grooves and slid glass sheets inside, making supports with steel beams.

Totally Self-Sufficient

During this time, Grant was living off the grid. The Boulder area was already isolated, so he had to adapt to things. He had to be completely self-sufficient and have extra supplies available if there was an emergency.

Living Off The Grid

Some people just can’t wait to get away from civilization, but it can still be hard to do. Grant claimed that wasn’t his approach. Yes, it’s there, and you should take care of yourself. He was focused on health and a new lifestyle because of the financial and physical burdens.

Finding Running Water

One of Grant’s biggest concerns was getting some running water to the land. He had to pipe it in from a local source. The convenient one he found was a pond located on the plot uphill from his home. That required him to pipe it 6,500 feet downhill to a wooden wheel.

A Simple Concept

Grant was happy to figure out how to get power and water to the property. He said that if he could afford it, they’d have gravity flow since they were only a mile from the pond. Therefore, he plugged into that, adding a turbine to get electricity from water!

Endless Possibilities

Grant had a steady water flow now, so he could start planting seeds and grow his own food. Now, his land has a huge farm and orchard, allowing Grant to eat peppers, tomatoes, corn, garlic, and potatoes at will.

Now For the Animals

Since he has a working farm, he had plenty of livestock. Cows give him dairy products, and he uses the pigs and cows for various meat options. Though farming takes up a lot of time, he still decorated the interior of his home!

Inside His Cave Home

Grant decided to use the space to make his dream cave home. Once he finished, it was about 5,000 square feet in total. While the whole house was designed from bedrock, Grant used the natural aesthetic to give it a comfortable and unique vibe.

Letting In the Light

One crucial feature for Grant was having glass panes wherever he could. Caves are pretty dark, so you need ways to get natural light inside. The house centered around an open and spacious living room, complete with a charming view and comfortable chairs.

Bringing Passion Into the House

Grant enjoyed living off the grid, but he liked music, too. Therefore, he built a “jam room” into his man cave. There were plenty of instruments like bongo drums and guitars for the guests to explore. Plus, there was a stage for performances!

An Amazing Feature

Grant wasn’t the only guy with a fun bedroom. Typically, people think it’s unreal to sleep in a cave, but he added some very cool features to the bedrooms. Each one is connected by a bridge, which is an artificial structure made of steel.

Ideas Kept Coming

Grant didn’t want those bridges inside the home to detract from the natural ambiance. Therefore, he asked a friend for help. This man makes horseshoes for the livestock and said to hang the bridges from ceilings to preserve the structure of the bedrock so that it blends in.

Other Side of the Bridge

If you cross the bridge from the bedroom, you’re in for a treat. The wing offers two bedroom nooks, a private bathroom, and a lounge. The floors are blue, but the furnishings are turquoise and yellow to make it more relaxed.

Anyone Can Go

Most people think this house is too good to be true, but anyone can stay there. He rents out the bedrooms through Airbnb, and it’s called Bedrock Homestead Cave. Grant has already received many visitors and gotten great reviews!

The Reviews

The Bedrock Homestead Cave has about 300 reviews so far on Airbnb, which translates to a 4.95-star rating (out of five stars). One reviewer said that you must stay here because you can’t find another place like it.

Worth the Experience

One reviewer said that the house was incredible and the people were friendly. It’s truly something to behold. Another chimed in and claimed that it was a mind-blowing experience. Pictures don’t do it justice, and it’s worth every penny.

The Perfect Getaway

Guests can definitely stay in the home, but they also get to explore the area around it. One Airbnb reviewer said that they enjoyed their stay and loved that it started with crossing the river, which was a huge adventure.

Great Evening Activity

Grant’s land is very far from civilization, so he and the guests can do things they might not get away with in populated areas. In fact, it’s the perfect place to gaze at the stars because there’s little light pollution from modern life.

The Best Spot

Most visitors who stay at the home claim that stargazing is their favorite activity. In fact, they recommend that you walk up the bedrock and choose a spot on the roof for the best view of the rock formations and stars. No one has an obstructed view here!

Nearby Exploration

If you can’t go out to Grant’s unique home, there are other places and similar cave dwellings. In fact, there’s a home in Moab, Utah that was built similarly to Grant’s, but it was made for a different reason.

Rockland Ranch

One group of Mormons chose to settle down somewhere where they wouldn’t always be in the public eye. Therefore, Robert Foster went to work in 1977 to blast a hole in the large rock. It was similar to Grant’s home and is called The Rock or Rockland Ranch.

The Rocky Differences

Rockland Ranch appears to be more modern than Grant’s home because it uses brick fronts. Foster used doors and windows associated with urban homes and hooked up running water and power to create a successful farm, as well.

Another Rock Home in Utah

Utah is likely the best place for people to find rock homes that are out of this world. Cliffhaven is close to Montezuma Canyon. This three-bedroom house is off the grid, using solar panels as an energy source to provide internet and satellite TV.

Going International

Utah has many of these rock houses, but you can find some in various parts of the world. Angelo Mastropietro is in Worcestershire, England, and created his own. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and wanted to live somewhere that could accommodate his medical needs.

Working with Sandstone

Ironically, Angelo’s surname could be translated as “master of stone.” He spent about $200,000 to make that sandstone cave into a home that worked for him. Angelo estimates that it took about 1,000 hours to create it.

Inspiration for Lord of the Rings

Some believe that Angelo’s project was the inspiration for the set design of Lord of the Rings, the popular trilogy movies. He included many amenities, such as underfloor heating, running water from 300 feet below ground, ventilation, and Wi-Fi.

Keeping the Natural Aesthetic

Similar to Grant’s home, Angelo wanted to keep his sandstone cave house as natural as possible. That brought a unique appeal that made people fawn over each detail. Was it all worth it since other builders followed in their footsteps?

Focus on the Journey

Grant is a simple guy, so he shared his wisdom when asked about his experience. He claimed that he was focused on the journey and not the results. However, it’s incredible to live there, and he just stops and exclaims each day.

Cave Life Is Supreme

People often get inspired by Grant’s cave home. He didn’t expect that, but they enjoy positive living within a negative space. Everyone enjoys something different, but they all come together to explore and get out of their comfort zones.

Dare to Be Different

Grant feels that cave living isn’t for everyone. However, it did him a lot of good, and visitors seem to enjoy the difference between his lifestyle versus their modern worlds. If you’re ready for an adventure, it might be time to check it out!