A schoolteacher’s dream sketched on a pad and built by her husband now stands as a striking red “barndomansion” on a Wyoming hillside.
The 8,200-square-foot home at 1709 Shadow Valley Road in Cheyenne has five bedrooms, six bathrooms and a $2.6 million asking price.
Rebecca Hess, the listing agent with ReMax Capitol Properties in Cheyenne, said the property was a “labor of love” for a land surveying husband.
“This was a second marriage later in life for both,” Hess said. “She had dreamed up this house for years ... and it took her a couple of years to design exactly what she wanted.”
The “barndomansion” sits on a hill overlooking the valley and mountains, on 40 acres they bought about seven years ago.
‘Image of the red barn spoke to her’
The home features a butler’s pantry with custom shelving, high-placed windows, and an overall feel of rustic Wyoming prairie living, which the wife had long desired as a longtime resident of the state. Her husband was originally from New York City but moved to Wyoming to be with her.
“That image of the red barn spoke to her,” Hess said.
Many elements in the home showcase her love for all things country, including her favorite space, according to Hess.
“In the front room, she’s got a cute little [space] she called her ‘Outhouse,”’ Hess said. “She built a bathroom, and it looks like an outhouse, which is not something you see in a million-dollar house very often.”
Additionally, there is a chicken coop on the property that she wanted to match the main house. “That's the chickens’ little barndomansion,” Hess said.
Hess explained that the house, which spans 8,200 square feet, features bedrooms that measure 25 feet by 25 feet, 17 feet by 20 feet, and even 20 feet by 40 feet. The latter one, part of a studio apartment, was built for their grandson, who lived with them for several years.
Other highlights include flooring with radiant heat, an indoor pool, and a hot tub.
Home is divided by thirds
Hess said a local contractor built the home, pouring a concrete slab on top of the hill and constructing the metal home all at once.
The house is segmented into thirds.
“She was an avid gardener,” Hess said. “One third of the house is a greenhouse for her. It's got skylights and windows and its own heating system and garage doors on the side.”
The second third is devoted to the living spaces, including the bedrooms, the custom kitchen, the bathrooms, and the loft.
“They definitely built for comfort,” Hess said. “[They] wanted to make sure they had everything in it that she wanted.”
The third section was for him: a garage that can hold up to a dozen vehicles.
Home can be overwhelming — at first
Hess said the size of the house can be a bit much.
“It can be a little overwhelming, but at the same time, it's also quite comfortable,” Hess said. “It definitely feels like you’re out in the range somewhere with this house.”
When she saw the home for the first time, Hess said, she was shocked.
“I was so impressed that she got it done, because I had seen her plan sketched out on her big pad,” Hess said. “Every time I went to her house previously, she pulled it out and showed me what she wanted to do. I just remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, that is insane.”
“Those big, tall ceilings. Those windows [with] the light coming in. It's pretty impressive,” Hess said.
However, Hess said, one of the issues with the house being so custom is that it doesn’t suit everyone.
“I think anyone wanting to come out and have their own space … [or] anybody who has horses and wants to be able to use the land for that, this is a perfect place for them,” Hess said.
A home with a love story
The couple lived in the house for about five years before its visionary passed away this year.
“They really loved it out there. They had chickens, and she had her dogs, her birds and her plants,” Hess said. “[They] lived out this little country life that she enjoyed.”
While the property is nothing like Hess has ever seen, she said it’s the barndomansion’s backstory that makes it a home.
“Knowing the history and that this was a labor of love. This is what she had dreamed of and had planned for, and he was able to build this for her. … It is a pretty cute story,” Hess said.