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LARKSPUR • Introducing the Flintstones.
Al and Karen Shain represent the contemporary stone age family, thanks to The Rock House, the property they acquired in 2021 that brought them nationwide recognition and the nostalgic nickname.
As one enters the cul-de-sac within the Perry Park community in Douglas County, the rationale behind the nickname becomes instantly apparent — there is a massive rock in that house located at 6619 Apache Place.
The 2,432-square-foot home is constructed around an enormous, 35-foot tall sandstone boulder. It’s the same variety of 200 million-year-old stones found in Garden of the Gods, the Flatirons in Boulder, and throughout the Front Range.
“You have a piece of nature within your residence,” Al expressed. “If you were to weigh it, it’s a million-dollar boulder. We’ve aimed to create an airy architectural design allowing you to always appreciate the rock from any space in the house, much like observing an open artwork present. It’s akin to residing in the Garden of the Gods in a tent, but now we really possess a home.”
The property is established on a 1-acre parcel, but this isn’t a typical lot, surrounded on all sides by other structures. To the west is a 1-acre open area that will remain undeveloped. Looking north, there’s an open expanse directed toward Castle Rock, though a ridge obstructs the view of urban life. The residence enjoys three sides of open terrain, a fantasy for individuals who cherish the tranquility only interrupted by the calls of blue jays and magpies.
“It’s utter seclusion, as if someone placed ear muffs on you,” Al remarked.
The Shains purchased the house in 2021 from the initial owner, who constructed it in 2000. He was a free-spirited individual, Al noted, who never completed the basement, leaving it as dirt. Furthermore, he positioned the upstairs restroom facing outward, making it visible for the neighborhood to observe the occupant in action.
Yet the Shains, who resided in a ranch-style home in Aurora, were captivated.
“We’ve lived in Colorado our entire lives,” Al stated. “It was featured on Google and Zillow, and we stood outside, awestruck by this property. We made the decision then and there that we wanted to purchase the home, regardless of its condition.”
“We didn’t even view the interior,” Karen added.
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That occurred nearly four years ago. Currently, however, following substantial renovations, the Shains have adopted a different perspective. It’s time for them to retire and relocate to the East Coast where their two daughters and grandchildren reside. Consequently, they listed the house for sale in August, drawing national interest after the distinctive property was featured on the widely-followed social media account Zillow Gone Wild, Fox News, and other news outlets. Two potential buyers vied for the nearly $1 million home, but both subsequently withdrew.
Since that time, the Shains have relisted the house, now priced at $935,000, but recently took it off the market. They plan to try selling again in the spring.
“Some folks come and express that it’s merely two bedrooms,” Al commented. “And I reply yes, it’s two bedrooms with 360-degree views and seclusion and an additional acre of open land surrounding you.”
Moreover, that vibrant, living stone that welcomes residents at every turn even provides a historical lesson of the Earth.
Al enjoys pointing out the darker stratum in the rock, known as the K-T line, created by the asteroid impact on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico millions of years ago, which caused the extinction of dinosaurs and most other species. The same layering can be observed in all of the other sandstone formations scattered across the property and throughout Colorado.
“It stirred up all that soil when the asteroid collided and came back down across Colorado,” Al explained. “This is the K-T layer right there. It erodes and disintegrates at varying levels. Some of the additional rocks are nearly tilting. They’re barely upright due to the K-T layer being at the very bottom. It has this enormous layer of sediment above it. The K-T layer deteriorates at a distinct rate.”
As one might expect, living with a rock presents several challenges. Dust, for instance, and sealing the outer edges every couple of years to prevent water intrusion.
The rock also serves as an insulator. If it’s 100 degrees, it retains warmth. If it plunges to minus-20 for several consecutive days, it cools down.
“It radiates the heat back out at night, so we keep the windows open all the time,” Al said.
And for anyone eager to climb that piece of history, there’s a ladder at the back next to the outdoor hot tub, integrated into the rocks allowing one to ascend, essentially providing an opportunity to rock climb their own residence.
“You go outside at night, and the Milky Way becomes visible,” Al stated. “It’s a dark neighborhood, devoid of streetlights. We’ve captured images of every creature that passes by: bears, deer, elk, mountain lions, bobcats, wild turkeys. And there’s the hot tub in the back, which is one of my favorite spaces in the house.”
“We cherish it,” Karen remarked. “We’re never going to discover another place like this again.”
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