Driving down Highway 276, the last thing you expect to see is a bright orange flying saucer. It’s sitting right there in an overgrown field. Most people call it the "UFO house," but its real name is much cooler: the Royse City Futuro House. Honestly, it looks like it crash-landed during the Nixon administration and nobody bothered to call NASA.
It didn't fall from space. A Finnish architect named Matti Suuronen designed it in 1968. He wasn't trying to build a spaceship; he was trying to build a portable ski chalet. That’s why it’s round. The shape was supposed to shed snow and heat up quickly in the freezing Finnish winters. Somehow, one of these things ended up in a sweaty Texas pasture near Rockwall.
What Really Happened With the Futuro Project?
The 1960s were weird. People thought we'd all be living in plastic bubbles by the year 2000. Suuronen’s vision was actually pretty smart for the time. He used fiberglass-reinforced polyester plastic because it was light. You could literally pick these houses up with a helicopter and drop them on a mountain.
Then everything broke.
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The 1973 oil crisis happened. Suddenly, the price of plastic skyrocketed. It tripled, basically. Since the houses were made entirely of oil-based products, they became too expensive to make. People also started complaining that they looked "unnatural." Imagine trying to get your HOA to approve an orange plastic orb. It wasn’t going to happen.
Only about 100 were ever built. Today, maybe 60 or 65 are left in the whole world. The Royse City one is a rare survivor, even if it has seen better days.
Inside the Royse City Futuro House
If you’ve seen photos of a "pristine" Futuro, forget them. The one in Royse City is... well, it’s a vibe. It’s been gutted. There’s no 1960s shag carpet left. No built-in plastic sofas. Instead, it's a canvas for local graffiti artists.
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People have painted every inch of it. Some of the art is actually pretty impressive, while other parts are just "I was here" tags. It’s become this unofficial community art project. You can still see the 16 segments bolted together, which is how they shipped the house originally.
The stairs fold down like a hatch on a plane. It’s incredibly satisfying to look at, even if the interior is a mess of peeling paint and Texas dust. Local legends say it was once used as a bachelor pad and even a real estate office before it was abandoned in the field.
Visiting Area 276
Locals sometimes call the spot Area 276. It’s located at 9573 State Highway 276 W, Royse City, TX.
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Don’t expect a gift shop. There isn't a tour guide or a velvet rope. It’s just sitting there on private property owned by Sapo Real Estate. While the owners have been relatively chill about people taking photos from the side of the road, you’ve got to be respectful. Don't jump fences. Don't leave trash.
- Color: It’s currently a fading, vibrant orange.
- Access: Park on the shoulder of Highway 276.
- Best time: Golden hour. The sun hitting that orange fiberglass makes for incredible photos.
Texas Has More Than One?
Surprisingly, yes. Texas is actually a bit of a hub for these things. There is a beautifully restored white one in Austin that’s used for "glamping." There’s also another one nearby in Rockwall, tucked away behind a house. But the Royse City one is the only one you can just... see. It’s the raw, unpolished version of the future we were promised.
Why This Weird House Still Matters
Architects still study Suuronen’s work. Why? Because he solved the "portable home" problem decades before tiny houses were cool. The Royse City Futuro House is a reminder of a time when we weren't afraid to look ridiculous in the name of progress. It’s a 1960s dream that’s refusing to die, even in the middle of a Texas field.
Actionable Tips for Your Visit
- Check the Weather: That field gets muddy. If it rained recently, don't wear your nice shoes.
- Bring a Wide-Angle Lens: The structure is bigger than it looks, and you’ll want the whole "spaceship in a field" shot.
- Respect the Signs: If new trespassing signs go up, stay behind the line. We don't want the owners to fence it off for good.
- Explore the Area: Royse City and Rockwall have some great local spots to grab a burger after you're done playing astronaut.
If you’re heading out there, just remember you’re looking at a piece of global architectural history. It’s not just a "junk" house. It’s a $Matti Suuronen$ original that traveled halfway across the world to rest in North Texas.
Next Steps:
Map out a route that includes the Royse City location and then head toward the Rockwall site (about 11 miles away) to see if you can spot the "pink and green" variant from the road. Comparing the two gives you a real sense of how different owners have tried to "save" the future.