This metro-east home has a roof made of dirt and four acres of trees

There are certain bits of maintenance that all home owners dread — like painting, updating the heating, and the ever-dreadful roof replacement.

But at a home recently listed in Caseyville for $650,000 makes those three concerns a thing of the past.

The home at 31 Charles St. is unique, to say the absolute least. Rather than a roof, the home boasts a sodden slope that doubles as a great sled riding spot in winter.

The natural concrete from which the home is built is attractive with or without paint and is insulated to make the structure super efficient to heat and cool.

And paying astronomical bills for heating in the winter? Well, a wood-burning stove makes that concern minimal, while an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) ensures it as a thing of the past.

“It’s really easy to keep it cool in summer and warm in winter,” said Danette Thomson, who built the house with her husband 15 years ago.

Though they raised their children and now grandchildren in the home, the couple plans to sell the home to help pay for the purchase of and relocation to a campground in Dixon, Missouri.

“I’m really sad to leave this house, though,” Thomson said.

The front of the house boasts an all-season greenroom, with sloped windows that provide an excellent reading, lounging, or indoor gardening spot any time of the year.

A hot tub sits beside it, not only perfect for colder months, but also a nice lounging location under the cover of the multiple trees that shade the property, even in the high heat of late August.

A spacious living room greets you as you pass through the entryway, a long sloping wall creating a cozy, cottage-core sense of relaxation. An open floor plan allows for views of a small half-bath and ample kitchen with more than 20 custom-built wooden cabinets.

Just beyond the kitchen, you’ll find the entrance to an oversized garage, which the couple have primarily used for husband Craig’s multiple welding, building and sword-fighting hobbies.

A chandelier hangs over the staircase leading to the upstairs, where unique skylights and overhead windows cast dappled light through the trees and onto the stairs.

Upstairs you’ll find two more bathrooms and three unique bedrooms, including one with a writer’s loft and another with a closet large enough to be a bedroom in and of itself.

Here you can also reach the bathroom, which provides a spectacular view of the sprawling 4 acre paradise from high above.

Outside, you’ll find features almost as unique as inside. The home is part of the landscape, a little stucco facade poking out from the greenery as if a Hobbit architect built it for a classical Roman homebuyer.

The trees shading the home include walnut, apples, magnolias, nectarines and cherries. Multiple varieties of grapes, asparagus and other fruits and veggies line trellises surrounding the home, and across the spacious yard sits a fenced-in orchard. Beside the orchard, a path through the woods winds for the ATV or hunting enthusiast to take full advantage of.

The unique property is currently on sale for $650,000 and is expected to sell soon. Offers from investors and homebuyers alike have been steadily trickling in since the home went on sale in June.

This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 5:10 AM.