This unusual roadside
attraction was built from over half a million discarded embalming fluid bottles.
In 1952, David H. Brown retired from 35 years in the funeral
business. It occurred to Mr. Brown that there should be some
practical use to put the bottles to. And, it was all started, to
quote Mr. Brown, "to indulge a whim of a peculiar nature".
Mr. Brown travelled western Canada collecting bottles from many of his
friends in the funeral profession, until he had acquired 500,000 of
the square shaped bottles, weighing 250 tons in all.
The house itself sits upon solid rock. Built in a cloverleaf
pattern with three main rooms, circular shape, 48 feet in length, 24
feet wide and with the upstairs room, it contains 1,200 sq ft of floor
space.
Entering the grounds, the
visitors are welcomed by a mountain stream trickling over a
moss-covered water wheel which brings to life the dwarf inhabitants
nestled around the wishing well.
Over 320 dozen flowers border
pathways and entice visitors from the terrace over a bridge also built
of glass bottles. A winding path beneath the bridge leads to the
rocky lakeshore and a lookout called the lighthouse which offers a
spectacular view of beautiful Kootenay Lake.
Tours of the estate are available seven days a week, May to October. Gift shop also
located on property just 25 miles north of Creston on
the shores of Kootenay Lake.
