A hunter paid $100,000 for 4 old grain bins in the middle of nowhere, then transformed them into a secret home. See inside.

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Zoe RosenbergJun 6, 2023, 18:43 IST
A hunter paid $100,000 for 4 old grain bins in the middle of nowhere, then transformed them into a secret home. See inside.

The four connected grain bins conceal a 1,325-square-foot home.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

  • An avid hunter converted four unassuming grain bins into a fully automated smart home.
  • The house, which sits on 386 remote acres in rural Washington, is on the market for $1.6 million.

A 386-acre property that looks like nothing more from the road than a natural landscape with a few agricultural sheds hides a secret: a fully automated smart home built into the property's old grain bins.

The property hit the market in late April asking $1.6 million. Here's the story behind it.

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The 1,325-square-foot home in Odessa, Washington, about 75 miles southwest of Spokane, was built by the property's current owner, said listing agent Anna Van Diest.

The 1,325-square-foot home in Odessa, Washington, about 75 miles southwest of Spokane, was built by the property's current owner, said listing agent Anna Van Diest.
The kitchen.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

The seller, who purchased the property with the grain bins fully vacant for a bit more than $100,000 in 2011, is an avid hunter who likes to keep a low profile, Van Diest told Insider.

He wanted to construct a vacation home on the site that wouldn't attract attention from the nearby road.

He wanted to construct a vacation home on the site that wouldn't attract attention from the nearby road.
Looking down on the kitchen from a stairway.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group
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To do that, he opted to connect the property's four grain bins and create a completely modern abode.

To do that, he opted to connect the property's four grain bins and create a completely modern abode.
The kitchen.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

"He wanted it to be inconspicuous since he wasn't going to be here often," Van Diest said.

"He wanted it to be inconspicuous since he wasn't going to be here often," Van Diest said.
A hallway with a door featuring a gun as a handle.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

"Because he loves shooting, he wanted something that was going to be a little bit more secure," she told Insider, noting that the property has a room for sensitive and valuable items that is fire-protected, locked, and under surveillance.

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"He wanted it to blend in so when people drive by, they're like, 'Oh, just a grain bin,'" Van Diest added.

"He wanted it to blend in so when people drive by, they're like, 'Oh, just a grain bin,'" Van Diest added.
The hallway.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

Most grain bins are metal, with a round circumference and a peaked-roof top, and are used to store crops including dry corn and soybeans.

In addition to the secure room, the grain bin house has three sleeping areas, one bathroom, a kitchen with an electric range and a dishwasher, heating and air conditioning, and WiFi.

In addition to the secure room, the grain bin house has three sleeping areas, one bathroom, a kitchen with an electric range and a dishwasher, heating and air conditioning, and WiFi.
A bedroom.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group
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The seller can control automated features in the bins, like lights and temperature, through smart home apps.

The seller can control automated features in the bins, like lights and temperature, through smart home apps.
A sleeping loft.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty

Van Diest said it cost the seller, who she declined to name, about $500,000 over several months to turn the old grain bins into the smart home.

Van Diest said it cost the seller, who she declined to name, about $500,000 over several months to turn the old grain bins into the smart home.
The living area.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group
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A big part of the renovation was adding another metal wall inside the bins and installing insulation between the two to make sure the home would remain at a consistent, comfortable temperature.

A big part of the renovation was adding another metal wall inside the bins and installing insulation between the two to make sure the home would remain at a consistent, comfortable temperature.
The living area, which connects to the kitchen.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

The grain-bin house isn't the only attraction.

The grain-bin house isn't the only attraction.
A shooting range on the property.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

"There's a lot of coyotes, there's birds, there's buck," Van Diest said. "There's just a lot to do on the property."

One of the owner's best adventures on the premises, she recalled, was when he took down a six-point buck. Its head is mounted in the home now.

Van Diest also mentioned that the seller makes sure to eat everything he shoots on the property, one tenet of responsible hunting.

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The sprawling grounds also feature an outdoor shooting range and a pond stocked with bass that is engineered not to freeze in the winter.

The sprawling grounds also feature an outdoor shooting range and a pond stocked with bass that is engineered not to freeze in the winter.
The property's pond.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

The seller decided to list the property because his family moved to the East Coast. "He doesn't frequent it as often," Van Diest said, "and he wants somebody else to enjoy it."

The seller decided to list the property because his family moved to the East Coast. "He doesn't frequent it as often," Van Diest said, "and he wants somebody else to enjoy it."
The bathroom.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty
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The property went on the market in April for $1.6 million.

The property went on the market in April for $1.6 million.
A storage area.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

Since then, Van Diest said she's gotten inquiries about its potential to generate income, notably from a company that rents sites for film, TV, and music video shoots.

That isn't the only thing potential buyers could do with 2171 North Moody Road.

That isn't the only thing potential buyers could do with 2171 North Moody Road.
The outside of the grain bin house.Courtesy of Moses Lake Realty Group

"With all that acreage, you can definitely put in some underground bunkers or things like that," Van Diest said.

She added, "For a doomsday prepper, this would just be heaven."

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