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All the United States California Belvedere Tiburon Lava House
Lava House is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

Lava House

An abandoned, unfinished mansion on grounds strewn with lava rocks.

Belvedere Tiburon, California

Added By
Gabe Schwartz
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The Lava House at sunset, with explorers.   http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=1043...
The Lava House at sunset, with explorers.   http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=1043...
  http://anglesandlines.livejournal.com/8504...
Sailboats in the Distance  
The property is completely demolished, under construction, completely inaccessible, and highly under surveillance.   itsmebrandi / Atlas Obscura User
  itsmebrandi / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In the middle of a tangle of mansion-laden, suburban streets, the graffiti-covered, half-finished lava house seems a bit out of place.

Few people know how it got there, but it was the local teenagers who christened it, thanks to heaps of lava rocks strewn about the property. Built by Jerry Ganz (the fabulously wealthy man responsible for the mass production of seat-belts), the Lava House's chief architectural pull was its extensive use of imported lava rock. Ganz faced numerous roadblocks by the city. He spent almost 20 years fighting city officials to get his architectural fantasy approved. Construction stopped only two years later after they were finally approved, and it has remained empty to this day.

The City of Tiburon has tried desperately to sell it off, even razing what was left of the structures there after a 1997 fire to attract more buyers, but to no avail. It is mostly used these days as an impromptu party locale or a haunt for photographers trying to get a good view of the Bay, but exploring the maze of steep staircases, hidden subterranean rooms, and twisting balconies is also popular, both by night and by day.

Related Tags

Volcanoes Ruins Houses Cursed Objects Eccentric Homes Geology Homes

Know Before You Go

The Lava House is on private property.

Community Contributors

Added By

gabeschwartz

Edited By

pixelatedorchid, Weifinder, itsmebrandi

  • pixelatedorchid
  • Weifinder
  • itsmebrandi

Published

June 20, 2010

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Sources
  • http://www.cityofbelvedere.org/agendas/pdfs/p070717m.pdf
  • http://www.marinij.com/ci_8779119
  • http://brianraphaelphotography.blogspot.com/2010/04/lava-house.html
  • http://redwoodbark.org/2014/05/15/lava-house-attracts-trespassers/
Lava House
401 Belvedere Ave
Belvedere Tiburon, California, 94920
United States
37.872704, -122.464417
Get Directions

Nearby Places

China Cabin

Belvedere Tiburon, California

miles away

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Belvedere Tiburon, California

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Belvedere Tiburon, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Belvedere Tiburon

Belvedere Tiburon

California

Places 4

Nearby Places

China Cabin

Belvedere Tiburon, California

miles away

Old St. Hilary's Chapel

Belvedere Tiburon, California

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Belvedere Tiburon, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Belvedere Tiburon

Belvedere Tiburon

California

Places 4

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