Elf Houses of Oak Hill

The Elf Houses of Oak Hill

Nestled off the highway in the nearby woods, these crumbling concrete structures stand as relics from another time, affectionately known as “Elf Houses” and “Fairy Homes.” One ivy-covered structure has a low doorway, barely six feet tall, and a dirt floor scattered with traces of past visitors—empty cans, discarded clothing, and a sleeping bag. Nearby, another domed structure is pocketed with openings, allowing sunlight into the deteriorating interior.

It’s commonly said to have been designed and built by Manuel D. “Manny” Lawrence, a concrete worker and artist from Holly Hill. Lawrence also constructed the concrete-cast dinosaurs at Bongoland in nearby Port Orange, a defunct amusement park now part of the Dunlawton Sugar Mill Gardens. He also made Christmas parade floats for the former Holly Hill Junior High School. While this could very well be true, their purpose is largely unknown.

The Beautiful Atomic Tunnel

One theory is that these are the remains of “The Beautiful Atomic Tunnel,” a lost and forgotten roadside attraction once listed as the “World’s Greatest Little Attraction.” Although its exact location is unknown, it was 7 miles south of Daytona Beach on U.S. 1 in Harbor Oaks. While this means that the elf houses were an unlikely part of The Atomic Tunnel, its influence can be seen in one of the domed structures.

Built by W. R. Johnston in the early 1950s and opened as “Tropicolor Fantasy, The Beautiful Tunnel.” It featured a long, winding concrete tube and was entirely above ground. A crushed coral path ran down its center, and tropical orchids lined both sides of the walkway. The walls were punctuated by hundreds of small, irregularly shaped windows, allowing just the right blend of light and shade to nurture Johnston’s orchids. It was said that Johnston aimed to sell orchids, but his showmanship took the limelight.

The attraction was unsuccessful, so Johnston changed the name to the “Atomic Tunnel” amid the Cold War, taking advantage of the public’s fear that Russia could drop an atomic bomb on the United States at any time. The Tunnel was advertised to have been constructed as a private bomb shelter to protect Johnston’s family in case of an atomic bombing. Until the time came to be used as a shelter, it was converted into an attraction to showcase Johnston’s collection of plants and animals.

The Atomic Tunnel showcased tropical birds and animals, including “Mac” the macaw, “Smokey” the photogenic monkey, and “Happy” the walking fish. Happy was advertised on many of the Tunnel’s brochures as sporting a tuxedo, top hat, and cane, wearing loafers, and walking on its tailfins.

There were actually several “walking” catfish that would be replaced daily and would perform for visitors. They would be scooped out of their aquarium, placed on a sand island, and wiggle their way to the edge of the tank, where they would jump in the water. Johnston claimed that two of these fish escaped during the night by walking out the front door.

Alongside the walking fish were also South American piranhas imported directly to the Atomic Tunnel. Advertised as a deadly species that “can reduce a human being to a skeleton in a matter of seconds,” some residents expressed their concerns, writing that the piranhas should be exterminated before they find their way into one of Florida’s many waterways.

Despite its claim to be an atomic bomb shelter, it failed to attract more visitors. One last time, it was named the “Tunnel of Fantasy” and closed shortly after that. By 1960, the attraction had been demolished.

Was It Just a Fruit Stand?

According to Tanya Petracca, the curator of the Oak Hill Museum, the elf houses once belonged to a man named Jake Stalder during the excitement of the mid-20th century space race. As Florida’s growing space program garnered national attention, locals took advantage of the situation by creating roadside attractions along routes to the Space Coast. Petracca believes these “Elf Houses” capitalized on the trend, with Stalder selling flowers and produce.

The perforated domed structure on the property likely resembled the now-defunct “Atomic Tunnel,” filled with orchids and other tropical plants. A nearby hole in the ground is mistakenly believed to have been a bomb shelter, but it was more likely a refrigerated cellar for storing perishables.

While it may have been part of an old atomic bomb shelter or simply a roadside fruit stand, the elf houses’s design and mysterious past still conjure up images of the Red Scare and the possibility that the world could end in a mutually assured destruction.

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