Charlevoix, Michigan, is home to a unique collection of stone cottages and commercial buildings known as the "mushroom houses," designed by Earl A. Young, a local architect whose work has attracted visitors for decades. Young, born in 1889 and a lifelong resident of Charlevoix, created 26 residences and four commercial properties primarily in the town, with one outlier home in Alma, Michigan.
Young’s architectural style is marked by its organic integration with the natural surroundings, employing locally sourced boulders and stones that inspired his designs. Rejecting formal architectural training after a brief stint at the University of Michigan, Young relied on intuition and a close connection to nature rather than traditional blueprints or plans. According to David Miles, author of the biography “Boulders: The Life and Creations of Earl A. Young in Charlevoix, Michigan” and curator at the Charlevoix Historical Society Museum, Young did not produce formal architectural drawings. Instead, he sketched ideas on scrap paper, often changing his plans based on whatever inspiration came overnight. His wife, Irene, would then create more detailed sketches to communicate his vision to construction crews.
Completed over a span of approximately 50 years starting around 1918, Young’s mushroom houses are distinguished by their rounded windows, uneven cedar-shake roofs, and irregular stone facades. Features such as stone grills and playhouses accentuate the whimsical, storybook aesthetic that has drawn considerable local and tourist attention. One particularly notable building, the Thatch House, is considered Young’s first residence and has become one of the most frequently photographed homes, in part due to later modifications by a homeowner seeking to match Young’s distinctive style.
The houses reside mainly along Park Avenue in Charlevoix, a small town with a population of just over 2,300. Visitors frequently tour the neighborhood either via self-guided maps available through Visit Charlevoix or on organized tours such as the Mushroom House Tours, which offer guided exploration of about 20 stone cottages. The tours delve into architectural details and history, highlighting the unique features that have contributed to the homes’ lasting appeal.
Public interest in Young’s work increased notably after 2004, when the local chamber of commerce enlisted David Miles to lead an impromptu tour for a bus of visitors awaiting dinner at the Weathervane restaurant, another Young design. The success of that initial tour led to additional offerings and helped foster broader awareness of the mushroom houses as a regional attraction.
Visitors and residents alike continue to appreciate the buildings for their imaginative charm and craftsmanship. Young himself is interred in Charlevoix’s Brookside Cemetery, where a large boulder marks the family plot. The site has become a destination for admirers, some of whom leave small stones on his marker in tribute.
The enduring fascination with Earl Young’s mushroom houses combines architectural innovation with a deep connection to local geography and natural materials, reflecting a creative spirit that shaped the character of Charlevoix over the past century.