The house shaped like a shoe in York, Penn. (Naomi Brown via SWNS)
By Filipa Gaspar
An Airbnb shaped like a boot and built by a shoe salesman in the 1940s has become a quirky tourist attraction.
Built in 1948 by "The Shoe Wizard" Mahlon Haines, the Shoe House is a rental for overnight stays located in York, Penn.
Modeled after a work boot, the house was built as a form of advertisement to promote Haines shoe stores.
The 48-foot-long historic house was first a vacation spot for newlyweds and senior couples.
Subsequent owners have offered it for public rental and operated it as a museum and ice cream shop.
But most recently, it has been turned into an Airbnb rental property.
The home was built in 1948 by "The Shoe Wizard" Mahlon Haines. (Naomi Brown via SWNS)
And tourists now frequently stop to take pictures in front of the peculiar house and come to visit from all around the world.
Owner Naomi Brown said: "We are booked with guests all the time! Also people frequently drive by just to take photos.
"They love the Shoe House! It is such a fun and unique experience. The property is fun to explore and so special!
"We do have many guests who come from outside the US! It is a fun getaway for many visitors."
The Shoe House was sold to Waylon and Naomi Brown in 2022, who gave the Shoe a "light renovation and improvement."
The living room is located in the toe, the kitchen is located in the heel, two bedrooms are located in the ankle, and an Rrc room is located in the instep.
The living room inside the shoe-shaped home. (Naomi Brown via SWNS)
Aside from the fun interior, the house offers an outdoor fire pit, hot tub and a picnic area.
Naomi said the Shoe house is an "iconic historical property."
She added, "However, the previous use as an ice cream shop did not generate enough profits to keep it going, so I knew the business model needed to change.
"The use as Airbnb is a return to the original use, as it was built as a guest house in 1949."
The quirky house is rated as a guest favorite on Airbnb and has got 4.7 stars on Google.
One visitor said: "Awesome experience in the shoe house that I will never forget.
Another added: "Unique place with interesting history."
The property was visited in the eighth season of the reality television series The Amazing Race, originally broadcast in 2005, and was featured on HGTV's What's With That House in 2007.
There have been numerous board games, shoes, and papers written about the Haines Shoe House.
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