For decades, David H. Brown stored tens of thousands of glass embalming-fluid bottles in the basements and garages of his friends and family. His intention was to create a retirement home by reusing glass bottles slated to be thrown out.
The Glass House sits atop bedrock on the eastern shore of Kootenay Lake, roughly 40 km from the ferry terminal near Crawford Bay. It would be easy to miss this roadside attraction, save for the windy two-lane road that necessitates a slower pace. The house is made up of roughly 500,000 (empty) square bottles, held in place by concrete. It gives the grey exterior a twinkle in the sunlight. The house is capped by red roofs that add to the charm.
The gnomes scattered throughout the gardens provide a fairy-tale like atmosphere that Walt Disney would appreciate.
Brown worked in the funeral business for more than 30 years and saw the thousands of glass embalming bottles tossed in the garbage every day. The bottles are about the size of bricks. I don’t know how many are needed to embalm an average human, but I expect it’s a few, making the waste generated significant. He collected them, intending to build his retirement home in a place with a mild climate, bedrock foundation (so the house wouldn’t shift) and gorgeous views. He found all that on Kootenay Lake.
Construction began in 1952 and Brown lived in the 1,200 square foot house for more than a decade. Relatives operate the house as a tourist attraction.
Getting there is half the adventure. I recommend taking the free Kootenay Lake ferry from Balfour to Crawford Bay. You’ll come across the house on Highway 3A. Admission includes a short, guided tour.
