The Flamingo House

On the quiet shores of Lake Michigan in Beverly Shores, Indiana, stands a home that looks like it drifted in from a South Florida postcard. Painted a soft flamingo pink and framed by sharp, geometric lines, the Florida Tropical House feels like both a time capsule and a daydream—a vision of the future imagined nearly a century ago.

Originally built in 1933 for the Chicago World’s Fair’s “Homes of Tomorrow” exhibit, this house was never meant to last, let alone be lived in. It was designed by architect Robert Law Weed to showcase what life could look like in a warmer, more modern world. With an open floor plan, abundant glass, and tropical flourishes, the home pushed boundaries in both style and substance.

After the fair, the house was floated across Lake Michigan and anchored on the Indiana dunes, part of a bold plan to turn the area into a resort destination. While the resort never came to be, the home stayed—and eventually became one of five historic World’s Fair houses in the area.

The house itself is a masterpiece of mid-century optimism. A two-story living room opens to a cantilevered balcony and a rooftop terrace, giving it a sense of airiness and elevation. The clean, stuccoed lines are softened by bright interior hues—corals, yellows, and pale blues that mimic the coastal light. A sleek aluminum staircase connects the floors, and original Floridian travertine and tile still ground the space in its tropical roots. The layout includes two bedrooms and a full bath on the main level, with sunlight pouring in through oversized glass doors that once seemed futuristic and now feel timeless.

Over the decades, the home fell into disrepair—paint faded, materials wore down, and the vision behind it dimmed. But a restoration effort led by preservationists and a committed private tenant brought it back to life. Now under a long-term lease arrangement, the house is once again privately lived in, maintained with care, and opened to the public just once a year.

Today, the Florida Tropical House isn’t just an artifact—it’s a living home. A place where architectural imagination, personal dedication, and everyday life meet on the edge of sand and sky. It stands as a bright reminder that some ideas are too bold to fade—and some homes were always meant to be more than shelter. They were meant to be statements.