Wyoming's strange Smith Mansion has finally sold. Here's what it looks like inside.
A mysterious, one-of-a-kind home in northwest Wyoming has been sold.
The Smith Mansion in Wapiti — roughly halfway between Cody and Yellowstone National Park on U.S. Highway 20 — sits on 10 acres.
Francis Lee Smith, an architectural engineer who worked in Cody, began construction of the massive structure in 1971. He continued building, alone and by hand, until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level.
Smith's daughter Sunny Smith Larsen began work to clean up the property in 2010. At the time she hoped to eventually restore the mansion and open it to the public.
You can find a more detailed history of the Smith Mansion in this 2012 article from the Star-Tribune.
Smith Mansion
The Smith Mansion is shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level.
Smith Mansion
The "hot room" of the Smith Mansion, which served as a kitchen as well as living quarters during the winter months, shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
A decorative A-frame structure atop the Smith Mansion, shown on Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti, was lifted into place with a crane and marked the only use of heavy machinery in the construction of the home. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
The Smith Mansion is shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
A playhouse-like structure, once used as a bedroom by the Smith children, is shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
Sunny Larsen, owner of the Smith Mansion and daughter of builder Francis Lee Smith, pushes a log to cover an opening in the floor Monday, June 25, 2012 at the home in Wapiti. Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
The Smith Mansion is shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
A view of the valley below, where tourists heading for Yellowstone often stop to marvel, from the first floor of the Smith Manison shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
A ladder, cut through narrow openings in the floor and crossbeams, which provides access to the crow's nest structure atop the Smith Mansion, shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
An oversized windchime made from pieces of iron hangs in the Smith Mansion on Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
A view looking south from the first floor of the Smith Manison shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
Small logs strung together on cables to create storage space shown Monday, June 25, 2012 at the Smith Mansion in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
The Smith Mansion is shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
Paul Larsen, husband of Smith Mansion owner Sunny Larsen, stands in the doorway of the "cold room" on Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Smith Mansion
A heap of collapsed logs and beams on the third floor of the Smith Mansion shown Monday, June 25, 2012 in Wapiti. Francis Lee Smith, who built the entire structure alone and by hand, took up residence in the home once the first floor was complete but never stopped construction. He continued to add new floors, rooms, and features for more than 12 years until he died in 1992 after falling from an upper level. (Alan Rogers, Star-Tribune)
Video tour of the Smith Mansion
A grandson of Forrest Fenn confirmed that a medical school student found an over $1 million treasure chest that the retired art and antiquities dealer stashed in the wilds of Wyoming over a decade ago.
In October, the structure and its surrounding 5.04 acres were sold to Zhiru Huang of Mountain Lodging.