Sleep in the Ankle & Eat in the Heel at This Historic Five-Story Boot Vacation Rental

The Haines Shoe House

In 1948, shoe salesman Mahlon Haines built a 25-foot-tall house shaped like a work boot in York, Pennsylvania, complete with five levels, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms.

It’s now an Airbnb, by the way, and surprisingly cozy. Here are some interesting facts about the Haines Show House, plus how you can book a stay.

Newlyweds Got Free Stays With Personal Butlers

Not many newlyweds can say they spent their honeymoon in a giant boot. If you got married in a town with a Haines shoe store, you might win a week-long stay, plus you’d leave with a free pair of shoes.

When you arrived, you’d walk through a door featuring stained-glass art of Haines himself holding shoes. The house even came with a live-in cook, butler, and chauffeur to take care of everything while you enjoyed your stay.

Older Married Couples Got Free Weekends, Too

Haines invited 38 elderly couples each year for weekend getaways, starting with John F. and Liza Baum from Loganville.

Sometimes, he’d specifically choose couples who’d been married for 50 years. This was his way of giving back to the community and creating buzz around his business.

All these stays were completely free for the senior guests. Many celebrated their golden anniversary with a weekend in a giant shoe.

The Toe Is For Sitting, The Heel Is For Cooking

The living room sits inside the toe, the kitchen at the heel, and the bedrooms within the ankle. The whole thing measures 48 feet long, 25 feet high, and 17 feet wide, with about 1,500 square feet of living space. When you visit, you need to watch your head in some spots since the ceilings follow the shoe’s curves.

There’s a Mini Shoe House for Dogs

Haines made sure every detail on the property fit the theme. His dogs got their own mini-shoe house alongside shoe-shaped concrete planters for flowers and wooden shoe cutouts on the fences. There’s a shoe-shaped mailbox at the address 197 Shoe House Road.

Shoe Art All Over the Windows

Every window in the house features stained glass shoes, and the front door shows Haines himself in stained glass, holding shoes with the words “Haines the Shoe Wizard” below.

The craftsmanship extends to the bathroom fixtures, which were custom-made to keep the shoe theme going throughout the house. When sunlight streams through these windows, the whole interior lights up with colorful shoe shapes.

This Shoe Store Raised Its Own Cows For Leather

Haines’ shoe business was unique because they made shoes “from hoof to hoof,” meaning they started by raising the cattle for the leather. His shoes sold for just $1.98 a pair, making them affordable for many people. By 1935, he owned more than 50 shoe stores throughout Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.

Why A Shoe Man Built A Shoe That Outlived Him

Mahlon Haines (1875-1962) ran his shoe store chain with flair, calling himself “The Shoe Wizard” and never missing a chance for publicity. An honorary chief in three Native American tribes, he would ride around his “Wizard Ranch” wearing a feather headdress with cowboy clothes.

He even gave free shoes to parents who named their sons “Mahlon.” As Haines got older, he realized that publicity stunts don’t last so, he decided to create the Shoe House as something that would outlive him.

When Haines died on Halloween 1962, his wish came true, as people still remember him because of his Shoe House. In his will, he gave the house to his employees.

The Garage Turned Into an Ice Cream Shop

The instep area started as a garage but was later converted to an ice cream shop about 20 years after the house was built. Local Beck’s ice cream became so popular that many people visited just for a sweet treat. Today, that space serves as a recreation room for Airbnb guests.

This Giant Shoe Appeared on Reality TV Shows

You can see the shoe house on “The Amazing Race” during its eighth season in 2005 and later on HGTV’s “What’s With That House” in 2007.

Pennsylvania Finally Made It Official History

In July 2023, the Shoe House received an official historical marker from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Since getting this designation, there have been more efforts to preserve the building for future generations to enjoy.

Peek Inside The Walls To See How It Stands Up

Inside the house, there’s a special hatch where you can see the framework holding everything together. Because of the curved shape, every bit of framing had to be custom-made, which makes repairs challenging with this type of construction. But the structure has stayed sound for over 75 years.

Booking Your Sta

The Haines Shoe House was bought by Waylon and Naomi Brown in 2022 and today the property is used as an Airbnb.

The Browns kept the historical charm, fixed the outside stucco, added insulation, sealed windows, and commissioned a mural based on “The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” nursery rhyme.

Rates start at $249 per night, plus cleaning and service fees. Watch for special deals like “stay for two weeknights, get a third free.”

Three themed bedrooms can sleep up to six people: “Shoelace Space,” “Instep Suite,” and “Ankle Abode.” It’s located at 197 Shoe House Road in Hellam Township.