Explore the Abandoned Royse City Futuro House: The Spaceship from the 1960s
In the 1960s, a visionary Finnish architect named Matti Suuronen designed a series of flying saucer-shaped dwellings known as Futuro Houses that could be broken into 16 pieces and assembled in virtually any environment. Suuronen expected his affordable, portable futuristic houses to be a smash hit. Unfortunately, the general public did not take kindly to Suuronen’s UFO-esque structures that required costly modifications in order to support electricity and plumbing. Less than 100 Futuro Houses were built, and the alien spacecraft-looking abodes were discontinued by the early 1970s.
When Futuro Houses first hit the market in the 1960s, a number of the structures made their way to the United States. A buyer whose name has been lost in the sands of time in Garland, Texas purchased a Futuro House that was ultimately acquired by two brothers who moved the dwelling to Royse City, Texas.
The Royse City Futuro House has been abandoned for decades. The interior of the Futuro House was stripped long ago and is now covered in several layers of spray paint. In recent years, an anonymous Futuro House enthusiast gave the Royse City dwelling a fresh coat of orange paint and stenciled “Area 276” on the exterior. Area 276 references both a state highway that passes through Royse City, and a military installation in the Nevada desert which has long been associated with the paranormal known as Area 51.
“The Spaceship”—as the Royse City Futuro House is known in Texas—is a celebrated landmark. Locals love the sight of a lone dilapidated spaceship in a grassy field that looks as though it arrived from a galaxy far, far away. Even though the Royse City Futuro House is located on private property, you’re welcome to pose for a photo on the stairs of The Spaceship so that you can update your Instagram followers about your interstellar travels.
Address:
9573 State Highway 276 W
Royse City, Texas, 75189
United States
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Royse City Futuro House (Area 276), beside SH 276 at 9573 TX-276, Royse City, Texas. Texas Highways reports the structure is visible from the road; this is private property, not a public visitor site.
- Access
- Privately owned. Texas Highways’ July 2026 report says the Futuro is visible from the road, but does not offer public entry or identify a visitor parking area. Do not enter the property or climb the stairs. View it only from a lawful, safe public vantage; do not stop on the highway.
- Admission
- No public admission, tours or visitor entry are published. The Futuro sits on private property; a roadside view, where safely and legally possible, is not permission to enter.
- Time needed
- No official visit duration is published. This is a brief roadside exterior view only, not an open attraction; do not linger or stop where it is unsafe or unlawful.
- Best season
- No preferred season is published. Visibility depends on roadside conditions; plan only for a time when a lawful, safe public viewing place is available. This is practical caution, not an operator recommendation.
- Opening hours
- No public visiting hours or regular schedule are published. Texas Highways mentions occasional Area 276 movie nights at the lot, but these are private events and do not establish routine public access. Do not visit the property without the owner’s invitation.
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-01
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