The State of Florida sponsored the Florida Tropical House to entice Fair Visitors to the developing vacation paradise.
Architect Rober Law Weed, a Muncie Indiana Native, used the Art Deco Style popular at the time and gave the house a Flamingo Pink exterior.
Boaters on Lake Michigan have long used the brightly colored structure as a navigational aid, since it is located at the Bottom of Lake Michigan and inside the Indiana Dunes National park.
When Indiana Landmarks inaugurated the leasing program, the Florida Tropical House received over 300 calls from people who wanted the “free house.”
Landmarks Foundation called Bill and Marci Beatty for what Landmark’s knew would require an immense investment.
Bill, a Hammond machine shop owner, had the experience, and his late wife had the vision.
After Marci passed away, Bill met Lisa and together they complete the restoration.
The house was listing toward the Lake Michigan, so they installed 192 foundation piers to level it and provide a firm footing.
They restored sagging overhangs, replaced leaking roofs and failing structural elements, and replicated a missing exterior handrail around the roof deck to match the original.
They repainted the faded pink exterior with the original “Flamingo” shade.
Tourist who took the Indiana Landmarks Annual Tour, were able to view the two oversized wall murals in the Living room, which has floor to ceiling windows on the south side of the home, giving it that Florida feeling.
The owners of the Florida home asked that no photos be taken on the interior, so these photos are very rare.
See Our Youtube Video Of the Florida Home here
Enjoy these Rare Interior photos . .
Back Porch Overlooking Lake Michigan-Note the Pink Ceiling
Art Deco Bathroom Restoring Original Fixtures
Art Deco Bathroom Restoring Original Fixtures 
Art Deco Bathroom Restoring Original Fixtures 
South Facing Living Room with Restored Original Hand Painted Murals 
South Facing Living Room with Restored Original Hand Painted Murals 
South Facing Living Room with Restored Original Hand Painted Murals
with State of the Art Heatilator Vents on each side of the fireplace
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Peek into the lives of those who would have lived
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
