Living in an underground home is not a very common style of living, especially in the South, but that did not stop Harvey and Sherry Shirley from building their own underground home just outside of Oxford, Mississippi.
“I knew how energy efficient they were, so I had been looking into building one for quite some time,” Harvey said about the couple’s decision to build the home.
Compared to the couple’s former home, it is half the price in utility bills. Since it is underground and embedded in a hill, the roof is covered in grass. Harvey said he has even driven over the house, and their guests did not hear a thing. In fact, the couple said they cannot even tell if it is raining or not when inside their underground home.
“It is very energy efficient. It’s never too hot or too cold. It’s even safe for earthquakes and tornados,” the Shirleys said.
When asked about lighting being a problem, Sherry said, “No, all of the main rooms have windows along the wall that faces the outside.”
The Burrows Bed and Breakfast
The Shirleys’ underground home doubles as a bed and breakfast called The Burrows.
“Many people expect it to be dark and cave-like. They ask us if there’s light,” Sherry said, “but most people don’t even realize they’re underground once they’re here.”
The Burrows Bed and Breakfast peak season is during football season for those Ole Miss fans who want a quiet place to stay during their visit to Oxford. The bed and breakfast also gets many honeymooners and couples celebrating anniversaries.
“It’s mostly people from Memphis, Grenada, Tupelo, Oxford or Pontotoc who just want to go somewhere different or get away for the weekend,” Sherry said about most of their visitors.
The Shirley’s enjoy chatting with and learning about the various kinds of people that visit their underground home.
“Hearing about the different kinds of jobs my guests have is always interesting. Some are archaeologists, book writers or government workers who come from all over,” Sherry said.
The Shirley’s are very accommodating to guests, providing homemade snacks on arrival and large, fully furnished bedrooms that are complete with a hot tub and views overlooking the property’s pond.
The underground home has a cozy and homey feel, which is perfect for a bed and breakfast. Located in Lafayette Springs, about 18 miles outside of Oxford, The Burrows Bed and Breakfast is a great place to visit or stay if you are looking for something fun and adventurous.
Cassidy Nessen is a intern for hottytoddy.com and a student at the Meek School of Journalism and New Media at The University of Mississippi. Cassidy can be reached at cjnessen@gmail.com.
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