Conrad Schuck built this house, he owned a building supply company in Pittsburgh, PA.. When Mr. Schuck was 49 yrs old his Doctor told him he had less than 1 year to live so in 1923 he set off to a warmer climate which would ultimately be Bartow, Florida which is located between Tampa & Orlando about 45 mins East of Tampa, little over 1 hr West of Orlando and on the outskirts of Lakeland Fl. Mr. Schuck & his 5 sons constructed the house with next to no knowledge of building a home, for yrs it was a tourist attraction (while in construction).. Mr. Schuck died at the age of 94! He lived another 45 years after he was told he had one yr left at the age of 49. Conrad Schuck: Born/1877- Died/1971
Well, if his 5 sons started helping him build this in 1923 and he lived another 45 years, that would suggest they aren't exactly spring chickens and many of them may be deceased themselves. In fact Conrad Shuck jr. passed away at 100 in Jacksonville, FL in 2012. Plus, he sold the house in the 1960s so it wasn't the boys' responsibility.
As a child I used to go visit "The Wonder House " it was just behind my Grandmothers house across the pond. Conrad Schuk was the owner, builder and never finished or lived in the house. He was an old man when I was just a kid. I'm now 69 years old. I visited the house in the 1950's and 1960'. I have an old artical from a Sunday paper by Sally Scott. The artical was written after Mr. Schuk sold the home.
To let a great piece of art like that go to waste is a tragedy. I would live in it and work it 1 room at a time. Millions in repairs needed or not. I could devote my time to a house like that and be happy about it. Anything can be fixed, if you care enough. Honestly the biggest thing it looks like this house needs is TLC.
I looked up where this place is and I found out that I am only about 8 miles from it. The grounds of this place are amazing, so I am going to grab my husband and go exploring! Today is a perfect day to go, since it is a cool, but sunny day. Thanks, Adam, for posting this nearby treasure.! =)
My significant other and I felt the same way, that's why we bought it and we are working hard on bringing it back to life! You can follow our progress at: facebook.com/wonderhousebartow and our website: www.wonderhousebartow.com
Thee videos could actually be very interesting, but the videographer has not a clue. This WONDER HOUSE peaked my interest to know more about the house and see inside, but all I saw was more dumb obsession with water spigots, worrying about old pipes, too much time spent on weeds/vines/over growth and not enough on the history of the house or the interior. Why didn't the guy go through the floors? See the rooms? tell something about past owner? go to the basement if possible? The whole concept of visiting abandoned properties is exciting, but not how this guy does it. He should take tips from THIS OLD HOUSE with Bob Villa and learn about the property, video the property and then add good narration of the house/property history. This in all honesty is a waste of time watching as it is.
Annette Kingsley LOL...Thanks for considering me SMART. I was so annoyed after watching this video, because as i said I really love THIS OLD HOUSE and thought this person would have some videographer sills and he would make this a nice investigation into an old home. UNFORTUNATELY his obsession with the grass, pipes and little time actually touring the house made this a waste of time. Hopefully he will read my comments and take note of amping up his videoing skills. The potential for this type of series on RU-vid becoming a it is very high if done correctly.
+SAMSON12321 I agree, there could be so much more added with minimal effort. He's irritating and unfunny. The footage is difficult to stomach and there's very little to no helpful information. Fail.
ugh.... the plants in the very end are Shampoo Gingers, the native american's used to take the flowers and use them to clean their selves. and i'm sorry, that was a nice house but the whole way you narrated it made the video unpleasant.
Plus the way you kept putting in wonderhouse slowed down.... i swore if i heard it another time i was gonna rip my ears off and feed them to my dog. XD
@@Buecheronkel You're both missing the point. Watch a 'normal' travel channel if that's what you want. Adam does his slightly kooky takes and that's why he has a big following, because some people like that. He's not going for mass appeal.
I watched this and was thinking it was a beautiful place. Thought it must be in the south. When I went to do research on it, I realized that this house is in the town my grandparents lived. I spent many years in Bartow and now remember hearing the name the Wonder House. Strange how things seem to come full circle. Thank you for posting.
Hahaha. I laughed so hard. At the beginning of the video, just after "Awwwwww" and just as he said "S**t son" it came up with a Google advert covering the "vulgarity". Perfect timing much?
Its a shame that they let lt set there and ruin. I would very happy to have a home like that cuz I dont even have a home. Its sad that everyone cant afford one when so many people have property like this just sitting there!
Despite the run-down landscaping, the house still looks like it could be rehabilitated. The Wonder House is located at 1075 Mann Road, Bartow, Florida. After the most recent owners went through a divorce, they abandoned it, and as of mid-2013 it was in foreclosure. Wanna buy it?
I love his video's but its like he tries way too hard to be funny and he just isn't...it actually gets annoying after awhile ,but nonetheless I love watching videos of abandoned places.Keep up the good work:)
Wow... If you don't like the videos, just move on. No sense telling others that you have no sense of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed this video. I wouldn't watch his vids if he was all serious and gloomy.
Beautiful house and grounds! Love your style, Adam! There are plenty of "serious" videos out there. I like something I can laugh along with and enjoy. And I enjoyed this one!
It's sad the way beautiful properties are just left to rot like that. Someone put a lot of there time, money, and love into that house. It was someone dream, now likely because of some bank it's abandoned.
I am aware that everyone has their own way of doing things but, in my opinion, this video would have been a lot more interesting if some of its history had been presented, the silliness kept to a minimum and some respect shown for the property which once had been someone's pride and joy. Check out some of Abandoned Steve's work as an example.
hummmm, it would have been nice to see some of the house interior. I could see an abandoned garden by myself. A real shame such a beautiful house has been left to rot.
You asked "what are these, leave a comment below" That is the flower of "Soap Ginger", I grow it. Hawaiians and other pacific cultures used it to wash their hair and rub on their skin to make it soft. When the flower is ripe (will turn reddish in color) you squeeze it and you will get a handful of the nectar. You rub this into your hair/skin and it does the trick. Native Americans used Aloe, and Hawaiians used Soap Ginger.
***** " Generally speaking, the terms Hebrews, Jews, and Israelites all refer to the same people- the nation which sprang from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob, a nation promised and chosen by God in the Old Testament (Genesis 12:1-3). Each term emphasizes some aspect of this people's origin or background. " Come back to me when you know what you are talking about.
The plants at the end are a Red pine cone ginger. I bought some at Home Depot and planted it. The come up every year ever since and spread like crazy. Pretty cool looking.
Actually, that is not a wishing well but an actual well that you shot. Also the upstairs pipe you saw running down has nothing to do with plants. It is a drain pipe that goes to a Koi pond on that floor. The gentleman did not die right after the completion of the home and lived many years after giving tours. Him and his sons built it by hand using no electricity. It was, at the time the only home with water cooled walls for air conditioning. You are funny and fascinating however, research before you head out. You state that the story of the Wonder House is so amazing you had to check it out. Sorry but you didnt do your research or you would have known many things. We have been trying to purchase the house for awhile now. That is why I know all the info. Happy hunting...
sgtpepper1138 I wasnt being rude, just getting the facts straight for people. Someone did mention costs. I will not say purchase price but at this time to do the grounds and outside area estimates are between $160,000 and $220,000. That does not include finished restoration of the homes interior and exterior. These are the estimates we have gotten so far. Maybe when its complete we can post videos for all to see...
The vine that you were wondering about in the begining is more likely than not is a Air Potato. Its considered a very invasive plant and can reach heights of 30' or more. It will outcompete trees for sun light and will eventually kill the host tree. That pond though is just sad even more so than the landscaping!
This house is for sale! I googled it. Adam, you have inspired me because I am going to try to buy it in a year or two down the road! It looks like a money pit but it would be fantastic when it is brought back up to what it should look like!
That house has been neglected far to long I am afraid. It would take millions to restore it. I am surprised no one bought it long before. It would had made a good home, or a bed and breakfast.
It looks like the guy who built it might have gone of the chart with a lot of his own creative ideas. That could have what did it in. Nobody with bucks wanted it.
Hey adam. love your videos. Especially your Disney videos since I'm also a passholder! I actually live about 15 minutes away from the wonder house, and now someone has bought it and is remodeling it, so unfortunately you can't explore the grounds anymore, but I heard the owner is intending to open the house to the public as some sort of tourist attraction when it's done!
TheBlackSheep TheBlackSheep TheBlackSheep I got it the first time, so it's okay. I am like you. I like to make my comments understood. At least you care about your message and take the time to spell correctly and look for errors, which is more that I can say for the rest of people who let their smart phones do all the thinking for them. It's sad to see things decay like the city of Detroit, Michigan. Houses are selling for a Dollar just to get people to renovate and provide a tax base for the city, which is sinking into bankruptcy.
I really love this house, what a shame someone doesn't buy it and get it back to its former glory. Would be amazing to see..Thanks Adam. This was the first video of yours that I watched about a year ago that got me into watching all of the abandoned places you have been too..hope to see many more...
I loved the building and the property but this guy is just too immature for me to continue to watch his videos. I'm glad someone bought the property and fixed the house up; it's a magnificent place.
the creeeeepers are obviously epiphytes or epiphytic which means they need other structures to grow up for support in allowing phototropic or sun light tracking for photosynthesis and growth potential. By the loox of the creeper it is perennial, not long living and germinates by runners and seeds; henceforth the amount of dead and widespread alive vines. MOre than likely the vine is a local weed variety. All part of the EFX of an abandoned house !!! FRQEEEE !
People are so critical! Maybe he didn't go inside because it was locked, and he's not a vandal that would break Windows. If you can't enjoy what he has done, don't watch, or try doing it yourself.
www.theledger.com/article/20130809/NEWS/130809242?p=1&tc=pg Here is some of the story. Like I said previously. Your facts are all wrong. The gentleman lived quiet a long time after the home was finished. The vines are creeping figs. The 2nd basement is a pump house for the pond out front. The inside is not finished but started. Seriously...
For the people who are asking why was it left to rot... it wasnt. It is still owned by a gentleman and it has been empty since the end of 2011. They did many things inside. The floor in the video that looks trashed is that way because of construction materials. The inside was finished.
Susan Sorko as of now, yes, but dealing with the bank etc it is going to be a long haul. YOU started all this. hahaha. Lets just see how much aggravation we can handle in the next few months.
The last question about the plants? Those are pineapple lillies! Those pine cone looking things are the blooms. They have teeny tiny little yellow flowers on the tips of each of those petal looking things. I grow them. You can cut them and they'll keep a long time but when they go bad the start to drip and ooze a clear sticky goo and you'd better not let it get on your stuff or it will ruin it. They are quite beautiful though.
The plant that was asked about at the end of the video belongs to the Zinziber family, I think this one is the Zinziber purpureum, which originates from Thailand, and this ornamental is often used in tropical floral arrangements. A close kin is the edible ginger whose root we find in the grocery store, Zinziber oficinale. Zinziber's are interesting plants because the stem upon which the flower is borne originates from the rhizome (root-like structure.) The true flower, however, is a tiny white, perfect blossom which blooms from the honeycomb crevice of the calyx (this is the part which we normally think is its flower.) Very hardy, especially in cut floral arrangements where they will last upwards to 3-4 weeks with proper care.
10americanpatriot That's half the point of these videos. It's the combination of the bizarreness of his personality with the eeriness of the locations. There's also a degree of sarcasm in his act. I think these videos are geared most directly toward college students (and drop outs) who have smoked some weed prior to clicking play.
The Pine Cone shaped flowers are Pine Cone Ginger. They are quite fragrant. The root is edible; however, it is called 'Bitter Ginger'. This is often used in shampoos.
The original owner was a horticulturist. If I am not mistaken, the plant you asked about was Conrad's famous "Wonder Plant." I have seen pictures of the plant, but I didn't realize there were any still in existence. There must be more than one plant, in Uncle's yard, to stay in existence, the Wonder Plant must cross pollinate each Spring. Uncle Schuckie was a wonderful man and his family misses him. He use to make us all laugh, we never knew if he was telling us the truth or just joking with us.
The homeless don't need such a place to live, young one. That would be enabling not helping to rehabilitate them. You keep dreamin', and one day you might just get your opportunity to do something wonderful yourself!
What a fun and cool place to fix up!! The "POND" was probably stocked with Koi and all the details that carry throughout what was shown are seriously cool. A lot of time and love was put into the entire property. Anyone know what year this house was built?
Shattered glass, exterior greenery growing into the interior, loosening floor boards and support beams would make it unsafe to inhabit unless you were a creature of the wild.
Such a shame to see such a beautiful dream made only to rot. I wish a house like this could have been picked up by the historical society. We need to do more to preserve our countries history and talent. These huge mansions with their detailed woodwork are glorious and no longer made but rarely due to all the time to hand carve them and price, now forgotten and rotting, it literally makes me so sad.
Catherine Johnson I saw the history yes, but it's still nothing of real historical value... just pure junk. Use it for target practice for the military's artillery. At least it will have a purpose in its destruction then.
If the story is true, I think it's cool. I saw a post from his great grandson confirming he did build it himself. The grandson was upsett about it's abandonement. I hope it becomes a museum.
Conrad Schuck was the 49-year-old owner of a building supply company in Pittsburgh when his doctor told him he had roughly one year to live. He might live a few months longer, his doctor said, if he moved to a warmer climate. Thirteen years later, Schuck was still working on his 'Wonder House,' a four-story, 5,300-square-foot mansion on Mann Road in Bartow. The intriguing 18-room structure, which Schuck opened to the public in 1934, served as a local tourist attraction for roughly 30 years
The W.H. doesn't stand for "wonder house"....it stands for "Waffle House." This is the former mansion of the founder of Waffle House restaurants, Mr. Fennyshure Bacon jr
this is something known as Rob Dyrdek syndrome. it most likely develops due to an unfulfilled child hood fantasy. or an over attachment to the younger generation
