Entry No. 27 — the Cincinnati file — filed under: retro-futurism
The Futuro Flying Saucer House
Perched on a steep hillside overlooking the Cincinnati skyline, this retro-futuristic 1968 ellipsoid home was designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen as one of fewer than 100 prefabricated fiberglass Futuro homes ever built worldwide.
The story
In 1968, Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed a prefabricated, ellipsoid ski chalet made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic that could be assembled on steep terrain or airlifted by helicopter. Mass production ground to a halt in the 1970s when the global oil crisis sent plastic prices soaring, leaving fewer than 100 units ever manufactured worldwide. Local resident Rob Detzel acquired this unit in 1973, displaying it at regional home shows and inside a Cincinnati shopping mall before permanently mounting it on steel legs along a steep Covington hillside.
Perched above the Brent Spence Bridge with direct sightlines to the Cincinnati skyline, the silver dish features oval pod windows, an airplane-hatch entrance door, and a ring foundation. It remains a private home—earning a Covington Preservation Stewardship Award in 2024—and stands as one of roughly 60 surviving original Futuro structures on Earth.
What it's like
Navigate the narrow residential streets of Covington's Botany Hills neighborhood and park along Wright Street. Because this is an occupied private residence, there are no interior tours or public access; your view is strictly from the public street and sidewalk. Stand along the street edge to take in the saucer resting on its steel framework, then head downhill toward MainStrasse Village for food and drinks.
The move: Park along Wright Street to marvel at the silver spaceship perched on aircraft-style legs, then head downhill to MainStrasse Village for craft beers and soft pretzels.
- 📍 Covington, KY
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 224 Wright St, Covington, KY 41011
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- HAIL - Records & Oddities — Pair a 1960s Space Age structure with MainStrasse's premier spot for vinyl records, taxidermy, and oddities just half a mile downhill.
- Hierophany & Hedge — Trade 1960s fiberglass architecture for 19th-century occult arcana at this bespoke emporium run by Victorian-attired shopkeepers.
- The Secret Bar at CHAD — After admiring the saucer from the curb, head downhill to MainStrasse for craft cocktails hidden inside an art studio.
- Second Story — Continue the surreal outing by grabbing a drink under a giant indoor tree sculpture perched on a second floor in downtown Covington.
Good to know
Can I tour the inside of the Futuro Flying Saucer House?
No. The house is an occupied private residence, so interior tours are not offered to the public.
Where is the best spot to view the saucer?
You can park along Wright Street in Covington for a sidewalk view, or spot it perched on the hillside to your right when traveling south across the Brent Spence Bridge on I-75.
Who designed it and how many exist?
Finnish architect Matti Suuronen designed the Futuro house in 1968. Fewer than 100 were manufactured worldwide, and roughly 60 are known to survive today.
How did this flying saucer house land in Covington?
Owner Rob Detzel bought the unit in 1973, exhibited it at local home and garden shows and inside a Cincinnati mall, and installed it on the Wright Street site in the 1970s.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: citybeat.com · Official site · covingtonky.gov · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21