The house contains 22 rooms, yet spans only three floors with a labyrinthine layout featuring 15 different ceiling heights.
The third-floor private theatre, Cupid’s Park, is considered one of the earliest examples of a private home theatre in the United States.
Many of the interior walls are covered in original 19th-century hand-painted artwork and ornate faux finishes.
Jule Gilmer Körner was a prominent American interior designer who built the house as a living portfolio for his commercial design business.
The home was constructed using a unique architectural style that defies standard Victorian-era home layouts of the time.
Several rooms contain hidden storage spaces and unconventional architectural features designed to surprise visitors.
Körner's Folly is a 22-room Victorian mansion built in 1880 by artist and decorator Jule Gilmer Körner. The structure is architecturally distinct for its lack of consistent floor levels, featuring 15 different ceiling heights and 7 distinct floor levels. It was originally designed to showcase Körner's interior design business, serving as a showroom for potential clients. The house features original murals, elaborate woodwork, and a private theatre on the third floor known as Cupid’s Park. It operates today as a non-profit historic house museum focused on 19th-century domestic life and craftsmanship. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors explore the unique layout through guided or self-guided experiences that highlight the home's unusual vertical design. The architecture incorporates advanced 1880s features such as central heating and indoor plumbing.
The third-floor 'Cupid’s Park' theatre, which features unique period murals and architectural details.
Wear comfortable, flat shoes as the house involves navigating many stairs and uneven floor transitions.
Check the official website for special seasonal event dates, as the house undergoes elaborate historic-style decoration during holidays.
Utilize the provided printed guides or audio options to fully appreciate the complex history of the unconventional room layouts.
Do not attempt to visit without checking for private event closures, as the venue is frequently rented for weddings and functions.
Closed on Mondays; often closed to the public during private event rentals.
Visitors are prohibited from touching the historic murals, woodwork, and period furnishings.
