Get Me A Cave

Iconoculture: Consumers find a release for their primal passions, as well as their sense of unusual style, in retreats that are affordable, energy-efficient, and oh so cool.
Batman isn’t the only guy with a cool cave, OK? Affluent homeowners seeking a novel retreat are digging into their equity budgets to add custom-built caves to their property. The subterranean add-ons house everything from wine cellars to home entertainment centers to luxury spas.
Bacchus Caves in Napa, California, a longtime builder of winery caverns, now sells 60% of its caves to private clients (USA Today 5.19.05). One Connecticut man shelled out for a 3,000-sq.-ft. cave with faux hot springs. It wasn’t cheap, especially by Neanderthal standards, but caves cost just $150 per sq. ft. to build, compared with $500 per sq. ft. for most above-ground construction.
Cool Hideaway [Iconoculture]