This Rocks! Missouri Home Built on a Former Quarry Offers Mississippi River Views for $995K

by Kellie Speed

A riverfront home designed by St. Louis architect Beverly Nelson is on the market in Louisiana, MO, for $995,000.

The 4,458-square-foot, four-bedroom showpiece, dubbed West Wind, is perched on 10 acres overlooking the Mississippi River. Built on a former rock quarry, the 1939 home’s history is as impressive as its panoramic views.

Listing agent Brian Sohn, of Re/Max Gold First, notes that the dwelling’s design is reminiscent of a riverboat.

“The home looks like a paddleboat on top of a rock quarry above the Mississippi,” Sohn says. “The windows are curved, and where the kitchen is located is where the wheel for the paddleboat would be.”

Sohn sold the home in 2018 to the current owner and is now selling it for him.

“It is the owner’s primary residence, but I could see it being a summer home,” Sohn says. “Another potential use could be as a wedding venue. You could have tents where the tennis courts are. If you stand on the bluff, you would have gorgeous views for photos.”

Sohn says the seller loves the home’s history and has taken great care to preserve its past. The interior boasts built-in cabinets, crown molding, preserved hardwood floors, white-pine walls, and three fireplaces.

“The owner has worked to make it look more original, not modern,” Sohn explains. “It is also really cool how it was built on a rock quarry. The house sits on top of a hill, with the yard overlooking the tennis courts below. The tennis courts do need attention, but you could sit up above and watch a tennis match below. There is another rock patio where you can look up and down the river. On a clear day, you can see into Illinois.”

The 10-acre lot also boasts a front-row view of the Louisiana Railroad Bridge that spans the Mississippi River, connecting Missouri with Illinois.

The property even includes an attached, two-car garage.

“We think of attached garages as being a normal thing today, but it was a huge deal back in 1939,” Sohn notes.

Along with its sweeping views, the residence’s one-of-a-kind design is particularly striking. On the land-facing side, it is two stories high and rises to three stories on the riverfront side.

“It’s just a really neat structure,” Sohn says. “The owner is hopeful the next owner will be someone who appreciates the home’s unique architecture and history.”