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Outer Banks landmark destroyed by fire

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston
Published October 20, 2022 at 11:51 AM EDT
In the Outer Banks, the Futuro House, also called the Frisco UFO or spaceship, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night.
1 of 4  — Frisco UFO fire 4.jpg
In the Outer Banks, the Futuro House, also called the Frisco UFO or spaceship, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night.
(Photos: Frisco Volunteer Fire Department)
In the Outer Banks, the Futuro House, also called the Frisco UFO or spaceship, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night.
2 of 4  — Frisco UFO fire 2.jpg
In the Outer Banks, the Futuro House, also called the Frisco UFO or spaceship, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night.
(Photos: Frisco Volunteer Fire Department)
In the Outer Banks, the Futuro House, also called the Frisco UFO or spaceship, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night.
3 of 4  — Frisco UFO fire 3.jpg
In the Outer Banks, the Futuro House, also called the Frisco UFO or spaceship, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night.
(Photos: Frisco Volunteer Fire Department)
In the Outer Banks, the Futuro House, also called the Frisco UFO or spaceship, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night.
4 of 4  — Frisco UFO fire 1.jpg
In the Outer Banks, the Futuro House, also called the Frisco UFO or spaceship, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night.
(Photos: Frisco Volunteer Fire Department)

In the Outer Banks, the Futuro House, also called the Frisco UFO or spaceship, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday night.

Officials with the Frisco Volunteer Fire Department said the fire was reported just after 10:00 p.m. and, with the help of the fire department from Buxton, was put out after several hours.

The Frisco UFO was not just one of the island’s most popular roadside attractions, but a Futuro House -- a prefabricated home designed in the 1960s by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. Fewer than 100 of the flying-saucer-like homes were built in the late 1960s and 1970s, and less than 20 are left in the world.

The house was originally bought and relocated to Hatteras Island more than 40 years ago by a couple who used it as a beach home. Over the past 25 years, it has been leased as a flea market, an office, and a hotdog stand.

The UFO was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and nobody was hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Annette Weston
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to eastern North Carolina in 2019 to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of kiddo cuddling, reading, and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston