Tucson’s Bottle House, one of the city’s most unusual homes, will soon appear on national TV. The glass-bottle–lined property will be featured in early September on HGTV’s new series “Zillow Gone Wild.”

The property was originally built in the late 1970s by Theodore and Neletis Bryson, a couple with a vision for a creative, sustainable home. Like other bottle houses around the world, its walls were constructed from recycled glass bottles, which capture light and create a kaleidoscopic effect indoors.

Over the decades, the Brysons became known in Tucson’s arts community, and the home grew into a local curiosity before being sold to new owners Johanna Schafer and Roman Covarrubias, who relocated to Tucson for jobs at Roche Tissue Diagnostics.

Schafer discovered the Bottle House while helping a friend search for homes online.

“I came across this crazy, unique property that had over 50,000 views and over 4,000 saves,” she told Tucson Spotlight. “There was an open house going on at that very moment, so I ran out the door and headed there.”

The open house drew a crowd of curious visitors. Schafer toured the property, saw it needed upgrades and cleaning, but immediately recognized its promise.

“I could see the potential and I could see the interest of others. Part of the draw was the location, its nearby Saguaro National Park, the Sonoran Desert Museum and Old Tucson,” she said.

The property is distinctly artistic, featuring not only the main house but also a guest house, entertainment pavilion, pool table, outdoor fireplace and two additional adjacent lots with utilities already installed.

“If this is successful, then hopefully we can build on the other lots, and it would be a worthwhile investment,” Schafer thought at the time.

They initially believed the renovations would take six months, but a year later, the couple is still working to complete the project.

“It’s been a huge undertaking,” she admitted.

The Bottle House is available for short-term rentals on Airbnb, Zillow and other platforms. So far, reviews have been glowing.

“Everyone seems to really appreciate the place and enjoy it, so that’s the most rewarding part. Those long nights and weekends definitely paid off,” Schafer said.

Visitors have come from all over the United States, including Pennsylvania, Florida and Washington. This fall, the house will host guests from Switzerland and Germany, with the main property accommodating up to 10 people.

The home first caught the attention of “Zillow Gone Wild” due to its popularity online. Producers initially reached out to Schafer’s realtor, who contacted her to see if she was interested.

She agreed, participated in the interview process and was ultimately selected to appear on the show.

Preparing for filming became a family effort. Schafer’s sisters helped her clean and stage the property. While they couldn’t attend the filming of the episode, producers included them in a segment near the end. The show’s host, comedian Jack McBrayer, joined Schafer and her sisters for a collaborative art project, creating a handprint mural that reflected the house’s playful design, with handprints, footprints and writings scattered throughout the home.

Schafer says there are few homes as unique as the Bottle House; in her research, she found only four or five like it worldwide.

Decades after its construction, the distinctive Tucson property is finally stepping into the national spotlight. The episode featuring the Bottle House airs Sept. 5 on HGTV and begins streaming Sept. 6 on Max. Schafer plans to celebrate with a watch party for friends and family.

Isabela Gamez is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at gamezi@arizona.edu.

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