Off-grid tiny rental offers secluded getaway in Dover

Looking to get away for a romantic stay not too far from home? A tiny house, complete with amenities and a remarkable story, is available to rent short term in Dover in a secluded, private spot. 

Owner Brian Ice said the 660-square foot house began life in Michigan as part of a contest in 2005. “It was built as a project by University of Michigan engineering and architecture students as part of a contest conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy,” he said. The house features multiple systems which make it fully functional and efficient, while remaining separate from the power grid. 

“The house has a hydronic heating system,” Ice said. “It heats water for domestic use, and also heats water for the tubes under the floor that heat the house.” Solar panels on the roof collect the sun’s energy to power the structure. “Theoretically, the home produces more energy than it consumes,” said Ice. With full air conditioning and a system of louvers controlling heat and cooling, the house remains comfortable year round.

Known as the MiSo House, its aluminum skin gives it a look Ice described as “a cross between a spaceship and an Airstream trailer.”

Ice discovered the building on Facebook Marketplace in 2022. Originally constructed in five sections, it was dismantled and rebuilt on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the DOE event alongside 17 other colleges, then transported to the University of Michigan’s botanical gardens, where it was displayed for 12 years. The gardens later auctioned it, and a couple who had married near the structure lived in it for a time before selling their property. The next owner kept the land and listed the house for sale online, where Ice found it.

“Some people might call my wife and I crazy for doing this,” said Ice. “We looked at it initially in October of 2022 and began bringing it back from Evart, Michigan after that. Of course, it’s in five sections so we made five trips to get all the pieces.” Ice was helped by his son, Josh. The process took two months, from May to July 2023. 

A basement foundation was put into place on the Ice family property in Dover and soon after, a driveway took shape. With a septic system and other amenities, the place was ready to go this year. 

The setting is perfect for a couple looking for a short escape, with a small kitchen and a campfire spot outside near a wood fired sauna. A swinging outdoor bed and a cowboy swimming pool are perfect for warmer weather. The house is available to rent year round via Airbnb. 

Ice has been operating short term rentals at locations around the county “for about six years now,” he said. “We started with a few one bedroom apartments. The MiSo house has its first guests this weekend, in fact.”

The house is designed to house two people comfortably, with a king sized bed. 

Find the link to the Miso House at airbnb.com.