This Tiny Hermit Home Is Hidden In An Alabama Parking Lot

Alabama is full of hidden treasures. You can find a tiny home from the 1920s in a Fairhope parking lot, still standing nearly 100 years later. This historic hut was owned and lived in by Henry Stuart who named it Tolstoy Park. The house, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, can be visited for free and is one of the most unique things to do in Alabama. 

The tiny home was built back in the 1920s and today it serves as a historic structure and a free Alabama attraction. Although frequently visited, not everyone knows the story behind it. 

In 1923, Stuart moved from Idaho to Alabama after he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He built Tolstoy Park as a private place to live out what he thought would be his final days.

But as fate would have it, Stuart lived another 22 years. The hut was frequently visited during that time. He kept a visitor's log that eventually held well over a thousand names. 

Today, he's known as the Hermit of Montrose and his home can be explored freely by visitors at no charge.

Inside you'll find a skylight, stove, bookshelf, and vintage furniture. There's also a picture of Stuart on the wall. 

The hut offers an unusual adventure for curious travelers. It became famous after the 2005 release of "The Poet of Tolstoy Park," a novel based on Stuart and his home. 

You can spot the hut beneath an oak tree in a parking lot on Google Street View. There are a few benches and a small sign in front of the home. 

Put this little house on your Bama bucket list. Tolstoy Park is a window into the past, so next time you're near Fairhope, you should take a look. 

Tolstoy Park Hermit Hut

Price: Free

Address: 22787 US Hwy 98, Fairhope, AL

Why You Need To Go: Why not? This quirky little house is a historic gem that you can explore free of charge.

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