Evergreen Crystal Palace

What Is That Thing on the Bluff?

If you’ve ever spent time on Table Rock Lake, chances are you’ve looked up at the ridge and asked: “What on earth is that building?”

That striking structure looming 200 feet above the water is the Evergreen Crystal Palace, also known as the Evergreen Lake Estate—a sprawling, surreal, and somewhat controversial architectural landmark. With its glass walls, green marble, and golden brass finishes, it sits on approximately 350 acres of wooded bluffland, boasting one of the most commanding views in the entire Ozarks.

Designed by architect Dennis Spencer in the early 1990s for businessman Robert W. Plaster, this five-level, 25,000–28,000 sq ft compound was envisioned as both a lavish private residence and a high-end corporate retreat. Today, it feels more like a time capsule—frozen in an era of early-90s grandeur and unrestrained ambition.

At the center of the home is a multi-story glass atrium that blurs the line between architecture and nature, offering panoramic lake views from nearly every angle. The interior is a labyrinth of opulent features:

Two master suites

Over a dozen guest rooms

Multiple kitchens

Caretaker quarters

Conference rooms and offices

An indoor shooting range

You can move between levels via elegant marble staircases or the built-in elevator.

Additional highlights include:

A sprawling 8,000 sq ft garage that fits up to 20 vehicles

A helipad for private arrivals

A private boat dock and four lakefront peninsulas

Two time capsules, sealed in the atrium, scheduled to be opened in 2042 and 2092

Love it or loathe it, the Evergreen Crystal Palace is no ordinary lakeside mansion. Some have compared it to an office park or a movie set—half corporate HQ, half opera house. Reactions from locals and visitors run the gamut from “a Table Rock legend” to “what was he thinking?” But one thing everyone agrees on: it breaks every rule in the design book.

Last listed for around $49 million, the estate has been on and off the market for years, waiting for the right buyer—someone as eccentric, bold, and visionary as the estate itself.

Whether restored to its original glory or reimagined entirely, the property offers 360-degree views, unmatched privacy, and endless potential for transformation.

More than just a home, the Evergreen Crystal Palace is an idea carved into glass and stone—a relic of wild dreams, frozen ambition, and unapologetic scale. For the right buyer, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own one of the most unique pieces of real estate in the American heartland.