Rick Sparks never intended to build a village. The Tolkien fan originally planned a single Hobbit-inspired house on a 3½-acre property outside Connersville, Indiana, as a weekend getaway. Seven years later, that house has become his residence, and the site has grown into Rackshire, an 11-building fantasy village. Its Tolkienesque rounded doors, turf-covered roofs and stone fireplaces are built largely from recycled lumber and secondhand materials. Sparks bought the property in 2018 for about $17,000. His first festival in 2021 drew more than 3,000 people over three days, and he now envisions 15 to 20 more buildings.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
