Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Is the Ugliest House in America in Delano?
bill-new-mug-002
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 3 years ago on
January 7, 2022

Share

 

An 8,000-square foot home in Delano has been declared the ugliest house in the west by an HGTV home-improvement reality series.

The question now for homeowners “Lupe and Cruz” is whether the 1974 monstrosity will win the Ugliest House in America competition and $150,000 in renovations.

The mini-series is hosted by comedian Retta, who is best known for her roles in the NBC series Parks and Recreation and Good Girls.

When the episode was filmed, the temperature was 102 degrees, much too hot for Retta, who grew up in New Jersey. In the opening scene, she describes Delano as “flat and hot.”

On First Impression, ‘Not That Ugly’

After entering the house, Retta says, “Got to admit, it’s not that ugly to me.”

But, upon getting past the entryway, she discovered the bad and the ugly of a home that could’ve been used for scenes in a Sergio Leone spaghetti western.

The dining room has an arboretum swiped from a 1980’s Holiday Inn. Except that many of the plants were dead and the waterfall doesn’t work.

In addition to a garish kitchen on the main floor, another complete kitchen accompanied the master bedroom upstairs.

There’s an indoor “jungle” off the dining room. (HGTV Screenshot)

‘I’m Not Sure It’s Safe’

Cruz bought the home without telling other family members, who weren’t thrilled when they toured his purchase, it was revealed in Thursday night’s episode.

He had seen the home years before and fallen in love with it. But, in a classic case of buyer’s remorse, Cruz now says “it’s too ugly.”

In fact, Lupe, Cruz, and their two children don’t live there.

“I’m not sure it’s safe,” Lupe said.

Every episode includes a listing of the home’s features similar to a real-estate ad. For the Delano house, it was:

  • 8,000 square feet
  • 4 bedrooms
  • 3 jungles
  • 2 kitchens
  • 1 kill room

Retta said “kill room” as a punch line about the home’s garage.

Series Champion Announced

The Delano house beat out a converted barn near Sacramento and a home with nautical features in Pacifica to become one of four national finalists. In addition to being ugly, all of the homes appeared to be money pits.

The series winner was crowned on Friday, Jan. 7, with the “House of No Secrets,” the southeast champion taking the title.

Also joining the Delano “Jungle House” as finalists were “Poseidon’s Fortress” in the midwest and the “Pyramid House” from the northeast.

Retta described the garage as “the kill room.” (HGTV Screenshot)

 

 

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Newsom Signs Law Aimed at Preventing CA Gas Price Spikes

DON'T MISS

Pumpkin Weighing 2,471 Pounds Wins California Contest

DON'T MISS

Vientos Hits Grand Slam as Mets Cool Dodgers’ Hot Pitching to Even up NLCS

DON'T MISS

Minnesota City Says Trump Campaign Still Owes More Than $200,000 for July Rally

DON'T MISS

6 People Accuse Diddy of Sexual Assault in New Lawsuits, Including Man Who Was 16 at Time

DON'T MISS

‘Extortion’ and ‘Bullying’ Accusations Fly: Who Should Pay for Sinking the Friant-Kern Canal?

DON'T MISS

US Deploys THAAD Missile Defense System and Troops to Israel, Sparking Debate

DON'T MISS

Christopher Reeve’s Children Share Their Father’s Complex Legacy in ‘Super/Man’

DON'T MISS

Bakersfield Prof, Community College Reach $2.4M Settlement in Free Speech Case

DON'T MISS

‘Terrifier 3’ Slashes ‘Joker’ to Take No. 1 at the Box Office, Trump Film the Apprentice Fizzles

UP NEXT

Pumpkin Weighing 2,471 Pounds Wins California Contest

UP NEXT

Vientos Hits Grand Slam as Mets Cool Dodgers’ Hot Pitching to Even up NLCS

UP NEXT

Minnesota City Says Trump Campaign Still Owes More Than $200,000 for July Rally

UP NEXT

6 People Accuse Diddy of Sexual Assault in New Lawsuits, Including Man Who Was 16 at Time

UP NEXT

‘Extortion’ and ‘Bullying’ Accusations Fly: Who Should Pay for Sinking the Friant-Kern Canal?

UP NEXT

US Deploys THAAD Missile Defense System and Troops to Israel, Sparking Debate

UP NEXT

Christopher Reeve’s Children Share Their Father’s Complex Legacy in ‘Super/Man’

UP NEXT

Bakersfield Prof, Community College Reach $2.4M Settlement in Free Speech Case

UP NEXT

‘Terrifier 3’ Slashes ‘Joker’ to Take No. 1 at the Box Office, Trump Film the Apprentice Fizzles

UP NEXT

Oregon, Penn State Move Behind No. 1 Texas. Army, Navy Both Ranked for 1st Time Since ’60

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Minnesota City Says Trump Campaign Still Owes More Than $200,000 for July Rally

9 hours ago

6 People Accuse Diddy of Sexual Assault in New Lawsuits, Including Man Who Was 16 at Time

9 hours ago

‘Extortion’ and ‘Bullying’ Accusations Fly: Who Should Pay for Sinking the Friant-Kern Canal?

10 hours ago

US Deploys THAAD Missile Defense System and Troops to Israel, Sparking Debate

10 hours ago

Christopher Reeve’s Children Share Their Father’s Complex Legacy in ‘Super/Man’

11 hours ago

Bakersfield Prof, Community College Reach $2.4M Settlement in Free Speech Case

11 hours ago

‘Terrifier 3’ Slashes ‘Joker’ to Take No. 1 at the Box Office, Trump Film the Apprentice Fizzles

11 hours ago

Oregon, Penn State Move Behind No. 1 Texas. Army, Navy Both Ranked for 1st Time Since ’60

12 hours ago

I Have No Confidence in FUSD’s Measure H Projects List: Trustee Candidate Villa

12 hours ago

Body Found in Kings River Near Reedley. Fresno Sheriff Investigates.

12 hours ago

Newsom Signs Law Aimed at Preventing CA Gas Price Spikes

SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Monday aimed at preventing gas prices from spiking, marking the Democrat’s late...

9 hours ago

9 hours ago

Newsom Signs Law Aimed at Preventing CA Gas Price Spikes

9 hours ago

Pumpkin Weighing 2,471 Pounds Wins California Contest

9 hours ago

Vientos Hits Grand Slam as Mets Cool Dodgers’ Hot Pitching to Even up NLCS

9 hours ago

Minnesota City Says Trump Campaign Still Owes More Than $200,000 for July Rally

9 hours ago

6 People Accuse Diddy of Sexual Assault in New Lawsuits, Including Man Who Was 16 at Time

10 hours ago

‘Extortion’ and ‘Bullying’ Accusations Fly: Who Should Pay for Sinking the Friant-Kern Canal?

10 hours ago

US Deploys THAAD Missile Defense System and Troops to Israel, Sparking Debate

11 hours ago

Christopher Reeve’s Children Share Their Father’s Complex Legacy in ‘Super/Man’

Search

Send this to a friend