Owner of Flintstones House sues local authorities for demolition order

When driving between San Francisco and Silicon Valley, a magnificent house adorned with Flintstones characters is hard to miss. But recently, it has sparked controversy.

On April 11, the homeowner held a press conference to discuss the building’s fate. Oval rooftop, dinosaur statues, figurines of Fred and Dino, and colorful “YABBA-DABBA-DOO” letters on the lawn. The house brings back childhood memories of American cartoon The Flintstones.

In 1976, renowned architect William Nicholson built the house based on the TV show with its crazy cartoon style. The walls, corridors and doors look like caves and stones.

The house was bought by famous Chinese American Florence Fang who added statues of astronauts and dinosaurs in the backyard, as well as the famous catchphrase YABBA-DABBA-DOO. Though over 80, Fang still wants to keep her childhood memories alive.

Serving as a landmark of the San Francisco Bay Area, the public have shown their love for the house. Though the local authorities of Hillsborough have other opinions. On March 15, they charged Fang at San Mateo Court, accusing her decorations of violating local regulations, demanding her to demolish her beloved home, especially the dinosaur statues. The beautiful home has been listed as an illegal building.

Within three weeks of the charges, over 20,000 locals signed a petition to save the creative decorations, turning the house into a global topic. Media outlets both in and outside the US reported the incident.

On April 11, Fang held a press conference at the house. She told the media that thanks to the lawsuit, she realized that people love this house and its nostalgia, which has strengthened her determination to protect her home.