Inside Missouri’s ‘African Queen’: $1.2 Million Short-Term Rental Features a 15-Foot Zulu Warrior

A jaw-dropping property known as the African Queen, featuring a 15-foot Zulu warrior sculpture, has just hit the market in Springfield, MO, for $1.2 million.Originally built in 1962 by Don Russell, the 3,176-square-foot retreat has taken on a new life, thanks to the current owners, Michael and Lisa Willhoit, who bought the property in 2013 and transformed it into an iconic Ozark home.The distinctive residence features doors sourced from India, light fixtures crafted with ostrich eggs and gemsbok horns, and mosaic floors made with oak, walnut, and ebony, including a stunning 20,000-piece work of crocodile art. The jungle-inspired dwelling has climbed its way to the top spot of the week's most popular homes list.Other astonishing details include 18th-century Indonesian teak, 4-inch Carthage stone countertops, a bluff room with a custom copper hot tub, a primary suite with two balconies and a 260-gallon aquarium, and sinks crafted from 1,000-year-old petrified wood.The 4-acre property, currently being used as a short-term rental, has spring-fed ponds, a creek, waterfalls, and gardens, offering a true sanctuary-style feel.Other properties grabbing attention this week include a riverfro...