In 1964, Girard Henderson had an underground home built on a  mountain ranch located near Ward, Colorado. 
The construction was completed by builders Julian "Jay" and Kenneth Swayze, from Plainview, Texas. The Swayze brothers established a company known as Underground World Homes, specializing in the design and construction of full-sized underground residences. On May 13, 1963, Swayze initiated the process of securing a patent for his underground home design. Patent US3227061A was officially granted to Swayze on January 4, 1966, recognizing the underground home concept. This patent marked a milestone in the development of underground dwelling technologies. Swayze's approach led them to create various underground homes, including one that Jay Swayze resided in with his wife and two daughters called Atomitat. It was the first home in the U.S. to meet civil defense specifications for a nuclear shelter. Henderson became intrigued by the idea and decided to invest, acquiring a 51 percent share of Underground World Homes.
During that same year, Henderson undertook the construction of an almost identical underground home, sponsoring the Underground World Home exhibit at the 1964 New York World's Fair, copying the concept pioneered by the Swayze brothers.
Henderson and his wife spent time on the property.
The Swayze brothers authored a book titled Underground Gardens & Homes: The best of two worlds, above and below. Published in 1980, the book delved into the nuclear age, addressing the imperative need for comprehensive planning to safeguard ourselves from potential adverse consequences. 
Situated  northwest of Boulder, Colorado and at an elevation of  above sea level, the dwelling, dubbed "Mountain Home" by its contractors, employed a building technique known as "ship-in-a-bottle", that deployed mountain top removal, followed by the pouring of a concrete shell, and finally the reinstatement of the mountain top.