Texas 'Digital Dog' House Eliminated from HGTV's 'Ugliest House' Competition

The unconventional steel-clad home in Ransom Canyon failed to advance despite its unique design.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 10:47am

The 2,200-square-foot 'Digital Dog' house in Ransom Canyon, Texas, which was featured on the season 7 premiere of HGTV's 'Ugliest House in America,' has been eliminated from the competition. The home, designed by a metal sculptor over the course of more than three decades, stood out for its sweeping curves, treacherous design, and striking contrast to the surrounding landscape, but did not advance to the next round after host Retta toured the property.

Why it matters

HGTV's 'Ugliest House in America' competition shines a spotlight on some of the most unconventional and unique homes across the country, highlighting both the creativity and challenges of residential design. While the 'Digital Dog' house was not deemed the 'ugliest,' its elimination from the competition underscores the high bar set for homes vying for a $150,000 renovation prize.

The details

The 'Digital Dog' house is a 2,200-square-foot steel-clad home perched on steel legs inside a carved-out canyon east of Lubbock, Texas. Designed by a metal sculptor, the home took more than three decades to complete and features a striking, unconventional design with sweeping curves and a treacherous layout. Despite its elimination from the 'Ugliest House in America' competition, the property remains a unique and eye-catching example of residential architecture.

  • The 'Digital Dog' house was featured in the season 7 premiere of HGTV's 'Ugliest House in America' titled 'Greater Plains, Greater Ugly'.
  • The home was eliminated from the competition after host Retta toured the property.

The players

Retta

The host of HGTV's 'Ugliest House in America' competition, who toured the 'Digital Dog' house and determined it would not advance to the next round.

Alison Victoria

The HGTV designer who would have overseen the $150,000 renovation of the winning 'Ugliest House in America.'

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The 'Digital Dog' house in Ransom Canyon, Texas, with its unique steel-clad design and sweeping curves, may not have been deemed the 'ugliest' by HGTV, but its elimination from the 'Ugliest House in America' competition highlights the high standards and creativity required to stand out in the world of unconventional residential architecture.