A 28-year-old graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, in 1988 Ricky Boscarino bought a 600-square-foot run-down cabin with an outhouse on six acres of over-grown woods in rural northwestern New Jersey, “as soon as I laid eyes on the house, I knew this would be the place I spend the rest of my life.”  Boscarino’s unplanned expansion to the 5,000-square-foot, thirteen level Luna Parc began with the bathroom: a five-year project from 1994-99, his “temple to the body and its functions” has been rated the most photographed bathroom in New Jersey[#34].  

The 30 year hand construction of Luna Parc was all done by Ricky with help from his sister.  He designed and made all the exterior metal and ceramic tile decorations in his on site atelier.  The architectural layout plans developed organically over time, designed in part to display his several and disparate collections.  Boscarino was always careful to get local building code approvals as Luna Parc evolved.

In Luna Parc’s Ballroom[#2], two massive 19th century wooden doors with iron ring pulls that Boscarino purchased in China open slowly to the sunlight-filled Asia (collection) Room. The floor’s elaborate geometric stained-wood inlay pattern includes a roughly shoe-box sized, thick glass-covered recess[#15] where Boscarino’s ashes will insure that “I will literally be here for the rest of my life, and in perpetuity as one of the museum displays.” Along with the keys to the original cabin and a set of miniature furniture, “they’ll be able to see my bone fragments and teeth particles and things.”  “My crypt” as he calls it, won’t be complete until 2066 – after Ricky has lived his intended 106 years. “My grandmother lived to be 103, and I floss – I don’t think she ever flossed.”

Luna Parc is Ricky Boscarino’s private residence.  Please don’t make uninvited visits.  Ricky gives personal tours that can be reserved trough lunaparc.com

External resources:

• official site - lunaparc.com
• NJ PBS, 7 1/2 min video