When James Orrigo, 34, and his wife moved into their Maine home in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they thought they knew every corner of the house. But years later, a simple summer cookout turned into a discovery straight out of a mystery novel.
“We were having a cookout with friends and noticed the odd little window above our kitchen,” Orrigo told Newsweek. “But there are no rooms above the kitchen, which made us curious.”
That curiosity led to further inspection, and eventually, a shocking find—a secret room that had been overlooked for years.
A Hidden Space
At first, the small upstairs window seemed decorative, until Orrigo realized it had been screwed shut from the inside.
“It was strange and added to the mystery,” he said. With a little determination, Orrigo smashed a windowpane, unscrewed the frame, and climbed in.
Inside, he found an entire room, sealed away and invisible from the rest of the house.
“Suddenly we had this whole secret room that we never knew existed,” Orrigo said. “This got us all so excited with the hopes of hidden treasure, a secret room or at best, extra storage—which is hard to come by these days with our four kids, Bernese mountain dog, and chickens.”
The Internet Reacts
The discovery quickly spread beyond the family as Orrigo documented the find in a video series that has captivated neighbors, friends, and strangers online.
Orrigo shared the first two videos of their discovery on Instagram under the handle @ladinabttle, where commenters reacted too.
One commenter wrote: “Not just an attic but livable space once renovated. Great find.”
“The fun part has been not just finding the room, but watching the community get invested,” Orrigo said. “People are sharing theories, jokes, and ideas. It’s become a story that’s bigger than us.”
What’s Next
Rather than leaving the room empty, Orrigo and his wife are transforming it into something magical. “We’re turning it into a nautical-themed hideaway filled with mystery—secret passages, compartments, and little details that spark imagination,” he said.
For Orrigo, the project is also personal. His grandfather and great-grandfather were woodworkers who loved hidden details.
“Great grandpa Sal in particular was known for his love of mystery and craftsmanship. I remember finding a bureau he built with a spring-loaded drawer full of treasures. This feels like honoring that legacy,” he said.
Orrigo plans to share the renovation on Instagram, hoping to inspire both his followers and his family. “It’s a way to inspire our kids—and hopefully others—to keep exploring, stay curious, and see wonder in the world around them,” he said.
This isn’t the first time a homeowner has uncovered a secret room. Earlier this year, a couple renovating their property found a “hidden room” underneath their floorboards. Another woman revealed how she found a hidden room which wasn’t on the original plans of her house during a renovation.
