Giraffe Houses take their name from the distinctive patterns applied to their exterior walls by different sized and shaped pieces of limestone, sandstone or rubblestone. The color of these rock pieces follows the terracotta spectrum from lightest beige to medium tan to dark orange, thus resembling a giraffe’s coat. Sometimes called Ozark Rock Houses or Ozark Giraffe Houses, they developed in the Ozarks during the early twentieth century and soon spread to many other states -- wherever a good supply of local limestone or sandstone was available. Texas enjoys plenty of both.