Tucked away in the dense Alaskan wilderness, just north of Willow, is a property known as Goose Creek Tower. Unbelievably this property was never intended to break the tree line, let alone touch the sky.
Owned by Anchorage-based attorney Phillip Weidner, this 185-foot tower started life as a 40 by 40 scribed log cabin with a basement. When the structure was close to completion, he had the idea of using the 12 by 12 uprights to support another floor on top of the original building.
However, Weidner didn’t stop at just one extra floor; he continued to build and build, level after level until eventually reaching 185 feet high. At this point, he could build no more, federal airspace begins at 200 feet, restricting any further building.
THE HISTORY OF GOOSE CREEK TOWER
Construction on what is now known as ‘Goose Creek Tower’ originally began some 20 years ago. Phillip Weidner, an Alaskan attorney, and self-described “frustrated architect,” began building a 40 by 40 log cabin with concrete foundations and basement.
After almost completing the basement (which features a secret tunnel that leads to a safe room) and ground floor, Weidner had the idea of building up. Using the 12 by 12 uprights, that he now calls the ‘eight sisters,’ he chose to literally build a house on top of a house. And then, he kept going, and going, and going.
After reaching the top, or at least what he thought was going to be the top, he realized he could use the steeple to add steel support for another floor. Then, using a crane, he dropped it on to the top of the tower and built an octagon viewing platform. This offers 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside, reaching as far as 300 miles.
Despite its less than sturdy look, Weidner plans for the property to stand for at least 1000-years. In the future, he hopes to open up the house, which he calls ‘Poem to the Sky,’ to the general public. Primarily, however, the property will be used as a private home for his family. He intends to use it to enjoy the northern lights and the surrounding countryside.
THE TOWER TODAY
Despite being under construction for the best part of two-decades, Goose Creek Tower has yet to be completed. As a busy attorney, Weidner doesn’t have enough spare time to build it as quickly as he would like.
He would soon like to open up his private property to tourists, allowing them to see the house close-up from outside. However, he needs to secure the property first as he has already had issues with trespassers defacing the property.
His plan for the property is to turn the basement into bedrooms with sliding canvas walls to preserve the openness. The ground level is a self-contained home, as it was initially set out to be, with kitchen, dining, and open-plan living space.
The lower levels of the property are almost ready for furnishing. The further you go up, the more work is required.
One of the incomplete rooms higher up the tower.
As you go up, the rooms get smaller, what these rooms will be used for is unclear. However, the very top octagon will be where Philip spends his time admiring the views and writing some poetry.
The view from the octagon where Philip intends to write poetry.
On top of the octagon is a hatch, which leads to the roof. Eventually, he wishes to add a “bubble,” and create another enclosed floor. However, this will have to be where the property finally ends, as restrictions stop him from going any further.
The hatch from the octagon onto the roof, which will one day be enclosed by a “bubble.”
Whether you see Goose Creek Tower as an impressive tower or a design monstrosity, you have to admire Weidner’s dedication. It may be a little eccentric, but it’s his dream home! And most of us would love to be able to create our dream house.
If you like Goose Creek Tower, Lapalice Castle, Hard Luck Mine Castle, and Mystery Castle, all have incredibly unique stories behind them, much like Goose Creek Tower.
