The wilderness of Alaska is known to be rugged and beautiful, but for those living there, practicality is a way of life. After all, with extreme winters and not many accessible roads, it can't always be the place for wackiness or whimsy.
That is, unless you're Anchorage attorney Phil Weidner.
Weidner decided that a rustic cabin or camper was too prosaic for him, and so he built himself a house that has been described in a variety of colorful terms, from a wooden wedding cake to a Dr. Seuss book illustration.
Now, we've seen some pretty unusual houses here at LittleThings, from the astoundingly tiny to the house that's literally made out of garbage. But this one is truly something else.
At the bottom, it looks like a normal house, but sticking up from the center is a 185-foot spire that looks like a series of even-smaller cabins stacked on top of one another. And even weirder? It's not finished yet!
Weidner's been working on it for the past 15 years, and he's still planning more. Check it out below, and see if you could handle climbing all the way to the top!
[H/T: Ufunk]
The house is a private home between the towns of Willow and Talkeetna in Alaska. The unique abode belongs to Phil Weidner, an attorney from Anchorage. And yes, it really looks like this!
Some call it the "Dr. Seuss house," and while that's a fair nickname, its actual name is Goose Creek Tower. It looks like a Swiss chalet gone a bit mad. And it was all built by Weidner himself.
And as teetering and precarious as it is, Weidner says it still isn't done. As of now, the spire reaches some 185 feet high, and the house has an unbroken 360° panoramic view of Mt. Denali, part of the Aleutian Island chain, and more — assuming it's a clear day.
If he had his way, Weidner would have gone even taller! But 200 feet up marks the beginning of federal airspace in this area, so he had to stop.
Weidner's goal is to set up a telescope at the top of the tower for even more amazing views, as well as a ham radio so he can broadcast his own free radio station, Radio Free Goose Creek.
The house was constructed in pieces, with many of the sections assembled on the ground and then lifted into place by crane.
It's been some 15 years in the making, since Weidner still works as a major attorney in Anchorage. But he doesn't mind the wait. He calls his unusual home his "poem to the sky."
Weidner refers to himself as a "frustrated architect," which may lend reason to why he designed and built this whole house without formal blueprints. But it seems to be sturdy enough!
He hopes that his unusual project will inspire others to follow their passions.
And naturally, it's drawn some interest from the locals. It's visible from the nearest highway, and many have wondered about how it was built, and more importantly, if they'll ever be allowed to visit!
Right now, Weidner estimates that his view stretches for some 300 miles, and says it looks even more breathtaking under the Northern Lights.
"I just want to see," he says simply.
You can learn more about Goose Creek Tower on Alaska's tourism website.
Be sure to SHARE this strange house with anyone who loves out-of-the-ordinary architecture!
