Deep in the frozen woodlands between Willow and Talkeetna, Alaska, a bizarre silhouette breaks the tree line. It rises like a chaotic stack of wedding cakes or a pile of log cabins balanced dangerously on top of one another. Locals call it the “Dr. Seuss House” because it looks like a whimsical illustration come to life. However, the creator calls it something else entirely. He views this 185-foot structure as a “poem to the sky”. While it looks like a fantasy, this home is a very real feat of engineering that pushes the limits of what a single person can build.
The Lawyer with an Engineer’s Mind
Phillip Weidner owns this architectural marvel. He is not just a dreamer with a hammer. Weidner is a top trial lawyer in Anchorage who also holds a degree in electrical engineering from MIT and a law degree from Harvard. This unique combination of skills explains how the tower exists. He possesses the engineering knowledge to ensure the structure stands up and the legal income to fund its construction.
Weidner never planned to build a skyscraper in the wilderness. He originally intended to construct a standard two-storey log cabin. The plan changed the moment he finished the roof. He realised he wanted a better view, so he decided to add another level. Then he added another. His imagination took over, and the cabin simply kept growing upward.
A House on Top of a House
The construction method is just as unique as the owner. Weidner used a crane to lift pre-built sections onto the top of the tower. He describes the process as placing a house on top of a house. To support the massive weight, he utilised large upright supports that he affectionately calls the “Eight Sisters”. These pillars hold the structure together as it narrows toward the top.
The tower currently stands at 185 feet. One might ask why Weidner stopped at such a specific height. He did not run out of timber or enthusiasm. The reason is purely bureaucratic. Federal airspace begins at 200 feet. If a structure reaches that height, the Federal Aviation Administration requires the owner to install flashing warning lights for aircraft. Weidner wanted to keep his “poem” free of government interference and industrial lighting, so he stopped building just 15 feet short of the limit.
Tunnels and Telescopes
Construction has continued for roughly two decades, yet the tower remains unfinished. Weidner admits that his demanding career makes it difficult to find time for the project. The interior reflects this ongoing state of work. It contains a complex maze of ladders and staircases that connect the 14 to 17 floors.
The secrets of Goose Creek Tower extend underground as well. The structure sits atop a basement that reportedly features a hidden escape tunnel leading to a safe room. Weidner has grand plans for the very top of the tower too. He intends to install a large telescope and a ham radio station that he will name “Radio Free Goose Creek”.
The Ultimate Observation Deck
The reward for climbing the vertiginous ladders to the top is a view unlike any other. On a clear day, Weidner can see for over 300 miles. The panorama includes the massive peak of Denali, the Homer Spit, and the start of the Aleutian Islands. The owner considers this the perfect spot to watch the Northern Lights. He insists that one day he will finish the interior so his family can sit comfortably at the top and watch the aurora borealis dance above the snow.
A Legend in the Woods
Since the house sits on private land, it is closed to the public. This lack of access has only fuelled local legends. People on the internet have spent years debating if the tower is structurally sound or if it acts as a tax shelter. It is neither. It is simply the passion project of a man who refused to stop building.
Curious travellers can still see the tower from a distance. It is visible from the Parks Highway and from the windows of the Alaska Railroad train. However, the best view comes from above. Bush pilots in Talkeetna often fly tourists over the site. From the air, the true scale of the “Dr. Seuss House” becomes clear. It stands as a lonely, towering sentinel in the middle of the Great White North.
