Gold Pyramid House
In Wadsworth, Illinois, an hour’s drive north of Chicago, lies what is believed to be the largest 24 carat gold plated object in the USA. The Gold Pyramid House, built by Linda and Jim Onan in 1977, is a six-story pyramid-shaped building of 17,000 square feet, modelled after the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Google maps
Mr Onan, who had accumulated a fortune from selling garages, had an interest in Egyptology, and was inspired to build the pyramid after reading a study published by the University of Wisconsin that suggested that pyramids were capable of generating energy.
The belief that pyramids have supernatural properties is a central aspect of the ‘pyramid power’ cult which originated in the seventies. Members of the cult believe that pyramid-shaped objects are capable of improving health, incubating thought-forms, preserving food, and sharpening objects such as razor blades. According to Patrick Flanagan, an American inventor who wrote several books on the topic, the pyramids act as resonators of polarised microwave signals, which is what gives them their unique powers.
The Onans describe their unusual home in five words: ‘power, gold, mystery, exotic and impressive’. The building is located on an island which is surrounded by a moat, and the area it is built on also houses a tall statue of King Tut (which is larger than the original ancient Egyptian statue that it is modelled on) and a driveway lined with 80 sphinxes. The walls inside the pyramid are decorated with hand-painted Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Image by Chuck Falzone
The first two stories of the pyramid are open to the public during organised tours. The tour includes a viewing of the replica of King Tut’s tomb and a presentation on pyramid power and the history of pyramids. The Onans also offer a conference room and event space which can hold up to 150 people. Rocko Onan, the director of operations at Gold Pyramid House, says that he wants to hold events every weekend, ideally turning the grounds into a small festival with music concerts and a fairground.
Linda Onan now runs an online Egyptian gift shop, where Jim Onan used to sell his home-brewed beer, Pharaoh’s Gold II. However, he has taken it off the market until the economy improves. This is understandable, as the beer costs an extravagant $250 per bottle – approximately £160!
If you ever find yourself in Wadsworth, Illinois, the Gold Pyramid House is worth checking out. We at Postal Gold have heard that it’s an ‘unforgettable’ experience, which we can definitely believe!
