Jim Onan’s Pyramid House
Tuesday, 4th April 2006 by Alex Turnbull
This is Jim and Linda Onan's Gold Pyramid House in Wadsworth, Illinois. Yes, it really is a six-storey gold-plated pyramid in the middle of Illinois - and apparently it's the world's largest gold-plated object.
Near the entrance to the grounds you can also spot a 64-foot statue of Ramesses (not sure which one though), and just to the west of the main pyramid are three smaller pyramids, which join to form a three-car garage. Practical huh?
Thanks to Barry Scott, David Reeves and Seth.
Am I the only one that sees the irony in this guy’s last name?
Perhaps his parents were prosperous. Thus the name.
This pyramid in Florida is a mausoleum. It’s very visible as you fly into Ft. Lauderdale airport (from the right-side of the airplane).
Hah, far from being ironic, I think it’s totally appropriate for a guy who lives in a gold pyramid.
i.e. a total w*nker.
This the architectural style also known as “onanism”.
This pyramid in Florida is a mausoleum. It’s very visible as you fly into Ft. Lauderdale airport (from the right-side of the airplane).
Depends what landing strip you go on. Its usually on the left for me (i use southwest most of the time)
Here is problably one of the first pyramid copies:
View Placemark
From Wikipedia
The Pyramid of Cestius (in Italian, Piramide di Caio Cestio or Piramide Cestia) is an Egyptian-style pyramid in Rome, Italy near the Porta San Paolo and the Protestant Cemetery.
The pyramid is a funerary monument built about 12 BC as a tomb for Caius Cestius, a member of one of the four great religious corporations at Rome, the Septemviri epulonum. It is of brick-faced concrete covered with slabs of white marble, 27 meters high and about 22 meters square, standing on a travertine foundation. In the interior is the burial chamber, 5.95 metres long, 4.10 wide and 4.80 high.
It’s apparently Ramses II.
http://www.textfiles.com/messages/BACKWATER/bw890625.txt
it’s disgusting. Only Americans can build something like that. Brrrr
I went looking for this place a while back when I saw it from I-94 on my way to Milwaukee – there must be updated imagery. It’s visible from the highway, at least in the winter (i.e. when there are no leaves on the trees). My inital thought was, WTF? I though it was some sort of theme park, but there is nothing around there.
Thanks for the link. Just a correction to the previous comment, the Egytians did this quite a while before America even existed. I will agree that only America would have some nutjob that would do this.
The first time I saw this place was by total accident as I was driving the tollway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Definitely a WTF moment. The most amazing thing for me at the time was the area around the pyramid. Jim Onan is/was(?) a building contractor, and the story I heard was that he had this place plated with gold in order to protect his private gold collection from possible government seizure (it’s apparently illegal to “hoard” gold). At any rate, the area around the pyramid is completely paved with concrete (I suppose to make it look more like the Egyptian desert). Ol’ Jim, used to park his bulldozers and road graders and so forth next to the pyramid, along with big piles of bags of concrete and other building materials. Sort of took the Egypt out of it for me. That, and the interior:
http://www.goldpyramid.com/new/images/goldpyramid4.jpg
Wanker indeed…
Response to Michal: True… Only Americans can build something like that. And that precisely one of the things that makes this country great. Perhaps you’re just jealous.
It’s just north of Six Flags Great America (the Grand Av. exit off the Tri-State Tollway.) I grew up in suburban Northbrook, and I’m sure I drove past it many, many times driving to and from
CzechoslovakiaWisconsin. But strangely, I never saw it, never knew it was there, until my folks moved to Wadsworth two years ago. In a town where the horses outnumber the people, it’s a bizarre sight.June 21st, 2006:
This pyramid-concrete house-concept is “right on” for the 21st Century. as it offers a type of home that can be heated by Solar-Panel Power, and by water-flow over the sloping sides of this house-concept. A SYNERGISTIC house-paR EXCELLENCE!! This HOUSING-MODE WILL be the “key” for housing into the 22nd century.
Keep Up the GREAT JOB
from Nick Zionsville Indiana
Dottore Nick Stage, Ph.D.
Good comments. I assume the cooling would be done via recirculated and cooled water being pumped up to the top of the structure and rolling down the four sides? I am considering something like this being built right now, but on a much smaller scale (app. 2500 sq.ft., i.e. 50×50 sides on the gound X 30-35 ft. high), in case you have some leads… Frank-E, [email protected]
Nice Stripes reference Jason.
WELL FOR STARTERS I KNOW THE ONAN FAMILY, I JUST WISH I COULD GO TO THE PYRAMID AGAIN. SEE MY BROTHER HELPED PUT THE GOLD ON IT. MY BROTHER WENT TO ST. JOHNS MILITARY ACADEMY WITH JOHN ONAN THE OLEST SON. WE LIVED IN KENOSHA WISCONSIN AT THE TIME AND I WAS A YOUNG GIRL WHEN THIS PYRAMID WENT UP. YOU SHOULD SEE THE INSIDE IT IS GREAT I LOVE THE WALL FISH TANK AND I LOVE THE KITCHEN. IT WAS AND STILL IS THE BEST PLACE FROM MY CHILDHOOD. (MADE IN THE USA)
I think the pyramid as a home is a great idea. If everyboby knew first hand the amazing power that pyramids are capable of everyone would live in one. It’s sacred geometry. The gold plating may be a bit extreeme, but if it makes this guy happy, more power to him. nobody should put down anyone else for choosing to live in a way that makes them happy and anyone who is bashing this guy for his house is clearly jealous. If given the opportunity to live in a house like this I’m sure the people talking crap would pee thier pants with excitement.
I grew up in Wadsworth and remember this place being built. There is a great story about the statue in front. The village board really hated it, and said it was a violation of some rule about not having free standing structures over such and such a height in hopes of it being torn down. The result is obvious. Onan buried it in gravel up to it’s knees to make it within the regulations.
Those that can, do.
Those that can’t, make third-grade-level fun of an achiever’s last name, deluding themselves that they’ve said something intelligent.
I wish there was a better picture of this. I love houses with character.
There’s another pyramid house I found online that’s really creative too, only more realistic for the average joe… http://americanroadside.blogspot.com/2007/07/pyramid-house.html
here’s more picture of the pyramid….. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/tips/getAttraction.php?tip_AttractionNo==5952
well, i always wonder why people make fun of somebody that make something extraordinary or different….. last time i check, all of the famous inventors and scientist and people are “different”….
For those of you complaining about or laughing about the “stupid American” who built this, you may be interested to know that Jim Onan is not an American. He’s an Armenian immigrant from Goris, Armenia who emigrated when he was 17 years old (and became an American citizen 5 years later). Once here, he got a job working construction while he went to school and earned simultaneous bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Art. He continued his education and became an architect who designed massive warehouses, underground garages, multi-story parking garages, and occasionally homes (many of these homes can be found on the North side of Chicago). In any case, while his artistic side might be off the wall, I don’t think it’s fair to call him “stupid” considering his education and accomplishments.
I’m not sure where you all are getting your facts, But so far the only one I found right, is that the Gold Pyramid is located near Six Flags.
Now, to reply to the last person that was defending Jim Onan. He is an American, yes his nationality is Armenian, but he’s third generation. If you know anything about the Onan name, is that’s its not a surname of Armenia. It might of been Onanian which could of been changed in the mid 1800’s when he’s Grandfather came from Armenia to Wisconsin.
For you people out there that like knowing the truth, please do your own research and ask the right people. I’ll give you One time, and One time only to ask me anything you want, I’ll check back after the 4th of July and I will answer any smart and well thought question. Only once because, I’m not living the rest of my life trying to convince people that stubborn to learn the truth. If your nice enough, maybe I’ll get you in to see the Pyramid.
Did the designer of the house go into the pyramids in Egypt? Are the palm trees still there? Can you swim in the moat?
My parents showed me this a while ago when we were going to shop at gurnee mills. if u dont know its there it is truly a WTF? moment
If you would like to see the first pyramid house in America, it is also in Illinois. Charleston, IL. Built by civil engineer and architect, Ed Buxton in 1973. Mr. Onan’s pyramid’s designs were created from Mr. Buxton’s. Mr. Buxton still lives in the house, but it is simply a 10,000 sq. ft. private home and not meant to be exploited. It did appear on a few news programs and Pyramid books in the 1970’s and 80’s.
Here is a winter picture of it: http://www.buxtonglobal.com/images/pyramid_back.jpg
ya my grandma lives there too! i did a google serch on the pyramid—- joe davis
Speaking as a member of the O’Nan family, just wanted to clarify some things about the name. Jim Onan (different spelling, same family) may be from Armenia, not a bit unusual for out family. In the States, the Onans arrived in 1710 from France (name spelled originally Aunan(t))
Another Group arrived during the early 1900s from England. All of us are related and generally it’s thought that we are all descended from the French Family of 1700, they broke up trying to escape religious persecution, some to America, some to England and others to other places.
The Onan spelling was generally assumed to be an Anglicized form of the french name. The addition of the Apostrophe happened around 1900 in the States and has been adopted by many in the family, but does not mean we are Irish (some of us are 🙂 As a rule, all Onans are thought to be descendants from the original french family. Nobody has been able to prove or disprove this due to the lack of documentation on the french side.
And to comment on the continued misinterpretation of the biblical reference that uses the Onan name. We’ve heard it, dealt with it for years, we consider it to show a persons lack of intellect and understanding of what was said in Genesis. 🙂 In my family we consider this passage to show that our “ancestor” was a very moral person who simply practiced the only form of birth control available at the time. And since religions want their flock to be fruitful and “multiply” he was punished for this, as have people for centuries who have done the same thing. The fact that it has also been used to show that and also to make masturbation into a evil thing is just the sort of thing we have dealt with for hundreds of years. Again, it shows the lack of intellect on those who chose to abuse the name 🙂
Jim’s house isn’t all that unusual for things Onan, there was Frederick Onans boat (8000 horsepower on the mississippi river), and the Pythagorean proof house that was being built, but failed when it was being buried (underground house) due to a contractors error. Thank God I didn’t have to pay for it 🙂
Doc
Oh, anybody wonder about the moat around the pyramid? Seems during construction, they broke into a underground artesian well system and the water was incorporated into the design of the house, allowing the water to flow from the spring on the lower level out into the moat.
At least that’s what I’ve been told 🙂
Doc