A Tower for Goats in Illinois
Marcia and Dave Johnson's farm in Windsor, Illinois, is full of unique, DIY projects. Their home is modeled after one in Williamsburg, Virginia. The entrance gate is a copy of King George VI’s gate in England. They even have outdoor musical stones made of granite.
But one feature stands out: a tall, spindly tower with a pointy roof and a ramp winding all the way to the top. This structure, called the Tower of Baa-Goat, has become a tourist attraction. It's home to a flock of Saanen goats, which are known for their climbing abilities.
How the Goat Tower Came to Be
The Johnsons built their house with leftover bricks. Dave Johnson, a retired crop insurance salesman, saw a picture of a goat tower in Decanter magazine. This tower was at the Fairview Winery in South Africa. It was built as a "jungle gym" for their goats, which were used for making cheese.
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Start Your News DetoxThe Fairview winery's tower was inspired by an even older one from the 1800s in Portugal. That tower was an "architectural folly," a building made just to be interesting, not for a specific purpose. Dave was fascinated by the idea.
Even though the Johnsons didn't have goats at the time, Dave decided to build his own tower. He showed the magazine picture to a retired master bricklayer, who was intrigued by the challenge. They started building without formal plans, working backward from the photograph.
They made a mistake with the scale, making the tower's diameter about a foot bigger than intended. To keep the proportions right, they had to add an extra level, making it the world's largest goat tower by accident. It stands 31 feet tall with a diameter of 7.5 feet. They even had to order more handmade bricks from North Carolina to finish it. The entire project took three months.
Life with the Goats
Once the tower was built, the Johnsons got Saanen goats from Switzerland, just like the Fairview winery. These goats are known as "Queen of the Milkers" for their milk production and their natural love for climbing.
The goats took to the tower instantly. Marcia recalls a two-day-old baby goat climbing to the very top, then crying because it couldn't get down. Dave had to carry it down. The next day, the same thing happened, but this time Dave made the baby goat walk in front of him, teaching it how to descend.
The goats enjoy being in their compartments or resting on the spiral stairs, looking out from above.
Word of the goat tower spread, first through local newspapers, then the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Soon, it became a popular attraction, drawing visitors who want to see something unique in central Illinois. The goats, according to the Johnsons, love the attention and are friendly with visitors.
