Enjoy Morocco vibes without leaving the Midwest in this Illinois town

W. George Metz’s Algerian-Inspired Castle in Quincy

In 1898, rich world traveler W. George Metz saw a Moorish palace in Algeria and got a wild idea.

He would build his own exotic castle on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in Quincy, Illinois. Back home, he hired fresh college grad George Behrensmeyer to make his dream real.

The pair built Villa Kathrine for $7,000 in 1900, with a glass-ceiling courtyard, reflecting pool, and harem room. Metz lived there with his 212-pound Great Dane until 1912.

After years of decay, the restored villa now stands as Quincy’s tourist center where you can step into this slice of North Africa in the heart of America.

Rich Guy Built His Dream Castle After World Travels

George Metz was born rich in 1848 to wealthy Quincy parents. He had the money to do what most folks only dream about.

He got his first passport in 1873 and spent years traveling the world.

As he walked through far-off places, Metz fell in love with the grand building styles of North Africa and the Middle East. These trips gave him a big idea: to bring a piece of North Africa to the American Midwest.

A Palace in Algeria Sparked His Imagination

During his 1898 world tour, Metz saw the old Villa ben Ahben in Algiers, Algeria. Once he spotted those curved arches, detailed tiles, and bold domes, he couldn’t forget them.

The Moorish castle with its Islamic design and foreign look totally grabbed him.

Right there, Metz decided he would build his own version of this amazing building back on the Mississippi River bluffs in his hometown of Quincy, Illinois.

He Spent Years Collecting Treasures Across North Africa

Before coming home to start building, Metz traveled along the North African coast for several years. He bought real furniture, rugs, lamps, and fancy items from local markets and shops.

Between shopping trips, he worked non-stop on plans for his dream home, drawing and redrawing until he got it right. His boxes filled with treasures as his idea for Villa Kathrine took shape on paper.

No Architect Wanted This Weird Job

Back in Quincy, Metz hit a snag. Local architects just stared at his strange plans.

Nobody wanted to build a Moorish castle in the middle of Illinois – it seemed too odd, too hard, too foreign.

His luck changed when he met George Behrensmeyer, a new graduate from the University of Illinois architecture program who wanted to prove himself.

The young architect saw Villa Kathrine as a chance, not a problem. This odd project became Behrensmeyer’s first big job.

The Design Borrowed From Three Famous Buildings

Metz and Behrensmeyer created a real mix of styles. They based the main outside look on the Villa ben Ahben in Morocco that first caught Metz’s eye.

Then they added special touches from the famous Giralda tower in Seville, Spain, using its fancy window styles and pretty details.

The final touch was a small copy of the tower from the Mosque of Thais in Tunisia, which gave the villa its stand-out shape against the Mississippi River backdrop.

Local Workers Built an Exotic Palace for $7,000

Workers started building Villa Kathrine in 1900 for $7,000 – about $250,000 today. Even with its foreign design, Metz used local Quincy materials and hired local workers.

The builders had never seen plans like these but still brought the exotic building to life.

The result looked totally different from the normal Midwestern houses around it, creating America’s most unique Moorish castle on the Mississippi.

The Inside Looked Like Something From Arabian Nights

The villa’s inside took visitors straight to North Africa.

A middle courtyard had a glass ceiling that let in lots of sun and a small pool that made light patterns on the walls. The three bedrooms each had raised platforms for beds, just like real Moroccan homes.

Metz even put in a harem room, though it was just for show.

The whole house used hanging lamps and candles for light, as Metz didn’t want gas or electric lighting.

His Giant Dog Was His Only Roommate

Metz lived alone in his exotic home except for one big friend – his Great Dane named Bingo. This wasn’t a normal dog – Bingo weighed a huge 212 pounds and had his own special space in the home.

The massive dog followed Metz everywhere through the twisting halls and exotic rooms of Villa Kathrine. The odd bachelor and his huge dog made quite a pair as they showed guests around their unusual home.

Losing His Dog Changed Everything

In 1907, Bingo died, leaving Metz very sad. He buried his pet on the property and marked the grave with care.

After his dog died, Metz kept to himself more and had fewer guests at the villa. The once-busy home grew quiet as its owner stayed alone.

Five years later, in 1912, Metz suddenly decided to sell his dream castle and move away, ending his grand building project.

The Castle Sat Empty and Falling Apart

After Metz sold Villa Kathrine, the property passed through many owners who lacked either the money or interest to keep up such an unusual building. Over the years, the once-great Moorish castle fell apart.

People broke windows, weather ruined the fine details, and local teens used it as a hangout spot. The villa became the subject of local ghost stories as it sat empty on its bluff overlooking the Mississippi.

Volunteers Saved It From The Wrecking Ball

In 1978, a group of concerned Quincy citizens formed the non-profit Friends of the Castle to rescue the crumbling landmark. They launched a massive fundraising campaign and organized volunteer restoration efforts.

The work took twenty years to complete, with the fully restored Villa Kathrine finally reopening to the public in 1998.

Today, the villa serves as Quincy’s official tourist information center and offers regular tours for visitors curious about this slice of North Africa on the Mississippi.

Visiting Quincy, Illinois

Villa Kathrine at 532 Gardner Expressway showcases W. George Metz’s dream of building America’s most exotic Moorish castle after his 1898 North Africa travels. He worked with architect George Behrensmeyer to create this unique Mississippi River bluff masterpiece.

Admission costs $5 for adults and $2 for kids 6-18. You can take self-guided tours daily or book guided tours.

The castle also serves as Quincy’s Tourist Information Center.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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