From daydreams to dragons: The story of Soderstrom Castle in Peoria Heights

Dean Muellerleile, Peoria Journal Star
Updated ·3 min read

The palace-like house in Peoria Heights is one of the area's most iconic and beloved landmarks.

It's a popular setting for life-event photos, from proms to weddings. It's an annual must-visit for thousands of trick-or-treaters, who first must brave a pair of fire-breathing dragons. In true castle fashion, it once boasted a water-filled moat.

The 2023 free event at the castle runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31, or until the candy runs out. The theme is "The Addams Family." Here's the history of "The Castle" at 4717 N. Grandview Drive, as recorded by the website soderstromcastle.com:

Halloween 2023: Peoria castle has a new theme for its popular Halloween extravaganza. Here are the details

  • In 1892, Helen Chubbock was born to a prominent area family. Her mother, Georgia, was "one of Peoria's great socialites." Georgia's daughters were "true Peoria royalty." As a child, Helen dreamed of living "as a princess, traveling the world and living in a castle with her prince."

  • In 1918, Helen married World War I veteran George Lusk, and "began chasing her childhood vision by gathering ideas for their new home to be built on her beloved Grand View Drive, close to her parents."

  • In 1927, "The Lusks traveled throughout Europe, compiling their favorite features of the most prominent castles. European craftsmen began the design of their new home."

  • In 1930, The Castle was completed, and "it was clear from the public’s interest that it would be an instant landmark." The stately residence boasted "medieval turrets, gothic arches, leaded windows and massive stone fireplaces." Amid the "grand oaks and evergreens," visitors enjoyed "the quaint stone bridge in the yard that ... spanned a watery moat that circled the house and was teeming with golden carp.”

  • In 1954, George Lusk died, followed by Helen six years later.

  • In 1962, Walter F. Dexter bought the home, by then "in serious need of renovation."

  • In 1972, architectural designer David Haase and his wife bought the house. They "were well remembered for handing out Halloween pencils." The couple owned the home for over 40 years.

  • In 2013, the house was purchased by dermatologist Carl Soderstrom, with a goal to "preserve the historical integrity during renovations while respecting the aesthetics of previous owners." Soderstrom has maintained and expanded the Halloween tradition, "with live music, dancers and an entertainment venue every year," the website says.

More information and photos can be seen at the Soderstrom Castle on Grandview Facebook page.

Fun facts about the Grandview Drive castle

Gleanings from the soderstromcastle.com website:

  • The book "Melinda’s Doll House" by Bess Edmundson is "the story of the Castle, how it came to be, and of the little girls who lived there." The 1963 book is out of print. (A 1964 Journal Star article called the book "a delightful fairy tale ... charmingly told" by Edmundson, "now living in New York with ... Julia Lusk ... of the Castle.")

  • The dragons were created in response to mysterious, unexplained sounds in the house. Unable to determine a source, Soderstrom "started thinking seriously about doing something to protect his home and all who enter." Enter the dragons guarding the driveway. "The female dragon Allula, on the left, protects her nest of three eggs, while the male, Mosta holds the Soderstrom crest."

Peorians share their memories

The Castle is a popular topic on social media, including the Memories of Peoria and Retro Peoria Facebook pages.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: The fairy-tale history of the castle on Grandview Drive in Peoria Heights, IL