An ancient gateway to another universe has been constructed in Ohio.

The only issue is that the Stargate in Ashland County doesn’t operate like the ones seen on TV.

“We built it around 15 years ago,” explained Phil Ventura, the landowner.

This concrete structure has become a social media sensation, but Ventura insists that visitors are not allowed and that the property remains private.

“I don’t need the hassle,” Ventura stated. “I appreciate that people have recognized it, but I never sought out the fame.”

What he truly wanted was to create memories with his sons during their college years.

‘We Binge-Watched the Entire Series’

The inspiration for this project dates back to 1994, when the movie “Stargate,” starring James Spader and Kurt Russell, was released. In this film, the protagonists activate a mystical ring discovered by archaeologists, which turns out to be a gateway to another planet in a distant galaxy.

“That was the catalyst,” Ventura noted. “My eldest son watched it with me.”

The movie’s success paved the way for the 1997 TV series “Stargate SG-1.”

“We watched all ten seasons,” Ventura shared. “The kids gifted me the series on VHS and DVD.”

Following that, there were other series such as “Stargate Atlantis,” which aired from 2004 to 2009, and “Stargate Universe,” from 2009 to 2011. A digital series called “Stargate Origins” was also released in 2018, along with an animated series, “Stargate Infinity,” that aired from 2002 to 2003.

The Ventura family engaged with the entire “Stargate” franchise until it concluded.

“As my kids grew older, they began pursuing their own interests, like dating and moving out,” Ventura noted. “I realized they didn’t want to spend as much time with their dad anymore.”

This prompted Ventura to create special memories for at least one more summer.

‘It Was Incredibly Costly’

They repurposed a plastic swimming pool to create the mold for the interior of the ring.

“It contains steel rebar for reinforcement,” Ventura explained.

Once the mold was ready, they ordered a shipment of concrete.

“We used a concrete vibrator to achieve a finer finish,” Ventura added.

They crafted star symbols to decorate the outer portion of the structure and allowed the concrete to cure for around three months.

Meanwhile, they poured a concrete base to support it. The overall project consumed about a dozen yards of concrete.

“It was incredibly costly,” Ventura remarked.

The Stargate is also extremely heavy.

“I’d estimate it’s around 50,000 pounds,” Ventura said. “You certainly would not want it to land on your foot.”

Once the concrete was fully cured, they set about the task of erecting the Stargate onto its base.

“I have an excavator,” Ventura recounted. “But each time I tried to lift it, I ruptured a hydraulic line because it was so massive.”

Eventually, they positioned it correctly and built a nearby “dial-home device” to select their cosmic destinations.

‘Cool, I created something with my sons’

The family kept their project a secret, yet it unexpectedly became a viral hit online.

“I can’t believe they actually discovered it,” said Ventura.

The site isn’t opened to the public, and the family is not interested in turning it into a tourist spot.

“I mentioned to my wife that people generally appreciate unique things,” Ventura remarked. “Sadly, some individuals have bad intentions and want to vandalize. That’s just a reality we cannot avoid.”

He wishes everyone could enjoy his Stargate story through the accompanying images and narrative.

Years later, he still takes moments to appreciate what he made.

“I sit and drink my coffee there,” Ventura shared. “Not that I’m obsessed, but it’s something I enjoy.”

Above all, he cherishes the memories created with his sons.

“That was the highlight,” Ventura expressed. “It was amazing to create something together with my boys.”