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While castles aren't typically associated with the U.S., the country does have its share—although they're usually much newer compared to the ancient fortresses scattered throughout Europe. Some of the more iconic castles can be found in popular theme parks, such as Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle in California and Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle in Florida. Other famous ones include Belvedere Castle in Central Park, New York City, and the Smithsonian Castle in Washington, D.C. However, there are also many uniquely quirky American castles. Here are 10 of the most unusual.
10. Solomon's Castle, Florida
Located in the small community of Ona, Florida, is a castle complete with a turret and moat, which from afar, gives off the appearance of being wrapped in tin foil. In reality, its shiny exterior is made from repurposed metal plates. This unique structure was crafted by Howard Solomon, who proudly referred to himself as “The DaVinci of Debris.”
The castle served not only as Solomon’s home but also as a place for his workshops and galleries to display his artwork. It also features a bed & breakfast and a restaurant called Boat-in-the-Moat, which is designed as a replica of a Spanish galleon that floats in the artificial moat. Although Solomon passed away in 2016 and no longer offers tours, his family has continued to run the site and keep his visionary castle alive.
9. Chris Mark Castle, Connecticut
Inspired by his two young daughters who asked, “Daddy, why don’t you build us a castle?” Chris Mark decided to make their dream come true. With the financial means to do so, he began construction on their very own castle in 2003 near Woodstock, Connecticut. By 2010, the castle was essentially completed. It has been listed for sale several times since 2014, though it has yet to find a buyer.
The castle features towers and turrets and is accessible via two stone bridges that span a moat. The pinnacle of the castle is topped with a glass dome, offering sweeping views of the 30-acre pond on the property. Inside, the castle is filled with antique furniture and, for a personal touch, sculptures of his daughters’ faces, their mouths wide open, with water flowing through them when it rains. Mark’s daughter, Christina, manages the castle’s social media, often sharing photos of herself dressed as a princess, complete with tiaras.
8. Cano’s Castle, Colorado
Cano’s Castle, created by Dominic “Cano” Espinosa, is a 40-foot (12.2 meters) tall aluminum artwork. The primary structure is made of stone, which was then covered in scrap metal. Beer cans form the bulk of the exterior, with additional materials like hubcaps and grills incorporated into the design. The castle consists of four main structures: two towers known as the “king” and “queen,” and two buildings called the “palace” and “rook.” Espinosa started constructing the castle as a tribute to God after surviving the Vietnam War.
Unfortunately, Cano’s Castle was badly damaged by a fire in January 2022. Thankfully, Cano escaped unharmed, and the iconic “king” and “queen” towers remained intact. The castle is private property, meaning visitors can’t enter, but they can still admire it from the street and may even have the chance to chat with Cano himself.
7. Gillette Castle, Connecticut
Famous actor William Gillette, known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on stage, designed and oversaw the creation of the unusual castle that became his home. Located on a hill overlooking the Connecticut River, the castle was built to resemble a medieval fortress—though its authenticity is debatable. Inside, Gillette’s quirky preferences are evident: the castle has 47 unique doors, a table that moves on tracks, shorter-than-normal walls around the upstairs walkway (possibly to make his grand entrances more impressive), and hidden passageways and doors.
According to Linda Levine, a program specialist with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, “He was a much better actor than he was an architect.” Gillette also had a miniature train that traveled along a 3-mile (4.8-kilometer) stretch of track around the estate, even passing through a small tunnel. Gillette lived in his one-of-a-kind castle, alongside up to 17 cats, until his death in 1937.
With no close relatives to inherit the castle, Gillette made it clear in his will that he didn’t want it passed on to “some blithering saphead who has no conception of where he is or with what surrounded.” The castle is now state-owned and open to the public, with virtual tours also available online.
6. Ice Castles, Various States
Ice Castles is a company known for crafting magnificent ice structures every winter—think of Elsa’s ice palace from *Frozen* (2013). For the 2022-23 season, locations in Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Utah, and Wisconsin were home to these frozen creations. Brent Christensen, the founder, started the company in 2011 after the success of an ice cave he built in his backyard for his daughter to enjoy.
Building the castles requires massive amounts of ice. For instance, the New Hampshire castle in 2019 needed 20 tons (18 tonnes) of ice. Due to the nature of ice—melting during the day and refreezing at night—the castles are always in flux. New icicles are added to the structure, which are then coated with a fine mist of water to ensure they freeze solid. The castles include frozen thrones, tunnels, and ice slides, all illuminated by vibrant LED lights after dark.
5. South Hero Miniature Castles, Vermont
South Hero is a quaint island town with a population of under 2,000, home to a fascinating collection of miniature castles. Constructed from stone, these tiny structures stand only a few feet high and feature classic castle elements, including turrets and moats. Some even had (or still have) running water and electricity.
The castles were created by Swiss immigrant Harry Barber, who settled in South Hero after marrying a local woman. Barber worked as a gardener, among other roles, and was commissioned to build these miniature castles for properties around the town. He passed away in 1966, and while some of his work has been taken down, a few of the castles can still be found on the island.
4. Castles of Ida Grove, Iowa
Ida Grove, Iowa, is another small town boasting an array of remarkable castles, although these are much larger than the ones in South Hero. After a trip to Europe, inventor and entrepreneur Byron Godbersen, who passed away in 2003, developed a love for castles and decided to replicate their architectural style in his hometown. The *LA Times* referred to Ida Grove as a “Midwestern Camelot,” complete with turrets, moats, flying buttresses, and elaborate balustrades.
Godbersen, owner of Midwest Industries, applied the castle style to his company’s buildings and even to its private airplane hangar. The town’s official welcome sign is a stone observation tower, and a suspension bridge with turreted stone arches spans the creek running through the local golf course. Even the town’s skating rink was designed to resemble a castle.
3. Bishop Castle, Colorado
In 1969, Jim Bishop began constructing a small stone cabin in San Isabel National Forest. “But people kept asking if I was building a castle, so I thought, if people want a castle, I’ll give them a castle,” he recalls. Initially, Jim’s father, Willard, assisted with the stonework around a metal water tank when it was meant to be a family cabin. However, the majority of the construction was done by Jim alone, who claims the castle was “built by one man with the help of God.”
Bishop Castle now towers 160 feet (48.8 meters) tall and boasts a grand ballroom adorned with stained glass windows. A metal dragon’s head, capable of breathing fire thanks to a burner from a hot air balloon, is mounted on the exterior of the ballroom. The stone structure is decorated with ironwork balconies, bridges, and spiral staircases. Visitors will notice the absence of guardrails, making the climb to the top of the towers a true challenge for anyone with a fear of heights.
Access to Bishop Castle is entirely free (though visitors enter at their own risk), but there’s a donation bucket for those who wish to contribute, as well as a gift shop on-site.
2. Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins, Missouri
Ha Ha Tonka State Park is known for its beautiful landscapes, but it stands out with the haunting remnants of a castle. Nestled on a bluff overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks, the ruins are all that remain of the grand castle Robert Snyder, a businessman, began constructing in 1905. To ensure authenticity, Snyder employed 100 Scottish stonemasons, but tragically, he was killed in one of Missouri's earliest car accidents just a year later, preventing him from ever seeing his vision realized.
The project was completed in 1920 by Snyder's sons, but financial struggles led them to convert it into a hotel in 1935. Unfortunately, a fire in 1942 destroyed much of the structure, leaving it in its current state. The state purchased the land in 1978, and today, visitors can explore the castle’s ruins within the park.
1. Montezuma Castle, Arizona
Montezuma Castle is an ancient dwelling carved into a limestone cliff, standing 80 feet (24.4 meters) above the ground. Despite its name, it has no connection to the Aztec emperor Montezuma II, nor is it a true castle. European settlers gave it the name, unaware it was constructed by the Sinagua people between 1100 and 1300, long before Montezuma’s time.
It is believed that the Sinagua built this cliffside structure to preserve the valley floor for farming while also creating a secure living space. The castle, made of limestone and clay, consists of twenty rooms spread across five stories. Most of the floor is the natural ledge of the cliff, but wooden beams were used where the ledge did not provide enough support.
In 1906, Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Montezuma Castle a National Monument. For many years, visitors could climb ladders to enter the ancient dwelling, but in 1951, the ladders were removed to protect the structure and ensure safety. Today, tourists can admire the impressive site from the ground below, with opportunities to explore its fascinating history at the visitor center.
