Castles in the United States
The idea of fairytale castles typically conjures images of medieval Europe rather than the United States, but if you know where to look, America is full of beautiful castles and chateaus as well.
These castles weren’t trying to replicate Europe. They were trying to declare something, about beauty, ambition, or permanence. And as I moved through grand staircases, broken towers, and velvet-draped parlors, I felt something shared across them all: the human urge to build something lasting, even if it’s only in memory.
Unique Castles in the United States:
Step Into Gilded Age Grandeur: Tour the Stunning Lyndhurst Mansion
“Gothic, but friendly,” I thought as I stepped through the gates of Lyndhurst Mansion. Perched above the Hudson River, this 19th-century Gothic Revival estate is more poetic than foreboding, turrets softened by ivy, stained glass warmed by afternoon sun.
I wandered through rooms filled with Tiffany glass and velvet wallpaper, pausing often at windows that framed the river like a painting. The details were ornate but lived-in. Lyndhurst didn’t feel like a museum, it felt like someone with excellent taste had just stepped out for tea.
I grabbed a sandwich from Mint Premium Foods in nearby Dobbs Ferry, goat cheese, fig jam, and arugula on fresh focaccia. I ate it under a willow tree and thought, “If Edgar Allan Poe had a Pinterest board, it might’ve looked like this.”
Lyndhurst Mansion At a Glance
- Location: Tarrytown, NY (just north of NYC)
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Best For: Architecture lovers, garden wanderers, moody romantics
- Tours: Grounds open daily; house tours by ticket
If You Love Colonial History, Then Explore Bacon’s Castle
“Why does this feel more haunted than hostile?” Bacon’s Castle is the oldest brick dwelling in the U.S. and one of the few examples of Jacobean architecture in the country. But behind the fortress-like symmetry and storied rebellion, it feels... hushed.
I walked through its formal gardens and into low-ceilinged rooms still breathing with colonial air. The house has lived many lives, planter’s estate, battleground, preservation experiment. And somehow, you feel all of them at once.
Afterward, I grabbed lunch at a roadside diner (fried catfish and collards) and thought, “Some castles remember more than they reveal.”
Bacon’s Castle At a Glance
- Location: Surry, VA (near Williamsburg)
- Style: Jacobean manor
- Best For: History buffs, architecture purists, ghost story fans
- Tours: Seasonal guided tours available
Sip Like Royalty: Taste Wines in a True Tuscan Castle at Castello di Amorosa
“Did I just get teleported to Tuscany?” Castello di Amorosa rises out of Napa Valley like a medieval fever dream, complete with towers, dungeons, and a working drawbridge. Yes, it’s a winery. Yes, it’s a little over-the-top. And yes, it’s delightful.
The owner built it stone-by-stone using medieval techniques. No drywall, no shortcuts. Just vaulted ceilings, frescoes, and enough wine barrels to fuel a Renaissance fair. I took a tasting tour and wandered the courtyard with a glass of Sangiovese in hand, thinking, “Sometimes commitment to a bit is a kind of genius.”
Castello di Amorosa At a Glance
- Location: Calistoga, CA (Napa Valley)
- Style: 13th-century Tuscan castle (recreated)
- Best For: Wine lovers, romantics, castle cosplay enthusiasts
- Tours: Wine tastings and guided castle experiences
Dine With Ghosts: Experience Food and Legends at Beardslee Castle
“Is this dinner, or a séance?” Beardslee Castle has been rebuilt twice after fires and now serves as a restaurant with a ghost story side hustle. The stone walls drip with ivy, the ceilings are timbered and shadowed, and the candlelight makes every meal feel like you’re dining with a phantom.
I ordered the filet mignon and listened as the server casually mentioned past hauntings, apparitions on the stairs, doors closing softly. I thought, “If I see a ghost tonight, I hope it compliments the seasoning.”
Beardslee Castle At a Glance
- Location: Little Falls, NY (Upstate)
- Style: 19th-century replica of an Irish castle
- Best For: Ghost hunters, foodies, gothic romantics
- Tip: Make reservations, especially if you want to dine in the dungeon
Find Fairytale Views: Discover Central Park’s Hidden Gem at Belvedere Castle
“It’s tiny, but it owns the view.” Belvedere Castle sits high in Central Park, a Gothic folly with sweeping views of the Great Lawn and the city beyond. It’s not a fortress. It’s a perch. A place to pause between walks, watch the turtles in Turtle Pond, and feel briefly, wonderfully regal.
I climbed to the upper terrace, wind in my hair, then sat on a bench below with a bagel from a nearby cart. Cream cheese, scallion, soft in the middle. I thought, “New York doesn’t stop for anyone, but up here, it slows just enough.”
Belvedere Castle At a Glance
- Location: Central Park, NYC
- Style: Gothic folly
- Best For: Park strollers, photographers, city dreamers
- Access: Free to visit; open most days
Roam the Grandeur of America’s Largest Home at Biltmore Estate
“So this is what American royalty would’ve looked like.” The Biltmore isn’t just a castle, it’s a kingdom. With 250 rooms, 75 acres of gardens, and more fireplaces than I could count, the Vanderbilt mansion remains the largest privately owned home in the U.S., and maybe the most breathtaking.
I toured at a dazed pace, banquet halls, conservatories, an indoor pool tiled like a dream. Outside, the Blue Ridge framed everything like a painting. I had a croissant sandwich and a lavender lemonade from the Stable Café and thought, “Excess, when done right, becomes art.”
Biltmore Estate At a Glance
- Location: Asheville, NC
- Style: Châteauesque
- Best For: Garden lovers, architecture nerds, grand-tourists
- Tours: Grounds and interior available with ticket
Marvel at Victorian Splendor: Tour the Ornate Beauty of Bishop’s Palace
“This isn’t just a house. It’s a hymn.” I stood beneath the arches of Bishop’s Palace as stained glass scattered rainbows across the marble floor. Built in the late 1800s, it’s as ornate as anything I’ve seen in Europe, but with a Texan soul, proud and sea-washed.
The woodwork was impossibly intricate. The light moved like water through colored glass. I left with more photos than I’d meant to take and a grilled fish sandwich from Mosquito Café, eaten on the porch while gulls wheeled overhead. I thought, “Elegance doesn’t have to whisper, but here, it almost does.”
Bishop’s Palace At a Glance
- Location: Galveston, TX
- Style: Victorian
- Best For: Design fans, old-world tourists, history seekers
- Tours: Self-guided tours daily
Fall in Love With a Legend: Wander through Romantic Ruins at Boldt Castle
“He built it for love, and never saw it finished.” Boldt Castle floats on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands region like a love letter written in stone. George Boldt began it for his wife, but when she died suddenly, he abandoned the project. For years, it stood unfinished and decaying...until preservation efforts brought it back to life.
I ferried over, climbed tower stairs, stood in ballrooms made of light and sorrow. Even restored, the place carries grief in its arches. I sat on a bench overlooking the water with a packed lunch and thought, “Even the most beautiful things can be left behind.”
Boldt Castle At a Glance
- Location: Alexandria Bay, NY (Thousand Islands)
- Style: Rhineland-style castle
- Best For: Romantics, boaters, history lovers
- Access: By tour boat from Alexandria Bay
If You Love Adventure and History, Then Visit Bannerman Castle
“It looks like a castle, and a mirage.” Bannerman Castle, sitting broken and regal on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River, was once an arms warehouse built to resemble a fortress. Now it’s a ruin, wrapped in ivy and riddled with mystery.
I took a kayak tour from Beacon, paddling past current and history to reach the crumbling towers. The island felt like a forgotten page of a novel. I sat on a rock near the water’s edge and ate trail mix, watching the sun turn stone to gold. I thought, “Decay doesn’t ruin everything. Sometimes, it reveals it.”
Bannerman Castle At a Glance
- Location: Pollepel Island, NY (Hudson River)
- Style: Scottish-style ruin
- Best For: Adventurers, photographers, ruin seekers
- Access: Kayak and boat tours available seasonally
Conclusion: Stone, Memory, and the American Imagination
Some of these castles were built out of love, others out of wealth or whimsy. Some stand proud and polished; others are crumbling into the landscapes they were carved from. But each one, in its own way, tells a story about what we choose to build when permanence feels possible.
