Bishop's Castle

Bishop's Castle

A visit to Bishop’s Castle is long remembered, whether as an acrophobe’s nightmare or a child’s dream playground. Jim Bishop began building his dream of a “real castle in the woods” in 1969. Since then, he has hoisted and placed more than 1000 tons of rock from the San Isabel National Forest to create his stone and cement fortress. His ornamental ironwork (Bishop’s “real” work in Pueblo, Colorado) flanks the castle’s spiral staircases and suspended walkways. Weekend visitors often see Bishop busy welding, unloading rock from his truck, or holding court in his Gift Shoppe as he signs his latest CD, “Rant & Rave.” All kids love checking out the costumes, fairies, dragons, and fantasy weaponry on sale in the Gift Shoppe, located in a small structure adjacent to the castle. The 160-foot-tall castle, claimed as “America’s biggest one-man construction project,” thrills kids as they explore its towers and dungeon, while grown-ups stand amazed as they consider the energy of its builder. A steep, tall concrete staircase in front of the castle leads o the grand ballroom. Breath-catchers stop to admire the stained-glass windows here, but kids race off to one of several staircases leading to the castle’s balconies and towers. Little ones or those with questionable balance may need hand holding to negotiate some of the castle’s near-vertical or spiraling stairwells. The fire-breathing dragon, Bishop’s metallurgic work of art, wows all castle explorers.

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