Top 10 Castles in the USA

Last Updated on January 31, 2023

By Dave G. Houser

While we commonly associate fairytale castles with medieval Europe, you don’t necessarily have to cross the pond to see one. But you’ll find several splendid castles in the USA — if you know where to look. 

Admittedly, most of them are copycat castles built in the 19th and early 20th centuries by wealthy individuals, not as fortresses, but as residences — and in some cases as ego-satisfying follies. 

Look at our list of America’s top 10 castles and visit one or more of them during future road trips. They are open to the public, most offer guided tours, and each has a fascinating story to tell. 

Hammond Castle, Gloucester, Massachusetts

Unwary visitors are surprised to see a genuinely grand European castle on the Massachusetts shoreline. The imposing structure served as the home and laboratory of American inventor John Hays Hammond Jr., a prolific inventor who built this medieval-style castle between 1926 and 1929. 

Constructed using a mix of native stone and various Roman, medieval, and Renaissance period artifacts Hammond collected during trips to Europe, the castle now serves as a museum. It is open to the public for both guided and self-guided tours. 

It is not open to the public in the winter months. The Museum will open again on April 1, 2023.

If You Go:

Hammond Castle

80 Hesperus Avenue
Gloucester, MA 01930
www.hammondcastle.org
@    [email protected]
Tel: 978-283-2080 

Open: varies by month – see here
Admission: Adults $20 / 65+ $15 / Children 5–12 years $10 / 4 years and younger are free but require a ticket.
Note: Hammond Castle is not handicap accessible.

Gillette Castle, East Haddam, Connecticut

From the outside, it appears to be in a ruined state, but Gillette Castle was designed that way by multitalented actor, director, and playwright William Hooker Gillette. The unique fieldstone castle was built in 1914 and served as home to the legendary actor, best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on stage. 

Built to resemble a medieval fortress, the castle is also the centerpiece of a 184-acre estate overlooking the Connecticut River. It is now a state park.

The 24-room structure is notable for its modern innovations like built-in couches and sliding tables — as well as its intricately carved wood doors. In the USA you’ll find Gillette Castle State Park open daily from mid-spring through mid-October. 

If You Go:

Gillette Castle

Gillette Castle State Park
67 River Road
East Haddam, CT 06423 
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks
@    [email protected]
Tel: (860) 424-3200 / (860) 526-2336

Open: May 27 through September 4.  Tours are every 15 minutes between 10am and 4pm.
Admission: Adult (13+)  $6.00 / Children (6-12) – $2.00; Children 5 and under) free, but a ticket is still required. An additional $2 fee is added to each transaction for tickets purchased online.
Note: Gillette Castle is currently closed for tours for the season but tours will resume on May 27, 2023.

Bannerman Castle, Hudson Valley, New York

Situated on tiny Pollepel Island in the USA’s Hudson River Valley, 60 miles upriver from New York City, the eerily beautiful remains of Bannerman castle have a fascinating story to tell.

Built in 1901 by Scottish immigrant and munitions merchant Frank Bannerman, the mock Scottish castle served as an arsenal — an odd purpose for a castle, one might think — but perhaps not for an arms producer. Following Bannerman’s death in 1918, the castle fell into disrepair, and a fire further damaged it in 1969. 

Now preserved within the bounds of Hudson Highlands State Park and managed by a trust, the castle is open seasonally on weekends for special events as well as guided boat and kayak tours. 

If You Go:

Bannerman Castle

Dock Located At: 2 Red Flynn Dr, Beacon, NY 12508
https://bannermancastle.org/
Tel: (845) 831-1001

Opening hours and admission: There are a variety of tours, theatrical events and dinners at different times of the year.

Lyndhurst Mansion, Tarrytown, New York

It seems an understatement to call this imposing structure, located on a 67-acre estate on the edge of the Hudson River, a mansion. It certainly looks like a classic Gothic Revival castle, and that’s what acclaimed architect Alexander Jackson Davis had in mind when he designed it in 1838 to serve as the home of New York City Mayor William Paulding. 

Lyndhurst has had several other noteworthy owners since its construction, including railroad magnate Jay Gould and a French duchess who bequeathed the property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961.

This USA castle also features 19 elaborately decorated rooms that house a vast collection of art and antiques. The property is available for tours and special events Thursday through Monday from April through December. 

If You Go:

Lyndhurst Mansion

635 South Broadway
Tarrytown, NY 10591
https://lyndhurst.org
@    [email protected]
Tel: (914) 631-4481

Open: April through December  9:30am – 4:30pm
Admission: Grounds Pass $10 per person +service fees (does not include admission to the mansion). Admission to the mansion is only available on one of several guided tours which range from$15-30 pp + a service fee.

Boldt Castle, Heart Island, Alexandria Bay, New York

Tucked away on a tiny island on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York’s Thousand Islands, this turreted Rhineland-inspired stone castle was built in 1900 by millionaire hotel magnate George C. Boldt as a summer home for him and his beloved wife, Louise. 

Unfortunately, Louise died just as the castle was being completed, and the tragedy devastated Boldt so much that he never returned to the home. As a result, this USA castle sat unoccupied for more than 70 years until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired it and restored it to its present magnificent state. 

The castle has period furnishings, and the grounds also include a yacht house, Italian gardens, a tower fortress, and a dovecote. Boldt Castle is accessible only by water taxi, boat tour, or private craft and is open to visitors from April to mid-October.

If You Go:

Boldt Castle

The  castle is located on Heart Island, in the U.S., and is only accessible by water from the U.S. or Canada(see note below).
www.boldtcastle.com
Tel: (315) 482-9724

Open: May 13 – October 9 / 10:30am – 6:30pm
Admission: Adult (13+) $11.00 / Child (5-12 years) – $8 / 4 years and younger free
Note: There are additional fees for the Yacht House; you may also purchase a combination ticket for the mansion and Yacht House. You reach the castle only via tour boat from either the U.S. or Canada. See Tour Boat Operators here.

Fonthill Castle, Doylestown, Pennsylvania

The former home of archaeologist, anthropologist, and ceramic designer Henry Chapman Mercer, Fonthill was constructed between 1908 and 1912 as a residence and a museum showcasing Mercer’s extensive collection of tiles and prints. Designed by Mercer himself, it is a somewhat ungainly pastiche of Medieval, Gothic, and Byzantine styles and features 44 rooms, 18 fireplaces, and more than 200 windows. 

Mercer bequeathed the property to Bucks County Historical Society, which serves as trustee and operates Fonthill as a historic house museum. The six-story Mercer Museum nearby is also home to one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of pre-industrial age tools. Both this USA castle and its museum are open daily for tours. 

If You Go:

Fonthill Castle

525 E Court Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
www.mercermuseum.org
Tel: (215) 348-9461

Open: Tuesday – Sunday: 10:00am – 5:00pm. Closed Monday.
Admission: Adults $15 / 65+ 13 / student $10 / Children 6–17 $8 / 5 years and younger free (discounts are available)

Bishop’s Palace, Galveston, Texas

Formerly known as Gresham Castle, this magnificent USA Victorian mansion was built by lawyer and railroad entrepreneur Walter Gresham and designed by noted Galveston architect Nicholas Clayton. It was constructed almost entirely of stone and steel from 1887 to 1892 — and proved sturdy enough to withstand the Great Storm of 1900 that destroyed most of Galveston. 

Architectural historians frequently cite the Chateauesque-style mansion as one of the nation’s most significant Victorian structures. In 1923, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galveston purchased the house to serve as the Bishop’s residence. Still, it is now owned and operated as a museum by the Galveston Historical Society. 

The mansion’s opulent interior is an eclectic mix of different styles and features a dramatic mahogany stairwell, many decorative wood carvings, and stained-glass windows. Self-guided audio tours are available daily. 

If You Go:

Bishop’s Palace

1402 Broadway
Galveston, TX  77550
https://www.galvestonhistory.org/sites/1892-bishops-palace 
@    [email protected]  
Tel: (409) 762-2475

Open: daily for self-guided tours 10am – 5pm
Admission: Adults $15 / Children (6-18)  $10 / Children (5 & Under) – free

Castello di Amorosa, Calistoga, California

What is arguably the most beautiful castle in the USA can be found nestled among 171 acres of vines and forest in the hills of Napa Valley, where it also serves as an award-winning winery. Castello di Amorosa was built over 13 years, from 1994 to 2007, by fourth-generation winemaker Dario Sattui. 

Sattui was determined that the castle be as authentic as possible and built the structure within the limits of local building codes, using the same techniques medieval builders used 800 years ago. Not surprisingly, the result is the only authentic medieval (13th century) Tuscan castle in the U.S. 

The castle covers 136,000 square feet, including 107 rooms (90 of which are used for winemaking and storage). Features include a functional drawbridge, a dungeon and torture chamber, a medieval church, a great hall decorated with Italian frescoes, and also an enormous barrel room with ancient Roman cross-vaulted ceilings. The castle is open daily for tours and wine tastings. 

If You Go:

Castello di Amorosa

4045 St Helena Hwy
Calistoga, CA 94515
https://castellodiamorosa.com/
Tel: (707) 967-6272

Open: daily 10am – 5pm
Admission: Castello di Amorosa’s wines are only available at the winery. The winery offers complimentary tasting of 5 wines from its wine menu, as well as other special wine tastings ($50-70 per adult). These special tastings also include access to various areas of the castle including the Courtyard, Truncated Tower, Chapel, Great Hall, Knights Hall, and Main Tasting Room.

Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California

Built between 1919 and 1947 by American newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst from designs by noted architect Julia Morgan, this lavish hilltop retreat overlooking the coastal community of San Simeon is the best-known and most visited castle in the USA.

Hearst nicknamed the estate La Cuesta Encantada, Spanish for “the enchanted hill.” Upon completion, the complex included four buildings, 165 rooms, and more than 120 acres of terraced gardens with fountains, pools, and stunning views galore. 

One of the most outstanding features of the castle’s main building is the Gothic Study, with its dramatic vaulted Spanish ceiling dating to 1400. Both Castle and grounds are home to Hearst’s legendary art collection. Hearst Castle is open daily for tours. 

If You Go:

Hearst Castle

750 Hearst Castle Road
San Simeon, CA 93452
www.hearstcastle.org
@    [email protected]
Tel: (800) 444-4445 

Open: daily at 9am / some tours are in the evening
Admission: there are numerous tours starting from $30 (adults) and $15 (children 5-12; 5 years and younger free)

Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Hawaii

Here’s a castle fit for a king. Seriously. Hawaiian King Kalakaua built Iolani Palace in 1882 to serve as the home of the island monarchy. King K wanted his palace to equal the majesty of European castles he had seen on his global travels, and he fitted it with the finest furnishings and latest technology of the day. 

The palace, located in downtown Honolulu, served as home to the king and Queen Liliuokalani until the monarchs were overthrown in 1893. It has since served several purposes, including that of Hawaii’s Capitol, for nearly 80 years.

Today, Iolani Palace is a grand museum and is the only example of “American Florentine” (a mix of Italian Renaissance and native Hawaiian architectural styles). It is also the only royal residence in the U.S. The palace is open for tours Tuesday–Saturday. 

If You Go:

Iolani Palace

364 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
www.iolanipalace.org
Tel: (808) 522-0822

Open: daily 9am – 4pm / closed Sunday and Monday (see holiday closures)
Admission: (all fees approximate) adults: $20-33 / teens $16-30 / child (5-12 years) $6-15 (children 4 years and under free)