Traveling through Ohio, visitors find a surprising number of spectacular castles that look like they came from a different century and continent.
Some Ohio castles are original and were built a century or more ago, such as the Piatt Castles. Others are new, inspired by the elegance and romance of old castles like the Loveland Castle Museum. Here are the best castles in Ohio.
1. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
Romantic Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio was completed in 1915 as a home for Frank Seiberling and his growing family.
Frank Seiberling was one of the cofounders of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company. The estate is one of the most significant examples of the American Country Estate movement, popular during the Industrial Age.
The manor house and service buildings were designed in the Tudor revival style, inspired by English estates.
The Stan Hywet quickly became a place where Seiberlings met with their friends to discuss contemporary issues. Many well-known personalities and artists were guests in the manor.
After their parents' death, Seiberling's children decided to gift Stan Hywet to the Akron community in 1957. A popular Akron landmark, Stan Hywet is one of America's largest homes open to the public. It is an accredited museum and offers tours of home's original furnishings and art collections.
714 North Portage Path, Akron OH 44303, Phone: 330-836-5533
2. Can you stay in a castle in Ohio? Ravenwood Castle Hotel
Located about nine miles from Hocking Hills, Ravenwood Castle was designed to resemble castles built in the 12th and 13th centuries on the border between England and Wales. The castle was completed in 1995 and was planned as a medieval-themed hotel, with added "medie val village," a group of rustic cottages nearby.
The hotel's rooms are decorated in the same style with fireplaces, fake stonewalls, antique furniture, dungeons, and modern features like whirlpool tubs and kitchenettes. There are seven luxury rooms in the castle and a number of cabins, cottages, and "gypsy wagons." Guests have breakfast in the great hall and can savor a beer in the castle's pub.
65666 Bethel Rd, New Plymouth, OH 45654, Phone: 740-596-2606
3. Landoll's Mohican Castle
Located in the heart of Mohican country about four miles from Mohican State Park, Landoll's Mohican Castle is an opulent, luxurious hotel designed to look like an Old World castle that opened in 2002. The castle has eleven unique suites, with an additional four suites in the Highlands Building and two cottages located nearby.
The elegant suites have European-style decor, whirlpool tubs, microwaves, gas fireplaces, fridges, cable TV, and wet bars. Some suites have garden access, four-poster beds, and private balconies. The hotel has an indoor pool, and the castle's restaurant, The Copper Mug Bar & Grille, has a lovely outdoor deck. Guests can enjoy carriage rides through the forest. Ghost tours and murder mystery diners are popular hotel events.
561 Township Road 3352, Loudonville, OH 44842, Phone: 419-994-3427
4. Schwartz Castle
Schwartz Castle is a quirky Columbus landmark located in the German Village neighborhood. Its windowed turret is visible for miles around. The house was built of red brick to look like an Old World European castle by the German immigrant Frederick William Schwartz in the mid-1800's. Schwartz was a pharmacist with a successful shop on Main Street.
He built the castle as a home for him and his future wife, who broke off the engagement and sent Schwartz into insanity. As the legend goes, he built secret passageways through the house, five stories of basement, drank only rainwater, and sunbathed nude on the tower roof. His ghost is one of many that are alleged to visit the castle, which has been turned into an apartment building.
492 S 3rd St, Columbus, OH 43215-5702
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5. Piatt Castles
Snuggled in the lovely countryside of Logan County, Ohio near the Shawnee village of Mackachack are two massive Gothic castles built in the 1860s and 1870s by two Piatt brothers who grew up in the area. Called Mac-A-Cheek and Mac-O-Chee, the castles have become a private museum that celebrates 200 years of Ohio history.
The castles have three stories, towers, painted ceilings, and intricate woodwork. The Piatt family still owns and manages the castles and started opening them for tours in 1912. Today, they are popular sites for concerts, weddings, receptions, camps, historical reenactments, and other special events.
10051 Township Rd 47, West Liberty, OH 43357, Phone: 937-465-2821
6. Loveland Castle Museum
Château Laroche or the Loveland Castle is located on the banks of the Little Miami River near Loveland, Ohio. Designed to resemble historical European castles, its construction began in 1929 by Harry D. Andrews, a Boy Scout troop leader, a medievalist, and a World War I veteran. Andrews worked on the castle for more than 50 years, bringing stones from the Little Miami River, adding bricks, cement, and quart milk cartons mix when he ran out of stones.
Andrews willed the castle to his Boy Scout troop known as the Knights of the Golden Trail, whose members continued to upgrade and renovate it and opened it to the public as a museum. The east tower offers a short video presentation on Andrews' life. There is a chapel upstairs that has a wall built of stones Andrews brought from his travels or that his friends and followers sent to him.
12025 Shore Rd, Loveland, OH 45140, Phone: 513-683-4686
7. GreatStone Castle Resorts
Located only a 10-minute walk from the Sidney Courthouse Square Historic District and the Historic Sidney Theatre, the GreatStone Castle is a Sidney and Ohio landmark. It is one hundred years old, and this magnificent mansion is made of beautiful golden Indiana limestone. It boasts walls that are nearly 18 inches thick, stately stone columns, and three turrets, making for the ideal look of an old castle.
The castle also has a large wrap-around porch and a spacious circular driveway shaded by a one hundred-year-old oak, promising a warm welcome. Two acres of manicured lawns and gardens surround the castle, and its interior is modernized to offer guests of this bed and breakfast full comfort amongst old world elegance. Ornate fireplaces and fine hardwood floors go well together with free Wi-Fi and cable TV.
429 N Ohio Ave, Sidney, OH 45365, Phone: 937-498-4728
8. Franklin Castle
According to some, Franklin Castle is considered the Most Haunted House in Ohio. This fascinating historical house designed in Queen Anne style, located in Ohio City neighborhood of Cleveland was built in 1881 for German immigrant Hannes Tiedemann. He added a ballroom on the fourth floor of the home and gargoyles and turrets to the facade, making the house look even more like a castle.
Tiedemann's four children and mother died shortly after moving into the house, creating a legend of strange happenings, crimes, and ghosts in the house. The house has changed hands many times since then, and for one reason or another, all owners gave up on their plans of renovating it and moved out, abandoning their investments. The house was even exorcised by a ghost-hunting group, the Northeast Ohio Psychical Research Society.
4308 Franklin Boulevard, Cleveland, OH
9. The Castle Inn
When Samuel Ruggles built his castle in 1895, he was inspired by a number of European castles he visited. One of the first things visitors see when they come to the Castle Inn is the magnificent piece of stained glass at the end of the stairway. Besides many lovely stained glass windows, the castle has other fine Old World details such as a bathroom with rose marble walls, intricate walnut furniture, and marble fixtures in one of the rooms in the tower.
The castle that Mr. Riggs built is now a charming bed and breakfast located in Circleville, Ohio about a half hour drive from downtown Columbus. While many antique furniture pieces and details remaining, the rooms in the castle are thoroughly modernized and have luxuries such as fireplaces, heart-shaped or oval whirlpools, private dining rooms, and sitting areas. Complimentary hot breakfast in the morning is offered to all guests. The Castle Inn is famous for their Murder Mystery nights with guests as characters.
610 S Court St, Circleville, OH 43113, Phone: 740-412-2472
10. Glamorgan Castle
William Henry Morgan, the son of a European immigrant from Whales built Glamorgan Castle in Alliance, Ohio. William began construction of his new home in 1904 and sent his architect Willard Hirsh to Europe to study castles and methods of construction to ensure that his home on 50 acres would be on a truly grand European scale.
The castle walls are 13 inches thick and are made of Vermont marble, creating the look of solid, impenetrable old castles. Although a true a Renaissance man, William added many modern features such as a billiard room, a bowling alley, and a big indoor swimming pool. The Alliance City Schools purchased the castle in 1973, and today it serves as the central administrative office for the school district.
200 Glamorgan St, Alliance, OH 44601,Phone: 330-821-2100
11. Marietta Castle
Marietta Castle was built in 1855 on top of the hill above what is today's Marietta's Historic District by Melvin C. Clarke, a prominent local attorney and abolitionist, as a home for his family. The castle's octagonal tower, stone capped spires, and trefoil attic window make it a great example of Gothic Revival architecture.
A number of people have made it their home throughout history, and the last owner, Stewart Bosley, deeded it to the Betsey Mills Corporation "as an historical asset for the City of Marietta with such asset to be used for educational and public purposes." The castle is now open to the public and serves as a venue for concerts, social events and celebrations. It is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.
418 4th St, Marietta, OH 45750, 740-373-4180
12. Squire's Castle
Squire's Castle is a picturesque ruin of a castle set in Willoughby Hills in the North Chagrin Reservation. It was completed by Feargus B. Squire in the 1890s as the future gatekeeper's house – he was planning to build a large country estate on the land but never fulfilled his dream. Squire, who worked for the Standard Oil Compan, sold the castle and the surrounding 525 acres in 1922 to the Cleveland Metroparks.
The Squire's Castle is open to the public today but is seriously deteriorating. The Willoughby Hills Public Library holds a history seminar in the castle every year. The park around it has a footpath, cooking grills, a large grassy field, and a riding trail. The legend about the ghost of Squire's wife attracts many curious visitors.
River Road, Willoughby Hills, OH
13. Brumback Library Castle
John Sanford Brumback, businessman, banker, and philanthropist, decided to assist twelve Van Wert women who wanted to establish a library for local residents. The 1,400-book library was established as a free city library in 1896, and Mr. Brumback offered to finance it, believing that all residents should have access to free books. He ordered plans for the construction of a County Library but died before it could be completed.
His family honored his wishes and completed the construction of the library in 1901. The architecture is a mix of Gothic and Romanesque style, with turreted towers and a Ludowici tile roof, creating a castle-like look. The castle is surrounded by the trees in the park, just as John Sanford Brumback requested, and the library is today an important part of Van Wert social and cultural life.
215 W Main St, Van Wert, OH 45891, 419-238-2168
14. Bonnyconnellan Castle
For 113 long years, the Bonnyconnellan Castle has held a dominant position in Sidney, Ohio, both historically and physically. The castle is a towering structure made out of Bedford limestone, and to get to its doors, one must climb forty steps forged out of hand-cut stone. It is a memento of the 1880s’ finest architecture and features luxurious interiors comprised of mahogany, oak, walnut, and Birdseye maple wood that European woodworkers crafted by hand. While tragic events have led to the pillaging and gutting of the castle, numerous efforts are underway to bring this castle back to its former glory. In the meantime, visitors can witness and explore its grandeur from outside the castle’s walls.
1-5 N. Walnut Avenue, Sidney, Ohio 45365
15. Great Stone Castle - Sidney
A magical drive down a 100-year-old oak-lined road leads to the Great Stone Castle, a magical mansion that has sat peacefully within 2 acres of lovely lawns and gardens for over 125 years. Overlooking Sidney’s downtown area, the Great Stone Castle is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and is now known for being one of the town’s most popular bed and breakfast spas. The castle boasts unique architectural features such as an 18-inch-thick exterior composed of Bedford limestone, turrets, stone columns, and a wrap-around porch. The best way to explore this castle is to book a stay at the Great Stone Castle Bed and Breakfast, Spa, and Lounge.
429 N. Ohio Avenue, Sidney, Ohio 45365, Phone: 937-498-4728
16. Grizer Castle
Just a short drive north of Ohio’s historic town of Marrietta, in Whipple, sits the Grizer Castle, a medieval-style castle built by Bill Grizer. The castle was born out of Grizer’s desire to fulfill a childhood dream – to live in a castle. Construction on the castle began in 2014 and was completed in 2018 using a 4,000-year-old construction method, while the façade of the castle was inspired by 15th-century castles, an armory, and other similar elements. Today, the Grizer Castle is one of Mid-Ohio Valley’s most popular wedding venues with 80 stunning acres of sprawling grounds, 10 guest rooms, and tons of event space for any occasion.
1298 Scotts Ridge Road, Whipple, Ohio 45788, Phone: 740-516-6536
What are the 16 Most Fascinating Castles in Ohio?
The 16 Most Fascinating Castles in Ohio according to local experts are:
- Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens
- Can you stay in a castle in Ohio? Ravenwood Castle Hotel
- Landoll's Mohican Castle
- Schwartz Castle
- Piatt Castles
- Loveland Castle Museum
- GreatStone Castle Resorts
- Franklin Castle
- The Castle Inn
- Glamorgan Castle
- Marietta Castle
- Squire's Castle
- Brumback Library Castle
- Bonnyconnellan Castle
- Great Stone Castle - Sidney
- Grizer Castle
More Ideas in Ohio: Historic Zoar Village
Located in Zoar, Ohio, the Historic Zoar Village is a communal settlement founded in 1817 by German religious dissenters, offering a variety of historic museums, shops, restaurants, and other tourist attractions. The settlement of Zoar, Ohio was founded in 1817 by a group of German religious dissenters known as the Society of Separatists of Zoar, which was named after the Biblical village from the story of Lot, where Lot’s family settled following their escape from Sodom.
History
The community emigrated to the United States from Germany’s southwest Württemberg region, seeking freedom from religious oppression by the Lutheran Church, and was led by Ulm pipemaker and teacher Joseph Bimeler. After settling in the northern Ohio region, the community established itself as a communal separatist society, operating independently throughout the first half of the 19th century. During its operation as a separatist society, the village functioned as an insular community for more than 80 years, making it one of the longest-running and most successful separatist communities in United States history. Following Bimeler’s death in 1853, the Society gradually began to lose cohesion as a communal village, and by the turn of the 20th century, the communal society concept was disbanded and the village’s property was divided equally among its residents.
Though the community has been officially disbanded, many of the village’s historic buildings have survived into the 21st century and many original Society members still reside in the region today. In 1969, the Zoar Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2012, the village was brought to national attention due to its placement on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual America’s Most Endangered Historic Places list. Support for the village’s preservation was backed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, who instituted a plan for resolving the community’s flooding problems by shoring up its deteriorating levee structure. In 2016, the village was designated as a National Historic Landmark District.
Attractions
Today, the Historic Zoar Village is still home to more than 75 residents from families of original Society of Separationists of Zoar members and is operated as a historic living history village offering a variety of historic and tourist attractions. The community is overseen by the Zoar Community Association nonprofit organization, which was founded in 1967 to preserve and celebrate the structures and culture of the Society through preservation campaigns and public event programming. A variety of historic buildings and facilities are preserved throughout the community, with many operating as museums, shops, or restaurants today.
Notable historic attractions within the community include the Zoar Garden and Greenhouse, which encompasses a full town block and showcases a central Norwegian spruce tree surrounded by 12 smaller trees, planted to represent Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles. The Bimeler Museum and Bimeler Art Gallery preserve the former residence of village leader Joseph Bimeler, operated today as a living history museum and art gallery space showcasing the works of regional historic and contemporary artists. The village’s No. 1 House, which formerly served as a living facility for elderly members of the Society, is also operated as a museum facility, showcasing a variety of historic exhibits depicting daily life of Society members throughout the 19th century. Other prominent historic attractions within the community include the Zoar Hotel, constructed in 1833, which is open for private tours and as part of special event programming, and the Zoar Wetland Arboretum, which showcases a natural wetland ecosystem including a 30-acre marsh and 50-acre woodland area with walking trails and a picnic pavilion.
Restaurants within the village include the Canal Tavern of Zoar, which utilizes the former 1829 Canawler Inn building, a popular inn for travelers on the Ohio and Erie Canalway. Casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner fare is served at the Canal Street Diner. Specialty coffee, tea, soups, and sandwiches are also offered at the Simply Cinnamon cafe.
A variety of local boutiques and stores offer handcrafted items and fine antiques, including Adamson’s Antiques and Folk Art, and the Keeping Room Antiques. A Zoar Farm Market also offers fresh deli meats and produce seven days a week. Lodging is offered at the restored 19th-century Cobbler Shop and Keeping Room bed and breakfast facilities, along with the Zoar School Inn Bed and Breakfast, which is housed within the village’s original schoolhouse building.
Ongoing Programs and Education
A variety of public programming is offered at the village, including hands-on guided field trip tours for elementary and secondary school groups. Workshops and demonstrations are offered as part of guided tours, bringing 19th-century civic activities to life, including historic cooking techniques, school activities, and canal maintenance. An annual Civil War School Day offers historic reenactments by demonstrators dressed in period attire. School outreach programming is also offered, bringing workshop activities directly into area classrooms. A summer day camp is offered annual for both children and adults, and a variety of courses and workshops for all-ages participants are offered throughout the year. Public special events include a Saturdays in Zoar speaker series, a Halloween ghost tour event, and Christmas tours highlighting local holiday traditions and legends.
198 Main St, Zoar, OH, Phone: 330-874-3011
More Things to Do in Ohio
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