On our last day in the Westcliffe area, we drove to Bishop Castle, about an hour away, to explore a most unusual place. As we walked through the arch, we were greeted with rock towers, bridges, iron work welded into place, and stained glass. We’ve never seen so many stones in one location!
Here’s the description from its website:
“For nearly 60 years, Jim Bishop has been constructing one of the most impressive monuments to perseverance in Colorado. Bishop castle is a monumental statue in stone and iron that cries loud testament to the beauty and glory of not only Having a Dream, but Sticking with your Dream no matter what, and most importantly, that if you do believe in yourself and strive to maintain that belief, anything can happen! Three full stories of interior rooms complete with a Grand Ballroom, soaring towers and bridges with vistas of a hundred miles, and a Fire-Breathing Dragon make the Bishop Castle quite the unforgettable experience! Visitors are always welcome free of charge, and the castle itself is always open.”
warning signs tell us . . . 
so much about the builder
Jim Bishop started his life-long project in 1959 at the age of 15 when he paid $450 for a 2.5 acre parcel of land enclosed on 3 sides by the San Isabel National Forest in southern Colorado. The money came from mowing lawns, throwing newspapers, and working with his father, Willard, in the family ornamental iron works. To learn more, please search for Bishop Castle on the internet; there is so much to learn. For now, let’s look at what he built all by himself over a number of years.
outside first
side views
We heard that at Halloween fire comes out of its mouth.
back of castle
inside
The ground level was primarily storage and working areas. The following pictures are of the 2nd floor. We didn’t go any higher because the winding steps up led visitors outside to walk on narrow walkways.
We’re so glad we saw this unusual building since Jim would have had to learn so many skills to build it. Guess his high school English teacher who said he wouldn’t amount to anything was wrong.
