When it comes to castles, you might think you’d need to travel overseas to see some authentic ones. However, you might be delighted to find out that there are castles within driving distance of Cleveland — and some of them are right under our noses.
Also known as the Hannes Tiedemann House, Franklin Castle was built in 1881 and is located in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. The castle has a rich and mysterious history. It is said that Franklin Castle is one of the most haunted houses in all of Ohio.
Located in the North Chagrin Reservation in Willoughby Hills, Squire’s Castle is a popular spot for everything from picnics to weddings. The building is nothing more than a shell, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. It was built in 1890 and was intended to be a gatehouse for a lavish estate that would belong to a very wealthy Standard Oil executive, Feargus Squire. The estate was never built and the property was eventually sold and became part of the Cleveland Metroparks in 1925.
Loveland Castle, also known as Chateau Laroche, isn’t quite in the Cleveland area, but we couldn’t leave it off this list since it is within driving distance of Cleveland. The castle is located in Hamilton County, Ohio. Construction began on the property in 1929 and went on for more than 50 years. Once founder Harry Andrews passed away in 1981, the property was gifted to his Boy Scout troop and the Knights of the Golden Trail. There are rumors of hauntings, as there are with most castles. Supposedly, Andrews’ volunteer knights roam the halls of the property and haunt it.
Landoll’s Mohican Castle is a small resort located southest of Cleveland in Loudonville. The building is an architectural masterpiece and the hotel was featured on Fox’s hit television show, Hotel Hell, with host Gordon Ramsay. The castle hotel has eleven suites, four additional hotel rooms, and cottages. The unique architecture and amenities of the hotel make it a popular destination for weddings, honeymoons, and corporate parties. A full service restaurant, spa, and indoor swimming pool are available for guests.
Located in nearby Akron, Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens is a lavish 70-acre country estate. Construction on the property began in 1912 and was complete in 1915. The grounds feature a dozen gardens, an indoor pool, horse trails, tennis/croquet courts, a greenhouse, and a conservatory. The castle is open to the public for a nominal fee between April 1 and December 30 each year.
Located one hour south of Cleveland in Alliance, Glamorgan Castle is situated on a 58-acre property and was built from 1904-1905. The original owner, Colonel William Henry Morgan, was the inventor of the overhead steel crane. The building is now owned by the Alliance Local School District and is currently home to the district’s central administration building.
Most of these castles were built more than 100 years ago, but if you can’t quite remember back that far, you might instead like to read “10 Things You’ll Remember If You Grew Up In Cleveland In the 1980s.”
Here are the best attractions in Cleveland.
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The Hidden Castle Near Cleveland That Almost No One Knows About
By Nikki Rhoades
| Published January 09, 2018
When it comes to castles, it is never really a surprise when you find one in the community surrounding Cleveland. After all, the scenery here is straight out of a fairy tale. However, when you find something as massive and majestic as this castle so close to home, one has to wonder… how did this stay hidden? This one spectacular castle is a little over an hour to reach from most parts of Cleveland, but it is well worth the drive.
Located at 200 Glamorgan Street in Alliance, this stunning castle is amazingly close to home. Its grounds are flawlessly manicured and the interior is purely breathtaking. It is a scene straight out of a fairy tale, and the charming Ohio landscape makes the perfect setting for this stunner.
Col. William Henry Morgan, the president and principal owner of the Morgan Engineering Co., was known as a Renaissance man. Everything he did, he did with a touch of expertise and a flair for the dramatic. This stunning castle is no exception.
That’s $10,446,543.14 in today’s currency… and you won’t believe why the castle cost so much.
Over 100 tons of structural steel and 96 train car loads of Vermont marble went into construction of this manor. Plans became more elaborate as construction continued, and Morgan began to work in a variety of architectural styles.
Durability is this castle’s middle name! That’s exactly what Morgan was going for. Enamored by the permanence of feudal castles, he set out to mimic it.
A true symbol of elegance, this stunner combines architectural styles of the Italian Renaissance and French Empire, but with modern comforts added, including a bowling alley and swimming pool.
The entirety of the interior is stunning. From the rotunda’s rich embellishments to the intricacy of the grand staircase, there is much to delight the eye.
In the drawing room, empire-style richness accents everything from the grand fireplace to the green silk tapestry and mahogany trim. This room looks notably different than the Japanese breakfast room outfitted with bamboo trim and earthy grass cloth tapestry.
Guided tours are provided on Fridays at 1 and 2 p.m. A donation of $5 per person is requested, offering an affordable day trip that’s not too far from home.
We’ve all visited the beautiful grounds of Squire’s Castle or gazed up at the foreboding exterior of Franklin Castle, but Clevelanders have one more spot to add to our must-visit list. Glamorgan Castle is breathtaking, and it is too close to home to pass up.
Have you visited Glamorgan Castle? What was your favorite feature? Let us know in the comments!
For another castle close to home, check out this haunted castle in Mohican.
Want fun? Discover these hidden gems in Cleveland that you’d surely love.
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