Bishop's Castle

Medieval England in Rural Colorado

Shortly after my first visit to Colorado in 2003, I began to hear stories about Bishop's Castle. I immediately pictured a medieval castle in the mountains of Colorado, surrounded by a moat and protected by a fierce, fire-breathing dragon. I imagined a knight in shining armor riding through a meadow to rescue a lonely princess imprisoned in a high tower. I could see fancy turrets, mortar and stone, a drawbridge and colorful cathedral windows. In short, I pictured a castle, in the truest storybook sense of the word.

Upon arrival at Bishop's Castle, I was excited to find that much of what I had imagined was indeed a reality. Bishop's Castle is a handcrafted, mortar and stone monument to dreaming. Complete with a fire-breathing dragon, multiple towers and turrets, stained glass window art, and wrought iron spiraling staircases, this castle is a truly reminiscent of Medieval England.

In 1969 Jim Bishop began working on a "family cabin" between Buelah and Rye, Colorado. To save money on building materials the construction of the cabin was done in stone. Soon the cabin began to resemble a castle in its appearance and Mr. Bishop was inspired to keep the theme going. Over the years, Jim Bishop has continued to work on the castle, despite opposition from state government. You'll notice on the walk up to the castle that Mr. Bishop has posted his thoughts and feelings about the government on large plywood bulletin boards. Don't skip the reading or be too quick to dismiss it as a rant. You may not agree his point of view but the commentary is quite thought provoking.

Well worth the drive, Bishop's Castle is a must-see site if you are looking to visit an off-beat, unadvertised attraction. Admission is FREE but bring along some cash to leave as a donation to keep this project going. The gift shop is also open during the summer months and features some very unique trinkets and castle memorabilia. You might even catch Jim Bishop himself working on site. Though he no longer resides on the castle property, Mr. Bishop continues to return during the summer to work on his masterpiece.