Castles aren’t just something you see in Medieval-era movies. In fact, Missouri is home to quite a few that are speckled throughout the state (see for yourself, here and here)! Castles are such charming, magical places to explore, offering a glimpse into another world entirely. Enjoy some of the best castles in the state by embarking on this castle road trip in Missouri, which can be done all in one epic weekend!
Google Maps
Vine Street Work House Castle - Kansas City
Smuckola/Wikipedia This castle doesn’t have a very regal history. In fact, it was built in 1897 as a place for petty criminals to serve their sentence by working off their crimes! Today, many graffiti artists and vandals come to leave their mark on this Missouri castle.
Bothwell Lodge - Sedalia
dorsalmo/TripAdvisor Bothwell Lodge is a former mansion that is now run by the Missouri State Parks system. The massive 31-room, 12,000-square-foot historic lodge was built atop two natural caves by Sedalia lawyer John Homer Bothwell. In addition to touring the lodge, visitors can also enjoy the nearby hiking trails.
Parkhurst Castle (AKA Windmoor Bed & Breakfast) - Sedalia
Kendall S/TripAdvisor Parkhurst Castle was originally built as a private residence, a very large one, in fact. This castle has changed owners a number of times in recent years, as both a private residence and B&B. Its exterior is visually stunning in and of itself. Inside, this modern castle brings Old World charm to today’s upgraded modern luxuries. The castle has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and rests on a magnificent 49 scenic acres. The 5-acre lake behind estate is fully stocked with fish. It has been completely restored with rich woodwork, opulent tapestries and antique furniture brought over from estates in Italy and Europe. It features a ballroom, library, large family room, fireplaces, and some walls as thick as two feet. It’s truly a royal masterpiece!
Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins - Camdenton
Noelle Gilzow/Google Local Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton is one of the most popular state parks in Missouri. It’s most notable for its massive castle ruins. Theses remains come from a 20th century mansion that was modeled after a 16th century castle. The building was used as a weekend and summer home for a wealthy family until it was turned into a hotel. Sadly, the hotel was destroyed in a fire. and its remnants were left abandoned. But there’s a haunting beauty here that makes Ha Ha Tonka Castle one of the most unique in the state.
Pythian Castle - Springfield
Management/TripAdvisor Pythian Castle is loaded with history and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Visitors can go on a history tour or a ghost tour. The castle regularly puts on events and you can privately rent it for your own party.
Chateau Charmant - Fordland
Chateau Charmant Chateau has an old-fashion castle design, but it’s actually the newest of the castles on this road trip. It has played host to many weddings and provided hundreds of scenic backgrounds for prom and graduation photos. Read more about this unique Missouri castle at the Chateau Charmant website.
Have you been to any of these castles before? Aren’t they spectacular? Drop a comment below and let us know what you think about our castle road trip in Missouri!
Google Maps
Smuckola/Wikipedia
This castle doesn’t have a very regal history. In fact, it was built in 1897 as a place for petty criminals to serve their sentence by working off their crimes! Today, many graffiti artists and vandals come to leave their mark on this Missouri castle.
dorsalmo/TripAdvisor
Bothwell Lodge is a former mansion that is now run by the Missouri State Parks system. The massive 31-room, 12,000-square-foot historic lodge was built atop two natural caves by Sedalia lawyer John Homer Bothwell. In addition to touring the lodge, visitors can also enjoy the nearby hiking trails.
Kendall S/TripAdvisor
Parkhurst Castle was originally built as a private residence, a very large one, in fact. This castle has changed owners a number of times in recent years, as both a private residence and B&B. Its exterior is visually stunning in and of itself. Inside, this modern castle brings Old World charm to today’s upgraded modern luxuries. The castle has seven bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and rests on a magnificent 49 scenic acres. The 5-acre lake behind estate is fully stocked with fish. It has been completely restored with rich woodwork, opulent tapestries and antique furniture brought over from estates in Italy and Europe. It features a ballroom, library, large family room, fireplaces, and some walls as thick as two feet. It’s truly a royal masterpiece!
Noelle Gilzow/Google Local
Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton is one of the most popular state parks in Missouri. It’s most notable for its massive castle ruins. Theses remains come from a 20th century mansion that was modeled after a 16th century castle. The building was used as a weekend and summer home for a wealthy family until it was turned into a hotel. Sadly, the hotel was destroyed in a fire. and its remnants were left abandoned. But there’s a haunting beauty here that makes Ha Ha Tonka Castle one of the most unique in the state.
Management/TripAdvisor
Pythian Castle is loaded with history and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Visitors can go on a history tour or a ghost tour. The castle regularly puts on events and you can privately rent it for your own party.
Chateau Charmant
Chateau has an old-fashion castle design, but it’s actually the newest of the castles on this road trip. It has played host to many weddings and provided hundreds of scenic backgrounds for prom and graduation photos. Read more about this unique Missouri castle at the Chateau Charmant website.
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Address: 1451 E Pythian St. Springfield, MO 65802Address: 2001 Vine St. Kansas City, MO 64108Address: 19349 Bothwell State Park Rd. Sedalia, MO 65301Address: 19224 Hwy. Sedalia, MO 65301Address: 1491 State Road D. Camdenton, MO 65020Address: 1700 Martins Branch Rd. Fordland, MO 65652
The OIYS Visitor Center
Castle Road Trip In Missouri May 16, 2021 Sarah What are some other unique road trips in Missouri? If our castle road trip in Missouri got you inspired to explore more of our beautiful state, you’ll love these unique road trip adventures, as well! If you’re into all things spooky, we have a trip of eerie trips just for you! This haunted road trip through Missouri explores a creepy old mansion, winery, and prison – and that’s just the tip of the spooky iceberg! Our Ghost Town Road Trip visits some of Missouri’s most notorious ghost towns, and we guarantee even the bravest will be spooked by Georgia City, a haunting little locale where the only sign of its former life is a creepy cemetery. Finally, this road trip travels to some truly spooky abandoned places in Missouri, including an abandoned amusement park, hotel, and brewery. If you’re more into the magical than the macabre, What are some fairy tale places to visit in Missouri? After visiting the amazing castles on our road trip, you may be in the mood for more magic and fairy tales! Luckily, Missouri is a very enchanting state, full of fairy tale places and attractions. In New Bloomfield, the privately-owned Prairie Garden Trust is a literal secret garden that features woods, ponds, streams, rocky bluffs, rolling fields, and much more. Over in St. Joseph, Barbosa’s Castillo is a castle restaurant serving up some of the very best Mexican food in the Midwest! And Marceline, an idyllic small town located about 125 miles northeast of Kansas City, actually served as the inspiration for Walt Disney! All of the Disney Parks feature a “Main Street USA” area, with colorful storefronts, candy shops, hair salons, and other general stores. Missourians will be proud to know that this globally known street was based off downtown Marceline, a truly magical place! What’s the most famous castle in Missouri? That honor would probably go to Pythian Castle, which is famous both for its beauty, and haunted lore. Pythian Castle’s story begins in 1913. Built by the Knights of Pythias, the castle served as an orphanage in Springfield in its earliest days. By World War II, the castle’s purpose changed course, instead housing prisoners of war from Germany and Italy. Those who were injured were cared for while those who could work were put to work. Today, the castle is privately owned and welcomes guests for a variety of tours, including a history tour that gives insight into the castle’s rich and storied past. And these stories are quite haunting… Pythian Castle has earned status as a “certified haunted castle” by such TV shows as “Ghost Adventures.” Pythian Castle offers ghost tours to those brave enough to risk a chance encounter with one of its many rumored spirits. We’ll pass, thanks!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Castle Road Trip In Missouri
May 16, 2021
Sarah
What are some other unique road trips in Missouri? If our castle road trip in Missouri got you inspired to explore more of our beautiful state, you’ll love these unique road trip adventures, as well! If you’re into all things spooky, we have a trip of eerie trips just for you! This haunted road trip through Missouri explores a creepy old mansion, winery, and prison – and that’s just the tip of the spooky iceberg! Our Ghost Town Road Trip visits some of Missouri’s most notorious ghost towns, and we guarantee even the bravest will be spooked by Georgia City, a haunting little locale where the only sign of its former life is a creepy cemetery. Finally, this road trip travels to some truly spooky abandoned places in Missouri, including an abandoned amusement park, hotel, and brewery. If you’re more into the magical than the macabre, What are some fairy tale places to visit in Missouri? After visiting the amazing castles on our road trip, you may be in the mood for more magic and fairy tales! Luckily, Missouri is a very enchanting state, full of fairy tale places and attractions. In New Bloomfield, the privately-owned Prairie Garden Trust is a literal secret garden that features woods, ponds, streams, rocky bluffs, rolling fields, and much more. Over in St. Joseph, Barbosa’s Castillo is a castle restaurant serving up some of the very best Mexican food in the Midwest! And Marceline, an idyllic small town located about 125 miles northeast of Kansas City, actually served as the inspiration for Walt Disney! All of the Disney Parks feature a “Main Street USA” area, with colorful storefronts, candy shops, hair salons, and other general stores. Missourians will be proud to know that this globally known street was based off downtown Marceline, a truly magical place! What’s the most famous castle in Missouri? That honor would probably go to Pythian Castle, which is famous both for its beauty, and haunted lore. Pythian Castle’s story begins in 1913. Built by the Knights of Pythias, the castle served as an orphanage in Springfield in its earliest days. By World War II, the castle’s purpose changed course, instead housing prisoners of war from Germany and Italy. Those who were injured were cared for while those who could work were put to work. Today, the castle is privately owned and welcomes guests for a variety of tours, including a history tour that gives insight into the castle’s rich and storied past. And these stories are quite haunting… Pythian Castle has earned status as a “certified haunted castle” by such TV shows as “Ghost Adventures.” Pythian Castle offers ghost tours to those brave enough to risk a chance encounter with one of its many rumored spirits. We’ll pass, thanks!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
If our castle road trip in Missouri got you inspired to explore more of our beautiful state, you’ll love these unique road trip adventures, as well! If you’re into all things spooky, we have a trip of eerie trips just for you! This haunted road trip through Missouri explores a creepy old mansion, winery, and prison – and that’s just the tip of the spooky iceberg! Our Ghost Town Road Trip visits some of Missouri’s most notorious ghost towns, and we guarantee even the bravest will be spooked by Georgia City, a haunting little locale where the only sign of its former life is a creepy cemetery. Finally, this road trip travels to some truly spooky abandoned places in Missouri, including an abandoned amusement park, hotel, and brewery. If you’re more into the magical than the macabre,
What are some fairy tale places to visit in Missouri?
After visiting the amazing castles on our road trip, you may be in the mood for more magic and fairy tales! Luckily, Missouri is a very enchanting state, full of fairy tale places and attractions. In New Bloomfield, the privately-owned Prairie Garden Trust is a literal secret garden that features woods, ponds, streams, rocky bluffs, rolling fields, and much more. Over in St. Joseph, Barbosa’s Castillo is a castle restaurant serving up some of the very best Mexican food in the Midwest! And Marceline, an idyllic small town located about 125 miles northeast of Kansas City, actually served as the inspiration for Walt Disney! All of the Disney Parks feature a “Main Street USA” area, with colorful storefronts, candy shops, hair salons, and other general stores. Missourians will be proud to know that this globally known street was based off downtown Marceline, a truly magical place!
What’s the most famous castle in Missouri?
That honor would probably go to Pythian Castle, which is famous both for its beauty, and haunted lore. Pythian Castle’s story begins in 1913. Built by the Knights of Pythias, the castle served as an orphanage in Springfield in its earliest days. By World War II, the castle’s purpose changed course, instead housing prisoners of war from Germany and Italy. Those who were injured were cared for while those who could work were put to work. Today, the castle is privately owned and welcomes guests for a variety of tours, including a history tour that gives insight into the castle’s rich and storied past. And these stories are quite haunting… Pythian Castle has earned status as a “certified haunted castle” by such TV shows as “Ghost Adventures.” Pythian Castle offers ghost tours to those brave enough to risk a chance encounter with one of its many rumored spirits. We’ll pass, thanks!
