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Bishop Castle

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Located in the mountains of Colorado, one man by the name of Jim Bishop continues to build a castle of his own as he has for nearly 50 years. Named after the lone constructor, Bishop Castle attracts tourists to Wet Mountain, Colorado in order to see one man's life work. What began as a 15 year old's $450 investment is now a must see attraction. Over 40 years of construction and conflict with the government has created an ever-growing castle in a time and place where castles are rare.

Images

Bishop's Castle in 2017, made largely by stone and ornamental iron. All labor shown was completed exclusively by Jim Bishop, including the large mesh ball at the top made of iron, which tourists can enter and walk around in order to cause rotation.

Bishop's Castle in 2017, made largely by stone and ornamental iron. All labor shown was completed exclusively by Jim Bishop, including the large mesh ball at the top made of iron, which tourists can enter and walk around in order to cause rotation.

The towers and balconies of Bishop Castle, which are the most recent additions to the building. These towers inspired Jim to build another tower outside the property and connect it to the castle with a bridge.

The towers and balconies of Bishop Castle, which are the most recent additions to the building. These towers inspired Jim to build another tower outside the property and connect it to the castle with a bridge.

Jim Bishop, the castle builder himself. Jim insists that he hasn't needed or wanted help since he's started the project and wants it to serve as a monument of one man's hard work and an example of "The American Dream".

Jim Bishop, the castle builder himself. Jim insists that he hasn't needed or wanted help since he's started the project and wants it to serve as a monument of one man's hard work and an example of "The American Dream".

The sign regarding tourism of the castle, welcoming the tourists at their own risk. Signing the guestbook is agreeing to the rules, while failing to do so is considered trespassing.

The sign regarding tourism of the castle, welcoming the tourists at their own risk. Signing the guestbook is agreeing to the rules, while failing to do so is considered trespassing.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Humble Beginnings

In 1959, Jim Bishop convinced his parents to buy him two and half acres of land in the mountains of Colorado with the $450 he had raised from his own labor. The land was densely covered with trees due to the surrounding San Isabel National Forest and hardly ideal for construction. As part of a family project, Jim and his father began clearing the trees and building a cabin. Jim surrounded the cabin with rocks, and soon it was pointed out that the structure resembled a castle and Jim, now without the help of his father, or anyone, began his eternal project.

Government Grief

Jim Bishop's project was bound to be a subject of controversy from the moment land was purchased for a young teenager. The massive structure made primarily of rock had to be supplied from a source, in this case, the San Isabel National Forest, which is federal property. The state of Colorado also refuses to list the castle as a state attraction, which does little in the way of ceasing the tourism to Bishop Castle. Jim Bishop is aware of his massive following and the public cheering for him, and believe that he has nothing to worry about in regards to the government, because "the people" are on his side.

Funding a Castle

In 1984, Jim Bishop's wife, Phoebe, obtained a non-profit charter from the IRS allowing the Bishop family to receive donations in order to fund the expansion of the castle. Despite the touring of Bishop Castle being completely free to the public, on the condition of signing a guest book with outlined rules, many feel obliged to donate to Bishop's project. Through donations, Phoebe Bishop opened a gift shop within the cabin that was originally built by Jim and his father. The gift shop and the donation box continue to be the main source of funding for Jim's supplies.

Sources

Bishop Castle. Learn and Explore. Bishop Castle. March 17, 2017. Accessed December 05, 2017. http://www.bishopcastle.org/about/.


Roadside America Team. Bishop Castle. Roadside America. May 22, 2011. Accessed December 05, 2017. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2047.

Additional Information