Bishop Castle

See this magnificent three-story structure built by a local Colorado resident.

In 1959, Jim Bishop purchased 2.5 acres of land to lay the groundwork for his master project. Working a couple of months each summer, he began building a family cabin and cottage. Once running water became an issue, he brought in a large water tank to try and restore it. Many people started to refer to the work area as a “castle.” By 1972, he adopted this idea and continued to add to his structures. Bishop used wood, mortar, iron, and other substances to build this stunning castle and the elements inside. Even though people did offer to help at first, nobody followed through, so Bishop vowed to complete this project all by himself. 

Guests who come to visit can see a stainless steel fire-breathing dragon head, a fireplace that appears like the Eiffel Tower, towers, bridges, plus a grand ballroom. His family continues to run their long-standing iron shop at the bottom of the mountain. Located west of Colorado City on Colorado State Highway 165, the castle is always open and free of charge. If you are lucky, you may see Jim continuing to work on the castle during the weekends in the summer as you take a self-guided tour.