Bizarre Castle...

[Canon Shooter]

This is called "Bishop Castle". It's located in Rye, Colorado:

It was started in 1969 by a guy named Jim Bishop. He laid every stone, one at a time, over the course of decades. Despite attacks from local and state governments, he persevered and Bishop Castle was the result.

Jim Bishop is quite the eccentric fellow:





It's just a bizarre little place that's supported, 100%, by donations and sales at the gift shop and snack bar.

And, once upon a time, this dragon breathed fire. Not sure if it still does, although I doubt it:

Roadside America: Bishop Castle

Jim Bishop has retired from castle building now. He's battled cancer, has been diagnosed with Parkinson's and uses an oxygen tank. Yet, there he is, every day to welcome visitors.

If you've got an hour or so to kill, this is a cool stop. The attraction is free, although I dropped $50 in the donation bin, and I had to fight to get it into the donation slot. The bin was jam packed with cash...

 

[Muhammed]

I love that stone masonry.

 

[Canon Shooter]

I love that stone masonry.

It's incredible, really.

The sad part is that, from what I understand, his family wants nothing to do with it when he's gone, and there has been talk of them selling it...

 

[Votto]

Sorry, doesn't meet code, tear it down and build a cookie cutter socialist row house or nothing at all with solar panels

Next.

 

[Muhammed]

It's incredible, really.

The sad part is that, from what I understand, his family wants nothing to do with it when he's gone, and there has been talk of them selling it...

It's like some of the arches are just all messed up and weird shaped, but still structurally sound, nonetheless.

It's a piece of art.

 

[Canon Shooter]

It's like some of the arches are just all messed up and weird shaped, but still structurally sound, nonetheless.

It's a piece of art.

Oh, there's all kinds of shit that's not right about that place but, yeah, structurally sound it definitely is...