Jim Bishop bought two-and-a-half acres of land in central Colorado in 1959, when he was just 15 years old. Unable to purchase conventional building materials, he built a cabin out stones found on his property. When passersby suggested his cabin resembled a castle, that’s what he decided it would be.
That cabin is now a three-story medieval castle in the middle of the Wet Mountains. Complete with large gothic windows, steel walkways, stained glass and a stainless-steel, fire-breathing dragon, this Dementia Concretia is a spectacular, must-see sight.
Bishop single-handedly gathered and set over 1,000 tons of rock to create his stone, concrete and iron fortress. Known as America’s biggest one-man physical project, Bishop calls it “a monument to hardworking people.”
Bishop has no intention of stopping any time soon. With plans to create a moat, roller coaster, draw bridge and more, he anticipates working on his castle for the rest of his life.
Bishop Castle is free and open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.
