Southwest of Pueblo—nestled within the Wet Mountains of the San Isabel Forest—is a curious Colorado oddity rising right out of the Middle Ages: Bishop Castle, constructed single-handedly over several decades by the eccentric and imaginative Jim Bishop.
This stone and iron castle in Custer County began with the purchase of a parcel of land in 1959 for only $450—when Jim Bishop was only 15 years old. This is where he planned to eventually hunt and homestead. Eight years later, Bishop married his wife, Phoebe. Two years after their nuptials, he started building a home on the property he purchased a decade earlier. What began as a single-room stone cottage would mount to staggering proportions.
“My father started building a rock cottage in 1969,” says Daniel Bishop. “He spent 10 years clearing trees, cutting in a road, and fashioning a shed to stay in while constructing the cottage. It was a love for the mountains that brought him to the property. He chose rock as the base building material due to it being readily available in the creek beds and road ditches—and free for the taking.”
“By the spring of ‘73, rumors spread in the local communities of a castle being built near San Isabel,” continues Bishop. “These rumors took root in my dad's head, and he began building a castle. He said, ‘The people want a castle, and I'm going to build them a castle.’”
One-Man Project
An ironworker by trade, he spent weekends—primarily working in solitude—constructing what may now be the largest one-man architectural project in the States, and possibly the world.
Over five decades later, the citadel rises approximately 165 feet, comparable to a 16-story building, and features three full stories of interior rooms—including a grand ballroom, stained glass, soaring towers, and bridges offering expansive views. One of castle’s most distinctive curiosities is a fire-breathing dragon crafted from repurposed metal, fed from a wood stove within.
Throughout the construction process, Bishop encountered various challenges, including conflicts with government officials over the use of nearby rocks and unauthorized road signs guiding visitors to the site. Undeterred by these setbacks, he remained dedicated to his vision, persistently expanding and improving the castle.
As the chateau expanded in size, it also burgeoned in popularity. Bishop’s handmade signs drew curious sightseers into the forest to reach his feudal fortress just off State Highway 165 in Rye.
Courageous guests would climb the castle’s irregular stairs into Gothic turrets to reach soaring vantage points. Some visitors would brave the ironwork walkways to crest the peak of the peculiar palace—at their own risk.
No Entry Fee
With no entry fee, guests were simply asked to make donations while visiting the extraordinary site.
While travelers and day-trippers explored his eccentric edifice, Bishop was often seen hauling stones, digging a moat or reinforcing walls. Occasionally, Bishop would bluntly share his unfiltered beliefs and political views with visitors.
Sadly, Jim Bishop breathed his last in November 2024, surrounded by friends and family. He was 80 years old. He spirits lives on, as he built not only a castle but a legacy in southern Colorado.
“My dad always had a desire to be self-governing,” says Daniel Bishop. “This thirst for freedom drove him to let people enjoy the castle anyway they wanted. The castle has always been available for people to enjoy free of charge. His wish was always for the castle to be a place of true freedom. As his first-born son and now caretaker here at the castle, I’m driven to carry on his legacy and run the daily operations as he spent his life insisting it be.”
Website: https://www.bishopcastle.org/
Facebook: @BishopCastleColorado
Instagram: @The.Bishop.Castle
A visit to Bishop Castle can encompass a whole weekend, with the surrounding areas offering camping, hiking, horseback riding, dining, lodging and more. Bishop Castle itself welcomes reservations for wedding ceremonies.