ONCE UPON A TIME… a few weekends ago… Zen-Den and I finally visited a southern Ohio castle that I’ve heard about for decades.
The Castle and the surrounding gardens are officially named Chateau Laroche. They were built by an eccentric genius named Harry Andrews, who after serving in WWI decided to promote peace and build his own castle based on the ones he saw in Europe during the war.
First, he used his smarts to become a knight by creating his own order, The Knights of the Golden Trail. Then he built his castle using, among other things, the stones he found along the river. After he built most of the castle, he moved into it and lived out his days in the slightly modernized parts of Chateau Laroche.
The castle, which is open to the public on a limited basis, is one of the most unusual, almost dilapidated historical properties I’ve ever wandered through, over and around. Here are some photos.
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THE SPECTACLED BEAN 
In the third picture, there is what looks like a 5 gallon bucket next to the knight with armor. Is that in case he has to pee?
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kate, very observant. I cannot say for certain, but I believe that the bucket is there to catch the drips from the leaky roof. However, who knows what happens when knights need to go!
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Wow! What a great find! I’ve never heard of this castle before. The grounds are stunning. Your photos are wonderful. It just goes to show you how many interesting people there are/were in this world. Thanks for sharing:)
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Beth, this castle is not something you just stumble upon. One has to want to go there, which is why it took us so long to get there. But now that we’ve been there [and survived a treacherous drive along a twisty, winding tiny road that heads down toward a river before making a sharp right and landing you at the foot of the castle], we’ll go back again. If only to photograph the trippy gardens in a different season.
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As fascinating as I remember it.
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Thanks. 🙂
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What an awesome castle and story! Laroche means The Rock in French, very appropriate.
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Margaret, I wondered what that word meant. Now I know, thanks. You’re right, very appropriate.
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Never knew such a thing existed in that part of the world.
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Andra, I know! It’s out of place in Ohio, let alone having a fascinating story behind it. But it was fun to visit, I’ll say that.
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Agreed–who knew?!!? I hope that it was as exciting and unusual as you’d expected!
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Maria, it met our expectations and went even further. My photos don’t convey the completely nutso feel to the place. In person, this castle & garden is wacko– and delightful. Not a bad combo.
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That sounds like a wonderful combination! 🙂
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That’s amazing. Right there in Ohio, built in the last century. I love it.
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J, it may have taken us 30 years to get there, but it was worth it! So bizarre, yet oddly pretty. Who knew, huh?
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A castle in Ohio?!? I never knew. Now I know what to do next time I make it over that way!
(thanks for partying with me at Susie’s!)
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Jessie, this castle was fun to visit. It was a bit weird, a bit treacherous to walk around, but we thought that it was worth the effort. Hope you enjoy it if you go there.
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