Is Mom the Queen of the family castle? After all, doesn’t she rule over everything including all things domestic and social? With Mother’s Day set for May 9, celebrate Mom in a regal way and take her to visit one these American castles.
Castello di Amorosa (California): Nothing like enjoying a glass of wine in a 13th century-styled castle, right? If you find yourself in Calistoga, make sure to schedule a tour and tasting at Castello di Amorosa, an authentically styled Tuscan castle. The guided tour will take visitors through the Grand Barrel Room, the Great Hall and the Chapel. The winery’s tasting room, which is open to the public, was voted #1 Tasting Room by USA Today in 2020. For tour information, go to castellodiamorosa.com. Russian River RV Campground is a great place to camp if you plan to visit the castle – it’s about an hour’s drive away.
Boldt Castle (New York): Talk about grand gestures – this six-story “castle” on New York’s Heart Island was built by George Boldt, a self-made millionaire, as a display of love for his wife Louise. Sadly, she died before the castle was completed and Boldt stopped all construction and never returned to the island. The castle sat unfinished for over 70 years until the property was acquired by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority which set about restoring, rehabbing and making the castle what it is today. Since the castle sits on Heart Island, it is only accessible by boat. Information for castle hours, tours and transportation to Heart Island can be found at boldtcastle.com. Plan a camping trip to Brennan Beach RV Campground in Pulaski and you are about 60 miles from Alexandria Bay – where Heart Island is located.
Chateau Laroche (Ohio): Translated, the name of this castle in Loveland, Ohio (about 30 miles from Wilmington RV Campground) means castle of rock – which is exactly what it is made of. Painstakingly made of – as the builder, Harry Andrews, took rocks from the nearby Miami River and mixed them, as well as other found items, with cement to build the castle. It took 50 years! Was it done for love? Certainly, Harry’s love of all things medieval. Visitors can tour the castle and gardens and can expect to see a collection of swords and period weaponry, three distinctive styles of architecture and some great views of the Miami River. Also known as Loveland Castle, more information can be found at lovelandcastle.com.
Fonthill Castle (Pennsylvania): Henry Mercer built Fonthill Castle, which is technically not a castle but a large house, with 44 rooms, two hundred windows and 18 fireplaces, in the early 1900s. He built it as both his home and as showplace for his collection of tiles and prints. Guided one-hour tours are available (mercermuseum.org) of the castle whose interior features hand-crafted ceramic tiles designed by Mercer. Circle M, Hershey, and Scotrun RV Campgrounds are all less than 90 miles from Fonthill.
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