Bishop Castle, Rye Colorado. February 29, 2008. The three large windows at the top right are in the Great Room.

Decades ago a rather eccentric person with little regard for building codes and construction permits decided to build a castle. Jim Bishop spent 60 years building his castle. Visiting is free but free will donations from people who stop by to visit help pay for the castle. I always donate whenever I visit. In addition to various rooms, towers, winding stairways, wrought iron walkways, and the Great Room with a partially glass ceiling, it has a fire breathing dragon (thanks to the burner from a hot air balloon). It really is true, “If you build it they will come.” It is one of Colorado’s most unusual and popular tourist attractions.

Bishop Castle. One of the towers with walkways to other towers. The glass windows you see are at the top of the Great Room.

When our children were young and the Great Room had no floor, you could walk across the middle of the room on wooden planks about 12 inches wide. No hand rails. No ropes. No safety net. No protection whatsoever. You crossed on nothing but 12 inch wide planks with a 10 foot or so drop to the floor below. Children of all ages were crossing the room on those planks.

The Great Room with large glass windows at one end and glass at the top of the ceiling.

Jim Bishop died in 2024 at the age of 80.