Bishops Castle 🏰

 Bishop Castle is located in south central Colorado on State Highway 165 in the Wet Mountains of Southern Colorado in the San Isabel National Forest, southwest of Pueblo, Colorado.

We discovered the castle in the summer of 1986 when on vacation. At that time we were traveling in our 1977 F150 towing a 13' Scotty with 6 people, from Clayton Lake in New Mexico to Nathrop, Colorado. We lived in Fairview, Oklahoma. We saw Fairview, Colorado on the map and decided to go that way. Just before getting there we topped a hill and saw a Model of a castle on the side of the road. Was able to pull over few 100 feet past it and walked back and discovered the castle.

At that time the start of the corners were 4-6 feet tall. We talked to Jim Bishop who was building the castle as a one man project. Over the years we have continued stopping by when in the area every few years. We have really enjoyed watching the process. As I don't have pictures available from first visits to share here. They are pre-digital.

Ok back to the Fairview thing. There's only an old mine works there. Which is just south of Bigelow Divide in Custer County - Colorado - 9,350 feet. South Hardscrabble Creek to the north. Bigelow Creek to south. 

This trip to the castle was from the North as we're staying in Florence, Colorado about 30 miles. After visiting the castle we drove on south to the town of San Isabel hoping for lunch. But restaurant is open only Thursday-Saturday. So we drove around the lake by the same name.

Then we drove on south 10 miles to Rye, Colorado.  Finding a great lunch at the Rye Cafe. After lunch we returned the same route back to Florence.

As said earlier we are spending a month in Florence? More day trip ADVENTURES to come.

Thanks again for reading and hope you enjoy hearing about our adventures.