Having a Royally Good Time - Wish You Were Here at Castle Farms

LOCATION:  5052 M-66 North, Charlevoix, Michigan (USA)

(about 3 miles south of downtown Charlevoix)

Phone:  (231) 237-0884  

This French Renaissance-style castle was built in 1918 by Albert Loeb. It was a dairy farm but it was also something more ...

Castle Farms

The dairy farm was also a show place for Sears catalog farm equipment!

After the original owners died, the property fell into a state of decay. New owners began the restoration process. When the castle was built, it was well documented (blueprints, diagrams, photos, etc). They used these sources to replicate the original structures in every detail.  They used as much of the original wood (windows, doors, ceilings, etc) as they could to retain the building’s historical integrity.  Castle Farms is listed on both the National and State Historic Registries

Pond & Fountain

Castle Farms is open year round from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily (closed Sundays from November -April). However, special events may not allow visitors to tour the castle and grounds.  Prior to your visit, I recommend calling Castle Farms (or check their website) to see if they have any special events planned.  Restrooms, elevators, and picnic tables are conveniently located throughout the property. There is a large paved parking area (free parking).  We visit on a Monday and it isn’t crowded.  

For the most part, this property is set up for special events like weddings. So don't expect the castle to have furnished rooms like bedrooms or dining rooms or a meeting room for the Knights of the Round Table. That being said, there are other things to see and do here at the Castle.  

Special Events Room

Special Events Room

Special Events Room - Knights Castle

There is an admission to tour the castle grounds.  Visitors can take a guided tour or go on a self-guided tour. We opted to do the self-guided tour ($10 each) with numbered stops between 1 and 35. This allows us to linger in the areas we find most interesting and to breeze through those areas that do not interest us as much.  

Bring your camera because there are some fun photo opportunities (sit on the over-sized thrones and be king and queen of the castle, get a bear hug from Bob the Bear – a statue, feed the ducks, play chess on a giant chess board, and watch the model trains, etc).   My husband had model trains when he was a boy.  I guess his inner child still enjoys watching them go around the train tracks.  

Giant Chess Set

Feed the Ducks

Watch the Model Trains

A 10 minute video provides a little historical background on the property.  For those of us taking the self-guided tours, the gift shop has a booklet for $4 that provides additional information on each stop. 

We spent about 2.5 hours walking around the grounds.  My favorite areas are the beautifully landscaped gardens.  There is a pond with a fountain, footbridges, benches, and gazebos with wooden swings – go ahead and sit a spell and enjoy the property.  

Every Castle Needs a Dragon

Pond & Gazebo

Gardens

Butterfly Garden

Gazebo and Wooden Swing

The Queen’s Castle is connected to the Kings' Castle.  It was originally the dairy area where the milk was poured into the milk cans and prepared for shipping.  This is where we find the thrones.  I wish there was an old time photo place here.  How fun would it be to slip into a royal looking costume for a photo opp. 

Queen's Castle Courtyard & Fountain

Thrones

The Knight’s Castle is separate from the King's/Queen's Castle building.  It was originally the barn and blacksmith shop.   There are a couple of carriages on display.

Knight's Castle Turret

Knight's Castle Building

Carriages on Display

We end our visit with a walk through the Enchanted Forest. 

Entering the Enchanted Forest

This may not be a place that you return to again and again but it is worth seeing.  Castle Farms has a little something for everyone to have a really royally good time!