T here is an adage that states, "If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." The Bishop's castle is an admirable example of that thinking. Started in 1969 by Jim Bishop, the castle is a bit of architectural fantasy snug against the San Isabel National Forest in the mountains of Colorado. The land was destined to become a castle long before Mr. Bishop knew it, himself. But his neighbors could see it. He started the project intending to erect a cottage with the abundant local stone. As that stone was laid around a large water tank, people started to joke that it looked like the Bishop home was beneath a castle turret. It was several years before Mr. Bishop would see it, too. But once he did, his focus was attenuated – he was going to build a fairy tale castle on the land he loved. His ideas are so strongly rooted and so well thought out that there are no blueprints or plans. The king of this castle simply visualizes what he wants the next segment to look like, and then goes to work bending iron, felling trees, cutting rock and laying mortar. Decades of work have yielded surprising results. The castle is replete with arches, decorated with intricate ironwork, and sports a bell tower, a steeple, and stained glass windows. There is even a dragon on the premises. Its scales are stainless steel scrap from a local hospital, and it breathes fire from a hot air balloon burner. But the work of one man's hands cannot complete the project. The great castles of Europe were built by hundreds or thousands of people over the course of many years. In order for Jim to compete, and see his work finished in his lifetime, a group of volunteers has been allowed to build ancillary structures like the castle walls, and the gate.
Trish
Monday, September 21st, 2009 @ 4:58pm
Rating: Five stars. I love Bishop Castle. I'm from Pueblo,CO orginialy. I've been there several times.Asome
Dan Hensley
Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 @ 12:03pm
Dan Aug 6 2009 Had a great motorcyle ride to the castle. Jim has done an amazing thing here and shares with every one. Best part of our vacation.
Robert
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 @ 7:08pm
Rating: Five stars. I visited the impressive Bishop castle in 2001. I often remember Jim Bishop and his unique, amazing creation. In Spain also lives an old trapist-monk,Justo Gallego Martinez which is building a huge cathedral for almost 50 years. It stands in the village Mejorada del Campo Madrid.Its also worthwhile to look at this unbelievable construction.
Derrick
Saturday, March 14th, 2009 @ 11:09pm
Rating: Five stars. Nice, Very impressive. My wife and I are amazed at what you are doing.... Unbeleivable. Really No words come to mind.
Tomasita LaForme
Sunday, February 1st, 2009 @ 9:48pm
Rating: Five stars. This is the most amazing thing i have seen in my life. i have previously seen the castle over the christmas holidays to visit my family. I have done my school speech on this amazing piece of art,just because i would like my fellow classmates to know what 1 man can do when he puts his mine to something. I hope that when i am done reading my speech they will think and acknowledge what jim has done. I will be visiting this castle again and when i get older for me to tell my children and grandchildren bout it and take them to see it myself.
Tim Kreutzer
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 @ 2:00am
Rating: Five stars. I am 27 and haved lived in Colorado my entire life. I have never heard of Bishops Castle untill reading about it in a road trip book. Amazing work of art, had me smiling the entire timr I was there. I will be spreading the word to other unifromed Coloradan's and revisitn this place myself for years to come. Thanks for the hard work!!!!!!
Dave
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 @ 11:21pm
Rating: Five stars. Just went today and John is building away - simply amazing! I would come to Colorado just to see this castle again. There was also a film crew there today setting up to shoot a movie.
Jennie
Thursday, May 8th, 2008 @ 11:17am
Rating: Five stars. Totally Awsome. Really a wonderful castle and a wonderful family. The Bishops are really good people. Thank you for letting us visit your treasure and for being our friend.
Corey
Saturday, July 14th, 2007 @ 12:16pm
Rating: Five stars. This is absolutely amazing! I have been to colorado maybe 6 times and I have never heard about or seen this castle. However; I guarantee the next time I go to Colorado I will see this amazing structure. Please keep building and add new pictures!
Deanna
Saturday, June 16th, 2007 @ 10:01pm
Rating: Five stars. I lived in Colorado from the age of Five until I was 14. Now I live in Illinois and I am 22. The thing I miss the most is every year making our family trip to the castle to see the progress. I had some of my favorite memories scaring my sisters in the castle.
Bill Herring
Friday, March 2nd, 2007 @ 11:07pm
Rating: Five stars. I first visited The Castle in 1997, and again in August of 2006. It is such a masterful feat for one man to accomplish. There was so much change made in it from the first time that I went there. Totally AWESOME!!!!
Beggar
Friday, December 22nd, 2006 @ 1:06pm
Rating: Five stars. As a close personal friend to the Bishops for 27 years I have watch the Master build his Masterpiece. This Instant-Inspirational Masterpiece of Inter-Active Artwork rivals the likes of the Effel tower, the Taj Mahal, Mt. Rushmore as well as many many others. For me it is like having the opportunity to watch Michealangelo paint the Cistine Chapel or sculpt David or fly with Howard Huges on the Spruce Goose. This Masterpiece is like no other, being created by only one man it stands as a true American Materpiece. If it can be defined I would say that it is an Instant-Inspirational Masterpiece of Inter-Active Artwork on a scale like no other piece of art in the pasthistory. Free to the public all that is asked is that if you are able to give a donation to this 501(C)3 non-profit corperation that it is much appreciated.Build for all hard-working Americans your donation go to building of the Castle and funding the foundation for newborn heart surgery. No nobeler a cause could you find established by poor people (aka the Bishops)No other project has shown the power of the American worker as an individual. No other Man single-handedly has created such a such an Inspiration piece of Art given freely to his American brothers and sisters. Please I beg everyone for future support for this amasing project and hope by writting this blog I will intice you to look into the full story of OUR! American Dream Castle
Mark A. Floyd
Tuesday, August 1st, 2006 @ 5:46pm
Rating: Five stars. My wife and I recently visited Colorado for the first time, we are from Missouri. We saw many beautiful natural wonders, but the thing that left us both awestruck the most was Jim Bishops magnificent, inspiring Castle. What a testament to what one man can accomplish.
Sarah
Tuesday, August 16th, 2005 @ 4:36am
Rating: Five stars. I came here a few times in the 90's. It is breathtaking. I ran into an old friend, and we started talking about "the Castle." I found this site just looking for a glimpse of it. It brings tears to my eyes. Can't wait to go back.
Peter Grimes
Tuesday, August 9th, 2005 @ 1:20am
Rating: Five stars. I grew up in Pueblo Colorado and my dad took us kids to see the castle back when i was 7 or 8 years old and have been back about every other year since and i am 39 now. i have seen this castle grow and grow and have talked to Jim on numerous occaisions about this awsome castle. jim is always willing to talk as long as he can work too and normally in a very good mood. i have pictures as far back as i can remember of this castle and when we were in high school my wife and a couple classmates had the oppertunity to sit down and talk to him and made a small book about Jim and the castle which to this day we still have(think it was done in 1983). I highly reccomend this as a tourest site for all my friends traveling that direction and let them know itis well worth the 2 -3 hours lost to stop and see it.AWSOME JOB JIM keep it up looking forward to seeing it again soon.
Linda May
Friday, July 29th, 2005 @ 5:26pm
Rating: Five stars. One of the best examples of folk art I've seen. Ranks right up there with Watts Towers and The Orange Show. Jim Bishop is certainly "his own person," and has created something that will last long beyond his lifetime.
Pam
Tuesday, July 12th, 2005 @ 2:25am
Rating: Five stars. I first visited this place in the late 70's-early 80's. It was incredible then, and became more so each summer when we came from Kansas to visit. I haven't been back for a few years, but hope to go this summer, wildfires permitting. Pictures do not do justice to this fantastic creation.
The Tom Broome Family
Tuesday, July 12th, 2005 @ 1:26am
Rating: Five stars. All the Broome family have watched and enjoyed the castle from the first rock that was laid. Our family, from Chicago,Oregon and California come to visit at least once a year to see what this fantistic man has accompilished this year.
marshel &glenda wagoner
Sunday, June 26th, 2005 @ 9:31pm
Rating: Five stars. unless you are in the const.buisness you could never appreciate the work enough. keep up the good work &thanks
Stephanie Dimmer
Monday, June 13th, 2005 @ 4:43pm
Rating: Five stars. I have been visiting Bishop's castle since I was maybe seven years old. I am know eighteen and an artist myself. Jim Bishop's vision and dedication here is truely amazing and eventhough I have visited his castle probably a thousand times, it never stops amazing me. To Jim Bishop, I think you are creating something mind blowing and I will continue to visit your creation!
Lori Escareno
Monday, August 2nd, 2004 @ 7:59pm
Rating: Four stars. My husband and I recently visited the castle and it is breathe taking. we both climbed to the top and felt a huge releif of freesom as we reached the top. there are no words the express what an amazing man Mr. Bishop really is. I thank him for the wonderful experience and look forward to going back .
Brenda
July 15th, 2003
We visited the castle 2 years ago & plan to return this summer. We spent over 2 hours there with our two sons, age 4 & 9. We enjoyed climbing all over the castle and exploring. It was too scary for the 4-yr-old to climb to the top, but our other son loved the challenge: it was very peaceful sitting near the top and the view was lovely as well. We were incredulous at what Mr. Bishop has created.
Karen Cecchinelli
July 3rd, 2003
We live in Colorado and have been watching the progress of Jim's castle for the last 30 years. It is an amazing work of art, done by one man's hard work and dreams.
Cat
May 7th, 2003
I want to congratulate Jim bishop on his truly amazing work on bishop castle. My school went to see it and I was completely amazed at the hard work put into it. Good job and keep up the good work I' mlooking forward to it.
John Maher
January 12th, 2003
I have been looking for the innovative design of such a structure for a period of time. I am a stone mason and can appreciate the amount of time and labor involved in completing such a unique personal "castle." You have provided me to keep pursuing my dream of one day designing such a creation, although the ideas and concepts are within the framework of my own mind, let alone the financial resources needed to accomplish such a feat, my hat comes off to you!!! Fantastic work!!!
Roz
January 1st, 2003
kudos to jim bishop for this amazing "project." to me it looks more like a church than a castle...but who cares. thanx to glassteelandstone for making it possible for us to share this. i just cant believe that one man did most of this himself. utterly amazing.
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Trish
Five stars.
Robert
Tomasita LaForme
Four stars.