Vermont – Castles in the air

Who would have thought there was a castle in Vermont? I picture castles in Europe in places like Italy and France, but yes, there is a real castle in Vermont. We were fortunate to visit one day in the summer.

Wilson Castle’s story begins with its construction in 1885 by Dr. John Johnson and his wife. It later became private residence for radio engineer Herbert Lee Wilson, who bought it in 1939.  The castle is now a museum and tourist attraction, operated by the Wilson family who opened it for public tours in 1962 and continue to manage it today. It is known for its unique 19th-century architectural styles and its reportedly haunted reputation, which attracts paranormal investigators and visitors seeking spooky tours. 

Here’s what you see as you drive up the driveway. Notice the ladders on the outside. The castle is still undergoing renovations. As you can imagine, there’s lots of maintenance with a castle. 🙂

Here’s the magnificent view from the porch (located on the other side of the entrance). Imagine waking up to this every morning.

Here’s the dining room. The animated young lady was our tour guide. During the school year she teaches at the local elementary school. She was a great tour guide and I can just imagine she is a wonderful teacher. She is so enthusiastic.

Note the beautiful stained glass behind her. And the details on the ceiling.

Here is just one of many sitting areas. I just loved each room, especially the ceilings. There is just so much artistic detail!

And last, but not least, one of the main bedrooms.

All of the furnishings are original to the castle.

Visiting Wilson Castle was one of my favorite day trips while we were in Vermont. It was just so different and unexpected.

What unexpected things have you seen on your travels?