On Saturday June 27th we decided to drive out to Bishop Castle. This is one of those "mini" Colorado tourist stops that I have heard about for years but have never taken the time to do the drive. Our drive out reminded me why we had not yet attempted this visit as it was fairly long, weaving through national forest. (It didn't help that we arrived on the scene of relatively new car accident and were sitting without moving for at least 15 minutes as police, fire, and ambulances arrived.) I was surprised by how many people were parked along the side of the state highway when we arrived at the castle and I was equally surprised that the castle had been built right alongside it, instead of deeper on the property. This warning sign about risk was the first thing that greeted us and was propped up against the pillar for the drawbridge. Honestly, the fact that this warning needs to exist tells you a lot of what we were about to discover.
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| Ominous warning about what we were about to embark on |
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| The outside structure of the castle is impressive. This was built entirely by one man (with occasional help from his family). The story is that he really didn't have a blueprint, but he just started building. |
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| This was a large room on the second floor and I loved these stained glass windows. To get to these windows we had to climb metal stairs that were in disrepair to the extent that were holes in the middle of the steps themselves. I was telling our kids to watch every step before placing their feet. Bree kept saying it was because we could lose our shoes, and I told her that losing our shoes would be a win if that was all that happened should we step in one of those holes. |
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Beautiful flowers--this was the prettiest part of the castle
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| This was taken on the rickety balcony that lines the outside of the castle. It was narrow and very loose and I couldn't back up far enough to get Bree in the shot, so Kai lifted her up. |
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| Feet on safe solid ground |
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| Finn loves to climb so it should be no surprise that Finn tried to make it all the way to to the top and cross the bridge on the right third of this picture. The problem was that the stairway we were climbing was in the tower in the middle-left and there were no handrails, or glass in the windows, or any other form of safety measure. As we were going up, we encountered people going down and Finn stepped to the side to let them pass and was within a foot or so of that window opening. Even the people coming down started panic as they watched him. It was in that moment that I announced we were done and turning around. I was already feeling uncomfortable, and Bree I were climing up the stairs with our hands and feet (as the stairs were quiet tall and uneven) and seeing Finn so close to falling who knows how far was the end for me. |
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| This model was at the base of the castle. The castle itself wasn't in much better condition. There was trash everywhere and some people had tagged certain portions of it. The structure was questionable, with the holes in the stairs being a large problem. While I admire the creative vision, unfortunately, there were some large issues with the castle itself. |
The story of this castle is that it is a monument to perserverance by one man. But there is so much else underlying the current state of the castle. In 2016 both the husband and wife, who are now older, were diagnosed with cancer. Apparently a friend then took advantage of the situation and took control of the castle. A legal battle ensued and I believe the man now owns his castle again. Unfortunately, his wife passed away last year and there was also a fire destroying certain aspects of the castle and souvenir stand (yes, of course they sell souvenirs). And that has led to the state of the castle today.
The man who owns the castle has posted signs throughout the castle railing against government control and oversight. Apparently neighbors and the building department have tried to stop the public access to the castle and all of the other activities. My guess is that the warning sign has some how made it so that the man can continue to allow the public free access to his private property. But it sure is an interesting discussion about government oversight and regulation at a time when the country seems to have gone crazy with the notion that taking any responsibility for the public health crisis is an infringement on their rights. At a time when more and more studies are showing us that wearing a mask could slow down and curb the spread of the pandemic and allow us the ability to resume more activities, people are calling the health department officials "communists" and saying that wearing a mask should be their choice and not a mandate. There are people who adamantly say they will not put a mask on a "healthy individual" because masks make us sick. (So, then why would you put a mask on a sick person if it only makes them more sick??) The ideas that a mask may cause carbon dioxide levels to increase or cause oxygen levels to decrease has gained so much momentum that I'm starting to wonder if everyone in this country is that unintelligent or if it's just the only excuse they can find for their selfishness.
A building code establishes things such as standards for stairs, guardrails, and other safety measures that this castle desperately needed--especially with the hundreds of people who climb through it each day. Buildling codes and public health ordinances have significantly improved our standard and quality of life, not to mention our quantity of life. This castle looks all of that in the face and says "Forget it all!". After returning from our trip to the castle, the first thing I wanted to know was if anyone had ever died or been seriously injured due to the castle. In my search I could record of one death related to the castle. The man who built the castle himself, the one who refused to follow building codes and safety regulations, lost his son in the building process. If that isn't sobering, and a warning to us all, I don't know what is.
Friends, wear the mask. Protect yourselves, your neighbors, and our communities. Stop thinking about what's in it for you and start thinking about how you can be a part of the solution. And if that doesn't work, remember that we if don't get this under control soon, we will be headed toward another shut down and that would be devastating for so many--maybe even including you. Whatever reason you need to convince yourself to put on the mask and stop being selfish, please find it. Because some man spent his lifetime building a castle in the forest that is now so run down and dangerous that the only thing it is good for is an exhibit of exactly what he spent his life protesting--why government controls are so valuable in our lives.
