Castles are often associated with Europe, but there are several castles that can be found in Montana.
Often, the builders of these castles were inspired by European predecessors and wanted to bring regal and magnificent sights to their homes.
Many of the castles on this list are private properties, but if you’re in the area, you may be able to swing by and see them.
Other properties allow and encourage visitors.
From restaurants to museums to lodgings, you may be able to get the full royal experience.
Top Castles in Montana
New Montana Castle
The New Montana Castle is a nearly $14 million castle located in Billings, Montana.
This castle is appropriately big, coming in at a massive 31,000 square feet.
It’s a modern home on the inside, but it has castle features on the outside with lavish stonework and turrets.
There’s even a moat!
The home was built by Larry Wayne Price Jr., who was convicted of fraud in a $20 million embezzlement scheme.
Price never lived in the home, but it was one of the largest residential buildings ever built in Montana.
With 10 bedrooms and 19 bathrooms, there’s lots of room in this castle.
Complete with a bowling alley, a shooting range, and a theatre, the builders of this castle thought of everything.
The Sherman Castle
The Sherman Castle, usually just called The Castle, is now used by the Meagher County Museum in White Sulfur Springs, Montana.
The museum uses the 12 rooms to showcase various historical displays.
The mansion was built for Byron Roger Sherman in 1892, but Sherman only resided in the castle for a few years before he moved to California.
However, the Meagher County Historical Society took the time to restore the building, and now it is a fixture of the community.
The Sherman Castle also includes a carriage house that wasn’t built until the 1990s.
This carriage house also has important historical memorabilia.
The museum is open from May to September, opening Memorial Day weekend and closing after Labor Day.
The prices for admission range from $5 to $7.
Children, seniors, and pre-arranged groups can get discounted prices.
Children under 4 are admitted for free.
The Castle Retreat
Have you ever wanted to stay in a castle? Look no further than the Castle Retreat in Columbia Falls.
Visitors can rent the entire castle for themselves and their loved ones.
The rental price comes in at less than $1000, so choosing to stay in this castle is a great deal.
The ten-acre property is a private sanctuary and offers four levels and 7,000 square feet, so it’s plenty of room for the whole family.
This retreat is near Glacier Natural Park, so it is perfect for nature lovers, but its ornate interior is also good for those who want a taste of luxury.
The West Tower is known for its amazing views.
Don’t look far to find nice Montana lodging in a beautiful area.
Darby Castle
For fans of drawbridges, the Darby Castle in Darby, Montana, has all the bells and whistles of a good castle.
Just an hour south of Missoula, the Darby Castle is a private residence fit for any castle lover.
Not only does it come with its own drawbridge, but it also has turrets, medieval touches, and a large stone hearth.
The original owner began construction in the 1990s and gradually added to his creation.
He had big dreams of making his fantasy into reality, and he didn’t disappoint.
The house isn’t huge and only has two bedrooms and two baths in the main house, but it has some of the most striking castle design elements on the list.
Plus, it has a carriage house that adds a separate guest suite.
Shelter Island Castle
What’s cooler than a castle on a private island?
This island castle is the most expensive castle on the list, and for a good reason.
Listed for sale for $39 million, this castle has all the extravagance one could want, including its own island.
It is located on Shelter Island and is on Montana’s Flathead Lake.
This 22,000-square-foot home has a breathtaking view, and it has nearly 5,000 feet of lakefront access.
On the inside, the builders went all out.
This home has five bedrooms, eight bathrooms, and heaps of added features.
With an indoor shooting range, an observatory, a wine cellar, and a heated boat stall, this mansion is a paradise designed with European castles in mind.
Swan Mountain Lake Castle
This lake castle with stunning views of Swan Mountain in Bigfork, Montana, is a private property with majestic views and European inspiration.
This castle makes you feel like you’re taking a trip to the European countryside.
It was built in 1998 and has over 4,000 square feet of living space, but you feel like you’ve got the whole world in your hands when you take in the mountain views.
The whimsical interior makes this castle unique, and the finishes are adequately ornate.
Boulder Ridge Castle
In Great Falls, Montana, you can find the Boulder Ridge Castle, a riverfront fortress.
This is a private property that is fit for royalty.
This property was listed to close to $2 million dollars and includes 700 ft of water frontage by the Missouri River.
The house was built to resist earthquakes, and the main home includes heated floors, a rock climbing wall, and amazing skylights. It also has a boathouse and guest suite for added living space.
Castle with a Hanger
Just down the road from the Riverfront Fortress, you can see another castle, and this one comes with its own plane hanger and 3 airstrips!
The Castle with a Hanger is a remarkable private property with tons of amenities.
With accents like gargoyles and towers, this castle offers Middle Age vibes with modern touches.
Built-in 2010, this home is a fairly new build.
This castle has four bedrooms and four full baths plus a half bath.
It is over 5,000 square feet with water access, a boathouse, and of course, the plane hanger.
It has lots of land and a separate building for guests to stay in.
The designer of this home wasn’t messing around when he created this estate fit for any dreamer.
Running Water Castle
The Running Water Castle is in Dillion, Montana.
It was built near the scenic Clarke Canyon Reservoir.
It was built in the 2000s, so it is one of the newer castles on this list by a man who worked for Microsoft, but it has since been sold to other private owners.
With lots of stonework and a turret, it feels like a fortress protected by beautiful Montanan nature.
It is named for the water that runs through the building from the river.
The water goes through a terrace and trickles into a pond.
It took four years to build and used a remarkable 1,600 tons of stone.
A lot of work went into making this large and lavish sanctuary.
The Running Water Castle combines medieval European, Native American, and Western design elements to create a serene and magnificent building.
Shadow’s Keep Castle
The Shadow’s Keep, now known as The Keep Restaurant, is a wonderful way to have a gourmet dining experience in a castle.
This Missoula restaurant is housed in a beautiful building complete with a turret.
While this building is relatively small, it has all the charm of a castle, and you can even stop in to dine in and have wonderful views.
Dinner, desserts, wine, beer, and spirits are all offered at The Keep, and it is a great location for special events.
The restaurant hosts private events as well as special wine events throughout the year.
Patrons can drop by or make reservations for the dining room online.
Dinner service begins at 5 pm.
Montana Safety Overview
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Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: LOW
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Castles are the Best to See in Montana?
All the castles on this list are more than worth seeing, but some of them are in remote or private areas that won’t be easy to access.
Therefore, by booking time in a castle such as the Castle Retreat or visiting Sherman’s Castle, you can more fully experience the castles.
By attending these historical locations, you can help preserve and appreciate the rich history of Montana castles.
What Makes American Castles Different than European Castles?
While most European castles have been around for hundreds of years, American buildings are much newer, including the castles you see.
Therefore, most American castles are inspired by the much older ones found in Europe.
American castles often take some attributes of other building styles that were popular when they were built.
For example, many American castles use Victorian features and combine those styles with classic castle design elements.
Furthermore, while European castles were built as fortresses, American castles generally were designed mostly for aesthetic purposes.
While American castles are very different in design and function from European castles, they are exciting in their own ways and reflect the culture in which they were built, which makes them important pieces of history
What Makes Montana Castles Unique?
Montana castles are so unique because they offer beautiful Montana landscapes combined with charming architecture.
These castles stand out in their towns as special community places, and it’s hard not to be filled with awe when you see them.
Castles aren’t common in the United States, but when you do see them, they are impressive.
Is it Worth it to Visit Multiple Castles in Montana?
Absolutely!
While you won’t be able to go into all the castles on your list, visiting a castle is a great attraction for any trip, so when you visit Montana, it’s great to look for these locations when you are driving or when you are planning what you want to do.
Are these actual castles?
The answer to that question is actually more complicated than you may think because scholars have different qualifications for what it means to be a castle.
Originally, and by the strictest definitions, castles were built starting around the Middle Ages as fortresses.
Castles could both be used by royalty and for military purposes.
They were designed with protection in mind, but they were also symbolic of power.
While no Middle Age castles were built in the United States, the castles on this list share many of the design features found in those European castles, such as stonework, moats, walls, battlements, gates, great halls, and towers.
There are several castles in Montana, and while some may be private properties, many are open to the public, offering a unique and regal experience for visitors.