Discover 3 Enchanting Castles Nestled in Georgia

Europe isn’t the only home to incredibly beautiful castles. In fact, you can find some pretty amazing castles right here in the United States. Nearly every state has some intriguing castles and castle-like structures. Some were brought over, piece by piece, from Europe. Others were built as part of the original owner’s pursuit of the American Dream. Some came into existence as visions of educational centers or stately buildings on college campuses. So, if you’re looking for a castle in Georgia to visit on your next road trip, you’re in luck!

3 Castles in Georgia

Cagle Castle

The Cagle Castle came to be in 1950 when Rudy and Ruth McLaughlin decided they wanted their home to be an actual castle. Rudy, a long-haul truck driver, had promised his wife a castle someday — and so, he built her one!

Today, the castle features large gnomes or dwarves guarding the property, with a wrought iron gate surrounding the 2.11 ace lot. A swimming pool surrounds the castle, doubling as a moat, with a drawbridge allowing cars access to the garage inside.

The house itself measures 1,962 square feet, but Realtor.com says only two bedrooms and two bathrooms exist inside. The castle is made entirely of stone and concrete, complete with turrets, two additional drawbridges (three total), and a rumored partially underground living space.

The Dwarf Castle, as Cagle Castle has become known, is located at 12570 Arnold Mill Road in Alpharetta, Georgia. A small dirt road resides nearby, where tourists often park so they can get out and enjoy the view.

Unfortunately, Cagle Castle is a private residence, so visitors can only admire the creative structure from a distance. You can snag some decent photos from the sidewalks nearby, though, so don’t be deterred from making a detour to find this unique castle in north Georgia.

Rhodes Hall

Located on Peachtree Street, just north of Pershing Point, Rhodes Hall remains one of Atlanta’s last mansions. The building is more of a castle, though, built in the Romanesque Revival style, in 1904. The castle was designed by Willis F. Denny II, one of the city’s most prominent young architects of the time.

Rhodes Hall found home on the 114 acres of estate assembled by one of the city’s wealthiest men, Amos Giles Rhodes. The granite castle, built for Rhodes’ wife, Amanda, bore the name “Le Reve” or “the Dream.” It’s thought that the couple found inspiration for the castle’s design via their travels through the German Rhineland in the 1890s.

At the time of building, Rhodes Hall cost nearly $50,000, one of the highest price tags for a private home. The opulent building overlooked the city’s main thoroughfare then and still does now. Interestingly enough, by this time, the architectural style had grown passe, so the architect took inspiration from the Victorian Romanesque Revival style, which adapted the medieval to suit 20th-century design. The castle has never gone without electricity, either, as it was wired upon being built, an early adopter of the technology in Atlanta. Over 300 lightbulbs illuminate the house.

The incredible Von Gerichten Art Glass Company painted windows above the carved mahogany staircase are the key attraction. The window series came to life through the work of this gold medal-winning team from the St. Louis Exposition in 1904 (World Fair).

Until recently, the castle was open for tours and events. However, according to the website, all tours, save rental tours by appointment, are canceled until further notice. Hopefully, tours will resume soon!

Uhuburg

Uhuburg Castle is situated just outside the alpine Bavarian city of Helen, Georgia. The beautiful castle, brand new to the world, resembles a Medieval-Renaissance castle. It sports incredible views of the lush, natural area all around. The castle came to be out of the dreams of owner, builder, and architect, Bob Mathai. The dream? A castle in North Georgia where he could share “the good life” with others. He seeks to do this through many unique avenues of study and experience, including the beauty of the castle.

The mission of Uhuburg, named for their mascot, the eagle owl, is to “encourage reevaluating core philosophical and religious values, appreciating the values of good home-grown food, recognizing the wonders of nature, and finding life worth celebrating.” “Uhu” is a German word meaning “eagle owl.”

Groundbreaking began in 2008 when the land was cleared and in 2009 when the cornerstone was placed for the castle. Since then, many milestones have taken place, including the final inspections in 2022. 2023 marks the opening of the castle.

Now, folks can visit the castle for a day tour, spend the night, or attend special events on the grounds and around the building.

Curious about other castles for your road trip adventures? Check out castles in Ohio, castles in Florida, and castles in Massachusetts for a start.