Discover 3 Gorgeous Castles Found in New Jersey

Also known as the Garden State, New Jersey sits along the picturesque Eastern coast. With its lush green landscapes and vibrant cities, it offers a wealth of experiences for visitors. Hidden between its beautiful beaches and urban cityscapes, New Jersey is also home to some truly incredible architectural wonders — including a handful of castles. So, let’s dive in and take a closer look at three gorgeous castles in New Jersey!

1. Lambert Castle

The first gorgeous castle in New Jersey is Lambert Castle, situated in the northern region of the state. Constructed from 1892 to 1893 on the slope of Garrett Mountain, the castle was built for Catholina Lambert, an English immigrant and prominent silk mill owner in the city of Paterson. Lambert adorned the castle with the many American and European artworks that he had collected over the years. In fact, a few years after it was completed, Lambert added a 100-foot-long art gallery to the castle in order to house his immense art collection.

Lambert Castle was designed in a medieval revival architectural style, reminiscent of the English castles that Lambert himself remembered from his childhood. The granite and sandstone fortress is four stories tall with over 30 rooms, crenelated parapets, towers, and several gardens. Later in 1896, Lambert also added a 70-foot observation tower and a summer house.  

Unfortunately, Lambert eventually lost much of his self-earned fortune, and he had to auction off all of his art in 1916. He died in 1923, and his family sold the castle, which was used as a historical museum and for administration offices over the years. However, a multi-million dollar project in the 1990s restored all four floors of the castle, transforming it into a museum and library. The castle reopened in 2000 and stands today as a beautiful piece of Passaic County history. 

Lambert Castle was closed once again in 2020 for further renovation but is expected to open to the public sometime in 2023. However, the massive 70-foot observation tower remained open, providing stunning panoramic views of the mountains and the Garret Mountain Reservation. 

Wildlife Around Lambert Castle

Once his estate was completed, Lambert called it “Belle Vista” or “Beautiful Views”. This title certainly is fitting, as the building is located within the Garret Mountain Reservation, a sprawling 300-acre park nestled on the First Watchung Mountain. With lush landscapes and captivating views, this stunning area is filled with verdant grass fields, picturesque trails, and a plethora of wildlife. 

Anglers can cast their lines in the tranquil waters of Barbour’s Pond to catch smallmouth bass, sunfish, and pickerel. The park also serves as a resting area for migrating birds like sparrows, orioles, warblers, thrushes, and vireos. There are over 100 species of native birds available to observe throughout the year as well. In addition, the Garret Mountain Butterfly Garden provides habitats and homes for numerous pollinators, like wild Indigo duskywings, monarch butterflies, spicebush swallowtails, black swallowtails, and hummingbirds. 

2. Iviswold Castle

You can find Iviswold Castle in the northeast corner of New Jersey in Rutherford. Also referred to as “The Castle”, this incredible edifice was built in 1869 by Floyd W. Tompkins, a land developer, and newspaperman. At the time it was called “Hill House” and the structure was nothing like what we see there today. Originally, Hill House was a stone house with two stories and a mansard roof. 

However, David Brinkerhoff Iverson, president of the American Book Company, purchased the house in 1887. He added numerous expansions and renovations, transforming the former Hill House into the new Iviswold Castle.

William Henry Miller, a Cornell architect, designed the expansion. Inspired by Château de Chaumont in France, Iviswold Castle became a three-story mansion with turrets, balconies, a porte-cochère, 25 rooms, and exterior walls made from local brownstone. The grand building also received an additional indoor pool in the 1930s, complete with its own water tower to supply it. 

Later, under the ownership of Fairleigh Dickinson and the Rutherford National Bank, Iviswold Castle became home to the new Fairleigh Dickinson University and provided housing for the university’s first classes in 1942. 

Then in 1997, Felician University took over Iviswold and embarked on a mission to restore it to its former glory. With support from the New Jersey Historic Trust, the remarkable castle was reopened once again in 2013. Today Iviswold Castle is part of Felician University, housing the school’s chapel and many of its administrative offices. Visitors can take a tour of this grand historical building by scheduling an appointment with the university’s admissions office.

Wildlife Around Iviswold Castle

The grounds of Iviswold Castle and Felician University are home to many different animals. Birds are on the school’s campus, flitting about in the trees and gardens. Students often spot bluebirds, robins, cardinals, finches, and sparrows here. Squirrels are another common sight, as they chase each other across lawns and scurry from tree to tree. Students and faculty occasionally report seeing rabbits and deer, but these animals are typically shy and only visible in the late evenings or early mornings. 

3. Kip’s Castle

The third and final estate on our list of gorgeous castles in New Jersey is Kip’s Castle. Frederic Ellsworth Kip and Charlotte Bishop Williams Kip built the castle from 1902 to 1905 and originally called it Kypsburg. Charlotte, in particular, helped to design both the castle as well as the grounds, including a remarkable octagonal rose garden. 

Kip’s Castle is a 9,000-square-foot building with a two-story carriage house. Made from local trap rock and sandstone, the building is reminiscent of a medieval Norman castle, with 30 different rooms and exquisite details like ornate fireplaces, stained glass windows, and vaulted ceilings. 

However, following Charolotte’s death in 1926, Kip’s Castle went through several different owners and eventually fell into a state of disrepair. Fortunately, in 1985 Schwartz, Tobia, and Stanziale purchased the property, and over the next few decades, the law firm worked to restore the castle to its original state. The Essex County Park System then purchased the estate in 2006.

Today Kip’s Castle is as exquisite and grand as ever, nestled in the 11 acres of Kip’s Castle Park on the ridge of First Mountain. The public can visit the park and grounds from dawn until dusk for free. You can rent out the lower floors and grounds of the castle for private events, photography, and filming. In addition, the first floor of Kip’s Castle is open Tuesday through Friday from noon until 3:00 for self-guided tours.

Wildlife Around Kip’s Castle

Kip’s Castle is a majestic estate that not only boasts breathtaking architecture but a truly extraordinary ecosystem surrounding it. Located in the pine barrens, Kip’s Castle Park is a haven for bird enthusiasts. During spring and fall migrations you can see all kinds of beautiful birds, including many colorful warblers. The area is also home to bluejays, American robins, eastern bluebirds, wood ducks, and red-tailed hawks. Although not as common, you might spot a pine warbler, a northern saw-whet owl, or even a bald eagle. 

White-tail deer are also common in the Pine Barrens, along with southern bog lemmings, gray foxes, and raccoons. The park provides habitats to reptiles like small eastern box turtles, wood turtles, black racers, and eastern hognose snakes. If you look carefully, you might spot a wood frog, green frog, or eastern newt, or maybe even hear the high-pitched calls of a spring peeper.

Summary of Gorgeous Castles in New Jersey

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Zaigoat / CC BY-SA 4.0 – License / Original