Discover This Must-See Fairytale Castle Found in Nebraska

Nestled in the heartland of America, Nebraska is an incredible tapestry of vast prairies and sprawling skies. With golden fields dancing in the breeze, occasional farmhouses dotting the horizon, warm-hearted towns, and beautifully preserved architecture, this incredible state leaves an indelible mark on visitors. Here, amidst Nebraska’s breathtaking landscape, stands a fairytale castle plucked straight from the pages of a storybook! 

Joslyn Castle (Lynhurst)

After the completion of the transcontinental railroad, George Joslyn and his wife Sarah left Vermont and headed out west. In Nebraska, George was tasked with opening a new branch office for his company, which enabled him to collect stocks. Incredibly, by 1896, George officially owned the company and renamed it the Western Newspaper Union. A savvy entrepreneur and businessman, George became the wealthiest man in Nebraska by the time he died. 

After acquiring so much wealth, George bought a farm just outside Omaha where he began building his grand estate. However, Josyln Castle would not be completed until 1903. Landscape architect Jens Jensen designed the impressive 5.5 acres with beautiful gardens and immaculate greenhouses. Sarah filled them with rare plants and orchids she collected from all around the world.

By 1899, a palm house, a large greenhouse, gardens, beautiful flower beds, and a stunning lily pond were completed. The Joslyns also brought in more than 100 mature trees that they planted throughout the grounds.

Completed in 1903, the castle took just under a year to build. The Joslyns named it Lynhurst. However, with its four stories, 35 rooms, and a carriage house tower, everyone simply referred to it as The Castle. The many rooms of Joslyn Castle included a conservatory with pools, a library, a ballroom, a reception hall, a gold drawing room, and even a bowling alley in the basement. Later, in 1906, the Joslyns also added a music room to the incredible 19,360-square-foot house.

From Family House to Fairytale Castle

Designed by the local architect John McDonald, Joslyn Castle was built in the style of 19th-century Scottish baronial architecture. This modernized revival of the Gothic architectural style in Scotland features an asymmetrical plan with ornate turrets and towers, crenelated walls, large windows, and heraldic motifs. Joslyn Castle was built with Kansas Silverdale limestone. It includes stunning stained-glass windows, a large arched doorway, and an enormous wrought iron door that weighs over a ton.

In line with the rich Scottish design of the castle, the home’s interior features the thistle — Scotland’s national flower. Thistles feature in many of the light fixtures and intricate woodwork, along with various depictions of Scottish gods. 

The Joslyns adored their lavish home for many years. However, a large tornado blew through Omaha in March 1913, causing damage to the castle and its impressive grounds. Fortunately, the castle survived, although the greenhouses and much of the interior decorations were destroyed, including the orchids and other exotic plants that Sarah had collected. 

Instead of repairing the greenhouse, however, the Joslyns built a six-sided clapboard summer house instead. In addition, they added a grape arbor and squirrel house, along with many bird-feeding stations and birdhouses throughout the grounds. 

Joslyn Castle Today 

Following the deaths of George and Sarah Joslyn, Joslyn Castle became the headquarters for the Omaha Public Schools District in Nebraska. When the district moved in 1989, they turned the property over to the state of Nebraska. The state sold it to the Joslyn Castle Trust in December 2010. 

Today, Joslyn Castle & Gardens offers many cultural, educational, and historical programs. This includes immersive art exhibitions, captivating theater performances, soul-stirring music concerts, and serene nature walks. 

The gardens and grounds are always open to the public, but the castle itself is only open during scheduled programs and tours. Public tours are offered on a regular basis, and the castle and its grounds can be rented for private and business events. 

Wildlife Near Joslyn Castle

Located in the heart of Omaha, Joslyn Castle sits in an urban area of Nebraska without many large animals. However, there are many beautiful birds that live in the Castle’s gardens. As you walk through the winding paths of the castle grounds, you may spot crows, blackbirds, orioles, meadowlarks, goldfinches, and nightjars. In the summer, countless sparrow species visit the area, along with grackles, cowbirds, flycatchers, woodpeckers, and flickers. The winter months bring redpolls, pine siskins, Lapland longspurs, and dark-eyed juncos. 

Visitors to Joslyn Castle may also spot squirrels, rabbits, turtles, and snakes throughout the expansive grounds. At night, raccoons, opossums, and foxes commonly sneak around the bushes and trees. In addition, there are at least eight different species of bats that live in Omaha and around the castle grounds. In fact, in May 2023, Nebraska Wildlife Rehab released almost 400 bats at Joslyn Castle so that they could return to their homes throughout the city!

In addition, Joslyn Castle also offers a captivating array of educational programs all about the wonders of wildlife. The Family Nature Series is led by passionate experts who teach about conservation efforts and the importance of our natural habitats and wildlife. Visitors can sometimes even see many magnificent animals up close and personal during the programs!

Just a short, 10-minute drive from Joslyn Castle & Gardens is Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, with over 17,000 animals representing over 350 species. However, if you want a brief escape from the bustle of the city, you can also head to Zorinsky Lake Park or Pacific Preserve. The Heron Haven Nature Center also has a butterfly garden and a 17-acre spring-fed wetland sanctuary with bullfrogs, ducks, Canadian geese, turtles, kingfishers, and herons.

Summary of This Must-See Fairytale Castle Found in Nebraska