Bishop Castle

Bishop Castle is a sightseeing stop in Rye, CO. Cost: free.

12705 Highway 165 · Rye, CO

Why you should go…

Jim Bishop began building this stone castle in 1969 and kept adding to it until 2019, one stone, log and weld at a time. It stands just above 9,000 feet in the Wet Mountains, on a small parcel bordered by San Isabel National Forest, with towers and arched windows you can climb through at your own risk. Entry runs on donations, as Bishop wanted. His son Daniel now cares for the castle after Jim's death in 2024.

#castle
#roadside attraction
#folk architecture
#wet mountains

What's around here?

The closest stops to Bishop Castle, ordered by straight-line distance.

Tours
Iconic
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
$50+
A scenic train ride from Canon City along the Arkansas River beneath the Royal Gorge suspension bridge.
27 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours
Sport & Outdoor
Outdoor Adventure
Echo Canyon River Expeditions
$50+
Guided whitewater rafting trips through Bighorn Sheep Canyon and the Royal Gorge on the Arkansas River.
27 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor
Attractions
Iconic
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
$25–$50
Adventure park near Canon City featuring the highest suspension bridge in America over the Arkansas River gorge.
27 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions
Tours
Outdoor Adventure
Raft Masters
$50+
Whitewater rafting outfitter running guided Arkansas River trips out of Canon City, Colorado.
27 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours