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This reminded me of Bishop's Castle in Colorado, USA — an incredible project built almost entirely by one man (who sadly died last year) working on it nonstop f

by mkaic 2y ago

This reminded me of Bishop's Castle in Colorado, USA — an incredible project built almost entirely by one man (who sadly died last year) working on it nonstop for 40 years: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_Castle

bwb 2y ago
I visited this site once with some friends on a road trip... the guy building it (Bishop) started screaming the N-word at some black bikers and then calmly told them he wasn't racist and made some long rant about the government. We split very quickly as the dude was racist and crazy.
- slipperybeluga 2y ago
  [dead]
- zdragnar 2y ago
  Sounds like some Terry Davis level differences.
  - red-iron-pine 2y ago
    a physical manifestation of TempleOS in castle form. weird and intriguing... but make no mistake: also weird
- mkaic 2y ago
  Damn, I had no idea. That's really unfortunate.
- ThinkBeat 2y ago
  It is such a severe accusation to make. Esp since the guy is dead, and cannot possibly address it. It is difficult however. I understand the need to warn people.
  - Salgat 2y ago
    Wikipedia cites a travel book statung that while the place is "major fun", it warns that Bishop is a very unabashedly opinionated and potentially offensive person and will even bring up politics if you visit the castle.
    - TikTikFook 2y ago
      [dead]
- Dilettante_ 2y ago
  Damn, who would've thunk the weirdo who builds a castle by himself had a few screws loose /s
kergonath 2y ago
Interesting, I did not know about this one! It does sound a bit like the Cheval’s Ideal Palace, well worth a visit as well (and also in France like Guédelon, though not in the same area): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Cheval https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Cheval
ThinkingGuy 2y ago
Reminds me of Coral Castle in Miami-Dade, Florida, US, also built by one man. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Castle
femto 2y ago
That front stairway is like a bowl of brown M&Ms at a Van Halen concert. Given the code violations on the stairway (no landings [1]), I wouldn't trust the rest of the construction, especially the balconies. [1] https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/b32-residential-stairways-handrails-ramps-and-guards.pdf https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/...
makeitshine 2y ago
Most fun at a rave I've ever had was at this castle. The guy built it free climbing the whole time and was in conflict with the government over how he got the rocks, which he mostly pulled from riverbeds on public land. Another out there spot is in Lucas, Kansas. That guy was also fiercely anti-government.
- jrmg 2y ago
  Surely he would also be in conflict about building codes? How was this not stopped? Or is it all actually permitted? To be clear, I like that this castle exists (although I also like that building and planning codes exist, so I guess I’m conflicted…), I’m just very surprised!
  - magicpin 2y ago
    Building codes are extremely local, and not really federally regulated much. They’re consistent most places because jurisdictions will just copy paste them.
    - bluGill 2y ago
      In rural areas they often don't really evist because nobody can stop you from ignoring them. Just pay your taxes.
Gibbon1 2y ago
There is also Rubel Castle in Glendora. https://www.glendorahistoricalsociety.org/castle/ https://www.glendorahistoricalsociety.org/castle/
eleveriven 2y ago
Wow... dedicating 40 years of their life to building something on that scale
- lm28469 2y ago
  Somehow it feels less impressive than dedicating 40 years of your life wage slaving
- shellfishgene 2y ago
  Also reminds me of Ra Paulette who dug out elaborately decorated caves in soft rock for decades. Nice documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n_bHcZaGJs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n_bHcZaGJs
  - stevekemp 2y ago
    That reminds me of the Shell Grotto, in the UK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_Grotto,_Margate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_Grotto,_Margate This video makes the scale more apparent (and impressive) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGvxLuIIfdM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGvxLuIIfdM

by mkaic 2y ago

bwb 2y ago

I visited this site once with some friends on a road trip... the guy building it (Bishop) started screaming the N-word at some black bikers and then calmly told them he wasn't racist and made some long rant about the government. We split very quickly as the dude was racist and crazy.

slipperybeluga 2y ago
[dead]
zdragnar 2y ago
Sounds like some Terry Davis level differences.
- red-iron-pine 2y ago
  a physical manifestation of TempleOS in castle form. weird and intriguing... but make no mistake: also weird
mkaic 2y ago
Damn, I had no idea. That's really unfortunate.
ThinkBeat 2y ago
It is such a severe accusation to make. Esp since the guy is dead, and cannot possibly address it. It is difficult however. I understand the need to warn people.
- Salgat 2y ago
  Wikipedia cites a travel book statung that while the place is "major fun", it warns that Bishop is a very unabashedly opinionated and potentially offensive person and will even bring up politics if you visit the castle.
  - TikTikFook 2y ago
    [dead]
Dilettante_ 2y ago
Damn, who would've thunk the weirdo who builds a castle by himself had a few screws loose /s

kergonath 2y ago

Interesting, I did not know about this one! It does sound a bit like the Cheval’s Ideal Palace, well worth a visit as well (and also in France like Guédelon, though not in the same area): https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Cheval https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_Cheval

ThinkingGuy 2y ago

Reminds me of Coral Castle in Miami-Dade, Florida, US, also built by one man. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Castle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Castle

femto 2y ago

That front stairway is like a bowl of brown M&Ms at a Van Halen concert. Given the code violations on the stairway (no landings [1]), I wouldn't trust the rest of the construction, especially the balconies. [1] https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/b32-residential-stairways-handrails-ramps-and-guards.pdf https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/...

makeitshine 2y ago

Most fun at a rave I've ever had was at this castle. The guy built it free climbing the whole time and was in conflict with the government over how he got the rocks, which he mostly pulled from riverbeds on public land. Another out there spot is in Lucas, Kansas. That guy was also fiercely anti-government.

jrmg 2y ago
Surely he would also be in conflict about building codes? How was this not stopped? Or is it all actually permitted? To be clear, I like that this castle exists (although I also like that building and planning codes exist, so I guess I’m conflicted…), I’m just very surprised!
- magicpin 2y ago
  Building codes are extremely local, and not really federally regulated much. They’re consistent most places because jurisdictions will just copy paste them.
  - bluGill 2y ago
    In rural areas they often don't really evist because nobody can stop you from ignoring them. Just pay your taxes.

Gibbon1 2y ago

There is also Rubel Castle in Glendora. https://www.glendorahistoricalsociety.org/castle/ https://www.glendorahistoricalsociety.org/castle/

eleveriven 2y ago

Wow... dedicating 40 years of their life to building something on that scale

lm28469 2y ago
Somehow it feels less impressive than dedicating 40 years of your life wage slaving
shellfishgene 2y ago
Also reminds me of Ra Paulette who dug out elaborately decorated caves in soft rock for decades. Nice documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n_bHcZaGJs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n_bHcZaGJs
- stevekemp 2y ago
  That reminds me of the Shell Grotto, in the UK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_Grotto,_Margate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_Grotto,_Margate This video makes the scale more apparent (and impressive) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGvxLuIIfdM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGvxLuIIfdM