Plan Your Visit

Bishop Castle is always open and admission is free! We ask that visitors respect the castle and the people who live and work here. Please dispose of waste in the designated containers. Keep in mind that the castle is an active construction site, so exercise the utmost caution during your visit.

Visitors are encouraged to explore the castle independently, as there are no guided tours available. The best chance to witness Mr. Bishop working on the castle is typically during weekends.

The surrounding area offers a wealth of activities, including hiking, picnicking, camping, dining, horseback riding, and lodging. We are more than happy to provide information and recommendations for these local opportunities.

Getting to the Castle:
The drive to Bishop Castle will take you over 9,200 feet above sea level along the Frontier Pathways Scenic and Historic Byway.

The easiest way to get to Bishop Castle is from I-25. Take exit #74 at Colorado City and head towards the mountains. (right off the exit ramp from the north and left off the exit ramp from the south) This puts you on Colorado state highway 165 and it’s 24 miles without a turn to the Castle. You will see signs for the castle as you come upon it, and there’s usually many cars out front.

The Scenic Route, from Colorado Springs, is to take Hwy. 115 south to Florence, turn left at the first traffic light onto Hwy. 67, turn right onto Hwy 96 in Wetmore and at the next junction you will see signs for Bishop Castle. Turn left there onto Hwy. 165 and it’s 12 miles.

Bishop Castle can also be reached from the Salida area by heading east on Hwy. 50 to Texas Creek and turning right onto Hwy. 69 into Westcliffe. Turn left once in Westcliffe onto Hwy. 96 and travel until you see the Bishop Castle signs at the junction with Hwy. 165. Turn right and it’s 12 miles.

For those driving from Cañon City, take CO-67 South (roughly 11 miles) to CO-96 West (just under 10 miles). Take a left onto CO-165 E and continue for about 13 miles.

Gift Shop:

Castle Keepsakes, the Gift Shop at Bishop Castle, is a main source of funding for the continued construction of the Castle and offers a wide range of unique and informative collector’s items. Where else can you acquire Bishop Castle-style Renaissance and fantasy weaponry, costuming, and accessories, dragons, original ornamental ironwork from the Castle builder himself, Eagle River Pewter, and much more? Open on-site May through October seven days a week. Weekends November through April. For more information, visit the Gift Shop website: https://bishopcastlekeepsakes.com/

Weddings:

We are proud to announce Weddings at Bishop Castle are welcome year-round for ceremonies only. Unfortunately, we cannot allow receptions, private parties, or the like.

The Castle and a beautiful setting in the woods make for a unique one-of-a-kind experience for you and your guests.

As much as we dislike rules, we’ve set forth the following requirements out of respect for the Castle, our guests, and our surroundings:

• No alcohol is allowed at the Castle.
• You will not be allowed to close off any part of the Castle to the public at any time during your ceremony.
• You must reserve your date and time at least two weeks prior.
• There is no heat in the castle, and there are no facilities available for changing / dressing, nor any service or assistance in accessing the castle.
• Suggested donations for weddings at the Castle are $500.00.

If you would like more information or would like to book a wedding, email us using our contact form.

School Groups:

School groups are always welcome at the Castle. Mr. Bishop may also be available for an inspirational talk to the class about the value of having a dream in this day and age and seeing it through. There are numerous possibilities in having your school’s activities involve Bishop Castle! There is no fee to host a school group at the Castle, however, we kindly request a donation be considered for such use. Please contact us to schedule your group (719.485.3040), or email us using our contact form.