We were contemplating where to head after St. Louis, feeling pulled westward to keep on track for our lighthouse hosting gig in Oregon this fall.
And then Chris’ aunt Sherry got in touch, and said she and her boyfriend were back in the area – and they’d love to see us, at his castle.
We had only met Mitch briefly once a couple years ago, when they were first starting to date. We remember him being a fun guy who had started from nothing and amassed quite an impressive holding in real estate.
Including building his dream castle in the middle of Illinois farmland – because who doesn’t have that dream?
We just had to go check it out.
Arriving to the castle in the middle of a storm, could not have indulged my Princess Bride fangirl self more (get it.. storming the castle?).
Mitch’s castle is 9000 square feet with 5 full bedrooms, a game hall, movie viewing room, gourmet kitchen, sauna, jacuzzi tub, elevator, private lake, secret doors and an observatory.
Yeah, it’s kinda barebones, but we managed.
Mitch built it about 10 years ago, hoping it would become a family retreat center for his 3 kids, and their eventual families as they grew up. Having grown up in Palmyra himself, he hired all locals for the 2.5 years it took to build – which included milling the virgin timber on the land which was used to make the floors, furniture and wood trim throughout the house.
These days, he lives in it a few months out of the year, spending the rest of the year in his property in Hawaii. While he’s gone, he rents it out on Vactional Rental by Owner for family gatherings, events and parties at $950/night. It can comfortably sleep 20+ folks, and park a heck of a lot of RVs. (Can you say.. PARTY?!?)
We had such a lovely time catching up with Sherry, and getting to know Mitch better. There was a king’s feast every night with goblets full of fine wine, much laughter and merriment.
Oh, and mushroom hunting – it was ripe season for the rare and tasty Morels, and we ate them by the pound.
And we’re so very appreciative that Mitch extended an invitation to our friends Kristin & Jason to come up and join us.
And.. I got to cross ‘fire dancing on top of a castle turret’ off my bucket list.
And I just have to note, I found Chris on a Prius forum and moved into his 16′ travel trailer for a life of travel shortly thereafter. Sherry found Mitch on eHarmony, and now hangs out in a castle. If you ask me, I think we both scored in the online dating and fantasy fulfillment department!
What’s Next? After our absolutely indulgent experience in the Kingdom of Palmyra, we had to finally make a decision as to which direction we were heading.
The Snowmads had a strong calling to follow Route 66 southward, and while it could have been fun to caravan with them more – we’ve traversed the Motherroad a few times already. We’ll catch up with them out west somewhere in a couple months.
And seeing as we had already been tempted east and north, our strongest calling was the 54th Annual Escapade in Goshen, IN – the largest gathering of Escapees. Never having joined this full time RVer’s club, we look forward to experiencing their variety of rally, and meeting back up with a bunch of friends. While up in the RV-mecca of Elkhart, we’re hoping to get some bus improvements done – such as new captain’s seats. And then we’ll head west.
I hope you enjoy your first Escapade…I remember ours and we didn’t even have a rv yet…but we met some wonderful people then many who have become the core of our wandering community….
we will be in Elkhart toads the end of this month who knows maybe our paths will cross…
We’ll be at the Escapade as well and hope to finally meet you both. I’ve been reading your blog so long I feel like I know you.
How cool!! We’re looking forward to it!
I cannot believe you went to the Castle in Palmyra, IL!!!
I know exactly where this is. My father grew up in Palmyra (my mother in Hettick, the town just south of Palmyra.) The family farm is still there. Macoupin county is one of my favorite places. And he went to school with Mitch’s mother.
What a small world. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face.
Ok.. now that IS a small world moment!! How cool!
Is there an app or a website you would recommend to help find cool POIs? I don’t have trouble finding campgrounds as much as I do finding fun things to see and visit in the area. I spend hours reading tour guides, listening to recommendations from others, scouring Roadside America.com and waymarking.com (which is a very cool, but very clunky website in dire need of an app (-hint, hint). But there doesn’t seem to be any one site or app that’s a portal which would act as a community tour guide that would point out places such as Boomeria. Waymarking is the closest thing I’ve found, but it’s annoying to use. What do you use?
Have you checked out Roadtrippers.com yet? We’ve just started playing around with that. We’ve also used EverPlaces.com and their app too, but mostly for marking invitations we’ve gotten to visit our readers.
Thanks for responding. I visited both websites last night. They’re a good start. But, oh, an ultimate POI app is lacking. I appreciate the links, though.
Just when you thought you had seen it all… what a perfectly appropriate wacky American castle! If they were open for tours, I would take one!
Nikki —
If you are ever passing near Palmyra, IL – let us know and we can make an introduction. *grin*
– Chris
The story was good, but the pictures are amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Dave’s brother built a castle in Idaho but it is not nearly as large as this one. Still it is nice to have relatives build such fanciful places for us to visit.
It wouldn’t happen to be called a Sand Castle? 🙂 Very cute. It is marvelous to have loved ones who have amazing places for us to visit.. we definitely appreciate them!
Castles are great fun indeed. One of the coolest I have ever had the honor to visit is Boomeria in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Boom has a few things Mitch’s castle lacks – like catacombs, a pipe organ, water cannons to fend off intruders, and even a guillotine for those baddies that get caught. All built over the course of decades by generations of enslaved high-school students.
An awesome place – check out the online tour linked above! *grin*
Hi Cherie:
Wow, what an experience visiting a real live castle – in the US! Looks like you had a great time. Your vacillation about what direction to head next is interesting to me. I had to change my plans for travel while I was in Louisiana in February. I’d flown home to California to take care of some business in late January. While here I decided to visit my Orthopedic Surgeon about my continuing-to- worsen right knee problem. Together we made the decision that total knee replacement surgery should happen sooner rather than later. So here I am, two weeks post op. I’m staying in my daughter’s home with lots of attention from their whole family. I’m told I won’t be able to get out on the open road in my RV until at least 4 – 6 months from now. So, I feel like I’m in a kind of limbo as to how to plan for returning to the road. Hopefully, as I improve, I’ll get a plan to come to me (maybe in a dream?). There’s just so many possibilities – but right now it’s simply get this knee working again so I can really enjoy the nomadic life.
It’ll all come together as it should.. for now, rest up and heal up, so that when you do get back out there you’re able to do whatever you like! Sending you healing thoughts
What an awesome property! I love the fire dancing pic. 🙂
Thanks.. it was a fun place to get to spin at. Hope your new adventures are amazing!
Now that is a knight to remember. What fun to be invited to a castle! It looks great. Looks like you had a fine wine, um, I mean time.
Nice word play there 😉