Located in a small town off the “Loneliest Road in America,” few Nevadans are aware of the existence of the historic Stokes Castle.
Stokes Castle is located just outside of Austin, NV in Lander County. The three-story stone tower was built by Anson Phelps Stokes.
u-roy/Trip Advisor
Stokes was a wealthy railroad magnate, banker, philanthropist and a mines developer.
Anson Phelps Stokes Wikipedia page
His inspiration for the castle was a tower in Roman Campagna in Italy. He built the castle for his son with the idea to make it the family summer retreat.
Jessie/Flickr
The Stokes family did not live in the castle more than a month, and a few other days over the next two years from the time it was built. Stokes sold his mine and all his equipment and the family moved further west and never returned to the castle again.
The Headdog/Trip Advisor
The castle was eventually purchased by Molly Magee Knudsen, a cousin of the Stokes family, in 1956.
Sheri M./Yelp
She had the castle brought back to its original condition after years of disrepair and neglect.
Jessie/Flickr
The castle is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It continues to be privately owned
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The castle had a fireplace on each floor and a rooftop terrace. Though the tower seems bare and empty now, it is said that when it was first built the inside was richly decorated like any royal castle. The castle is built with hand-hewn, native granite.
Jessie/Flickr
The castle is known for being eerily and sadly beautiful at night. It’s a favorite for photographers for sunrise and sunset shoots.
Austin Nevada FB Page
The castle is located just off Route 50, which is known as the “Loneliest Road in America.”
Bruce Fingerhood/Flickr
What do you think it would be like to live in the Stokes Castle? Are there other hidden castles in Nevada you’ve visited? Share in the comments!
u-roy/Trip Advisor
Anson Phelps Stokes Wikipedia page
Jessie/Flickr
The Headdog/Trip Advisor
Sheri M./Yelp
bonzocps/TripAdvisor
Austin Nevada FB Page
Bruce Fingerhood/Flickr
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