Let me tell you about the time my wife casually turned a normal "drop our daughter off at college" trip into what felt like a deleted scene from a survival movie... destination: Solomon's Castle in the absolute middle of nowhere. And when I say nowhere, I mean NOWHERE. I'm driving waiting for streetlights... nothing. Gas stations? Nope. People? Questionable. Cows? Plenty. Motorcycles flying by like we accidentally entered a post-apocalyptic biker convention? Oh yeah. At this point, I'm looking at my wife like, Babé are we visiting a castle or auditioning for The Walking Dead: Florida Edition?" Then suddenly... BOOM. Out of nowhere... like a mirage built by a very creative pirate appears this shiny, aluminum-covered CASTLE. Now I'm confused. Because one minute I'm dodging cows... and the next minute I'm like: Did we just teleport to medieval times sponsored by Home Depot? But here's the thing this place is AMAZING. Inside? Pure genius. Art everywhere. Sculptures made out of stuff you probably threw away last week. It's like if creativity, humor, and a junkyard had a baby and that baby became a castle. And then there's the restaurant. Yes. A restaurant. Inside a boat. Inside a castle. In the middle of nowhere. At this point, I've stopped asking questions and just accepted that I'm in someone else's dream. If you want the backstory, go ahead and Google it because it's wild. But honestly, just go. Don't overthink it. Would I have ever planned this stop? Absolutely not. Did my wife once again prove she's the CEO of random but incredible detours? 100%. Final verdict: Unexpected Slightly suspicious drive in Completely worth it If you're ever near Ona, Florida--or even if you're not take the detour. Just make sure your gas tank is full... and maybe say a quick prayer once the streetlights disappear read more

See all

On our drive from St Augustine to Tampa, we made reservations to see Solomon's Castle in the middle of nowhere on beautiful land here in Florida. This castle was built by Howard Solomon, a high school dropout, with his bare hands and his own designs with whatever scraps of metal he could find or that were donated to him by others. He had friends and neighbors who helped him build. He built vertically because his land was more narrow than wide. So there are stairs to climb. Everything including his unusual artwork inside the Castle was donated or built by Solomon. He also had a 1930s collection of cars and trucks that are displayed at the Castle. His personal story is very interesting which will be told during the tour. Visitors are not allowed to photograph the auto collection nor anything inside the Castle. There is no cell service/wifi there on the property. They do not use computers so everything is paid by cash: the tickets (we paid about $40 in cash for the castle tour and the classic car tour), the food, and souvenirs. They are dog-on-leash friendly, which is nice. The staff is very welcoming and fun to interact with! The tour is very interesting with funny jokes thrown in. Food is served on the boat and reviewers have been favorable about the meals offered. Remember, it is cash only. Parking is free and at the entrance before you get to the Castle. Wear comfortable shoes. I was happy that we got to do the tour. I don't know that I would go back because it is so out of the way but it was worth the trip. read more

See all

The guides are such great people we had Cindy on the castle and Larry on the cars. The food is good. It's a fun place to spend a day..

Was pleasantly surprised about how cool and the incredible story behind this place. Definitely a must visit for the art, gardens & history. The information on the website doesn't really do this place justice. The staff and family are amazing. This is in the COUNTRY so have a full tank of gas and bring snacks for the trip. The restaurant on site is very good also. This is a must visit.. read more

See all

visited this castle with children, we liked it, admission is free if you don't take a tour, tours are paid separately, tours run from 10-4 pm On the territory of the castle there is a cafe where you can eat, and a shop where you can buy souvenirs read more

Solomon's Castle - Tours Near Me - Ona, Florida

See all

The value for the price is just not there on this one! For $39 a person you get a very Skimpy tour of a few rooms in the castle. The tour is very crowded and rushed and gives you very little info just a bunch of bad jokes. You are unable to take any pics inside the castle due to insurance issues they say...they can't take you upstairs because someone stole a watch...ummm do a better job at securing the place if you are going to charge this much. The second part of the tour isn't any better. Overall the art and glass were cool to see, not that they give you any time to actually appreciate at it. We were pretty disappointed and would for sure not recommend it or go back. Maybe it was better when Mr Solomon was there giving the tours but at this point the value is just not there. read more

Tucked away in the middle of nowhere. Signage is minimal so you're not sure where to go once you arrive to the parking lot. A short walk and there stands the 3 story castle and Boat in the Moat. Signs guided us to the gift shop to purchase tickets. Lucky for us there was a small group getting ready to start the tour so we didn't have a wait. Our guide was very informative and humorous. She tried to include us by asking us questions. The castle has so much to see, take your time to look around. You are not rushed at all. We opted to purchase the tickets that included a side trip to see the vintage antique cars. You are taken by golf cart to where the garages are which house the cars and other vintage memorabilia. Between the two tours we enjoyed lunch at their restaurant. Although not fancy it's fresh and hot. Or party of 4 chose the chicken pot pie, spinach soufflé, Rubin and Chili. Very generous portions and delicious. We visited during the week but learned they have entertainment on the weekends. read more

My visit to Solomon's Castle (in June 2025) was truly one of a kind. This isn't a typical castle; it's an eccentric, sparkling art piece built by one man from recycled materials. The guided tour was fantastic, filled with witty puns and amazing stories about the sculptures and stained-glass windows made from "junk." It's clear how much heart and humor went into every detail. After the tour, we had a delicious lunch at the "Boat in the Moat" restaurant, a galleon replica. A major tip for anyone planning a trip: the entire establishment is cash-only, so be sure to come prepared! Make sure to do all the extras - the tour and the tour after the tour! read more

a little cheesy for the price. The restaurant is ok... nothing special. More attractions close to town would be an advantage.

The castle and the history was extremely interesting, I can't say enough about finding a castle in the middle of nowhere, because that's where it's at. We actually ate at the restaurant there that was recommended to us. Let's just say it's OK and that's all I'm going to say but I highly recommend visiting this awesome place. read more

This is a treasure trove of a great artist, Howard Solomon. If you are passing anywhere in this area, its a must-see attraction; castle, collection of brilliant art made 100% from recycled materials, beautiful grounds, classic cars from the 1890s to the 1930s, and an excellent array of dining rooms including in a 65-foot boat built by the master artist. Although Howard Solomon passed in 2016, the tour guides 7 years on are longtime friends of the master and deliver the tours in his humorous script so as not to leave any bottle-cap unturned. Just bring cash or check but remember the memories are priceless. read more

See all

Drove over an hour to visit this place. The guy told us we didn't need tickets UNLESS we wanted a tour and that we could explore the entire property ourselves. We tried to see the castle and were told we couldn't without tickets. Waste of a drive. The property is a mess, hard to navigate with a wheelchair. Junk everywhere. I'm sure some people like it, but it just wasn't for us. read more

In a land far far away... there's an engineering marvel that will total blow your mind - well that may be somewhat of an exaggeration but this place is super cool and somewhat magical. Other have stated the facts and as impressive as those reviews are I came here void of any preconceived notions. This is a location that you'll never brag to your friends that you were traveling around the countryside minding you own business and found this place by happenstance, that's never going to happen, this castle is definitely a destination. I've visited some of the most beautiful castles in Europe and most you can see from miles away high up on the edge of a mountain, this place is built on swampland near Horse Creek in Ona, Florida, need I say more? I purchased my ticket for the tour inside the restaurant in the moat, a.k.a. the "boat in the moat", it's a replica of a 60 foot Spanish Galleon that serves up many lunch options including what is described as "the world's greatest hotdog" with an option to cover it in chili for a couple more bucks, it's memorable or maybe nostalgic and paired well with the apple crisp that's served with cinnamon ice cream - if this was the renaissance period it would take a few days to get here and a meal would be in order after that ride, but I was hungry after just traveling the backroads out of Arcadia so I guess that justified the all beef dog. I chose to take the tour prior to the feast since I really didn't know the extent of the tour especially after seeing the Bell Tower and wondered the number of stairs or rope ladders I'd be climbing, boy was I relieved when I realized the tour is actually a first floor only excursion through the creative art work created from stuff by a guy named Howard. Our tour consisted of a total of four not counting the tour guide who was very creative in her script of comical quotes from the creator of this enchanted flood plain (tidbit: in 2017 the property flooded and water rose to the shoulders of the white horse out, front flooding the castle). The staff here is so friendly, everyone wears a smile it's almost Disney like or at least similar to the staff at Chick-fil-A in my hometown where it seems being happy is a condition of employment. The atmosphere on the property is one that promotes calmness so don't rush the experience, it felt like a cross between visiting a historic village and something paranormal, I think this may be because the entire property was built from repurposed stuff so there are influences from the past that reside here in my opinion, I personally loved the vibes permeating outwardly as I walked the property. I enjoyed the visit, and how everything is structured ensuring you can go at your own pace outside the official tours of course, I love these roadside oddities I don't know why you'd be in the area but if you are I'd say it's well worth a few hours of your time... read more

See all

overall I liked parts of it, but not everything. we bought the combination tour package. The castle tour was interesting, but the tour guides read from a script and they try way to hard to fit a million dad jokes into the tour. It was exhausting , and took away from the overall tour. The second part of the tour was lead by "Uncle Tim." and man-o-man he loved to talk, and the sound of his own voice. This part of the tour became more of tge Uncle Tim show than anything about the art installations. The food was good, and our waitress was great. Overall, the tours did a poor job of highlighting the amazing art, and tried way too hard to be funny. not sure I would ever go back. read more

Bring cash. No credit cards accepted. Cute restaurant & gift shop. Food is surprisingly good considering you are in the middle of nowhere. It's something to do for a couple hours when it's not beach or boat weather. read more

Way out in the middle of nowhere is Solomon's Castle. My friend and I arrived at 10:00 a.m. and purchased tickets. We were told that the tour would begin within the next 30 minutes and we could have a seat in the restaurant to wait. So we took a seat in the restaurant and waited, and waited, and waited. Now, we were not the only ones in the restaurant but at no time was there anyone available who asked if we would like anything to eat or drink. Everyone else was eating and drinking but we were just left alone and ignored. At 11:00 we were wondering when the tour would begin. At that point a gentleman sitting at an adjacent table indicated he was our "guide" and started speaking with us. We were told that the delay was due to waiting for others to join the tour. So we waited, and waited, and waited. Finally at around 11:30 the tour was ready to being. What surprised me was that the other people in the restaurant were all family members. Each and everyone totally ignored us. We were not even asked if we would like a glass of water while we waited. Finally the tour began and I have to say, the castle and artwork were interesting. But no photographs could be taken and there was no tour of the second floor. For $32.00 this was very overpriced for what was included. But my friend and I had also paid for the encore tour so we paid a total of $39.00. Again, for the price and what you saw, it was very overpriced. After the long drive to arrive at the Castle I was really hoping for more. I will admit, the long wait and being ignored for so long, contributed to this review. Plus the fact that the tickets were $39.00 for a quick walk through of both the castle and Solomon's garage just made this an "ok" tour. If you are in the area, I somewhat recommend a visit. But I would not go out of my way to visit this location. read more

See all

Fun quirky place! Unusual to say the least with house/museum, restaurant, gift shop and live music. Very laidback and not crowded

Honest review. Mr. Solomon was a junk collector and a bad welder. It is billed as an aluminum castle, but don't expect to see any 1/4" plate TIG welded. It is essentially a workshop with recycled thin aluminum sheet staple gunned to the front. Looking at the structures it seems as though Mr. Solomon never utilized a bubble level, the aluminum covering is angled with about 3' of difference from top to bottom on the left "tower". The self-described castle was his garage with an attached normal sized living area, not anywhere close to a real castle. Want to see a castle? Better go to England or Germany. The tour was way overpriced. They don't accept credit cards, most likely to avoid Uncle Sam. They also state the "no picture policy" is because of insurance, which seems like BS. They don't want pics on the internet because people would realize the tour is overpriced. Lastly, the tour guides were elevating Mr. Solomon to a god-like person that should be included with the greats, which was cringe worthy. Take the story that the tour guides tell with a grain of salt, they were telling some obvious lies that many car guys could easily identify. Yes, some people with the same interests may enjoy the tour, because Mr Solomon did have an artistic vision, but don't expect anything "wow". read more

What an interesting place. At first when my wife said we should visit this place, I thought it was silly. I was wrong. In the middle of nowhere, this was well worth the trip. Howard Solomon was a "doer". He built everything - I mean everything - by himself. He wasn't discouraged by time. Time was not his enemy. He was an artist, as well as a builder, as well as a collector. It's hard to describe everything. All I can say is to go see it. Do the tour, eat on the Boat, and then take a walk around the grounds. read more

See all

Literal shit show. Don't recommend, specifically for old boring people. If you can stand for hours listening to boring crap that has no meaning and have nothing else to do, this is for you! read more

What a hidden gem! I had signed up with Dayna Miller's Day Trips LLC venue and after a bus ride from PSL we landed in front of this gated mini estate. It has a rustic charm from the outside, but has a welcoming and warm energy. Since I was with a group I followed the "yellow brick road" to the castle, which, like most of the structures were totally built by the owner and craftsman, Howard Solomon. Our tour guides were Cindy & Uncle Jim, who turned out to be delightfully knowledgeable and funny! There is so much to see in Mr. Solomon's castle that I know that another trip will be in my future. Everything, castle included, are made out of recycled or reclaimed items - a virtual soup to nuts. Go to Solomonscastle.com to see what it's about! There were two tours, one of the castle and one to see the vintage car collection. Lunch was included, which was very good, straight forward homemade food. They only accept checks or cash since internet reception is spotty. So if you are looking for an interesting adventure try it. I'm so happy I did. Oh, did I mention all the wonderful art in the castle was done by Mr. Solomon and is simply breathtaking. Alas, no picture taking is allowed inside. read more

Solomon's Castle - A sample of the sculptures. - Tours Near Me - Ona, Florida

See all

If you are visiting Florida in the Tampa, St Pete, Ft Myers area and are looking for something interesting and different, I highly recommend a visit to Solomons Castle. Using sraps wood, metal, car parts, etc., he has created a wide array of interesting and sometimes useful "THINGS." From a house built of scrap metal, to a garage of 1920's and 1930's vintage cares, you will be contally amazed, P.S. Cash only. No Credit Cards. read more

Solomon's Castle - Tours Near Me - Ona, Florida

This is an overpriced activity that includes tour guides who have memorized a terrible script. The old corny jokes are so bad. Some of the art is interesting, but you can see better art and get more creative repurposing ideas by going to Pinterest or Etsy. read more

This place is fantastic. So much to see it is an all day treat. Definitely eat there too. The food was so good and the portions were filling. The gentleman that created this was an outstanding artist with a vision the can't be matched. To think that all of this art was basically made from "junk" is incredible. This takes recycling to a whole new level. read more

It was great. Our tour guide knew Howard Solomon personally so the tour was probably different than the ones you would normally get from someone else. Cash only, so go to an atm before you go. The castle is covered in aluminum plates so that was really cool. Went in July 2024. read more

No wifi, and no service anywhere in the area. Careful getting in and out of this place because you are on your own! That may be why this gorgeous hidden gem is so beautifully private and special? Kids we're playing here, but not on their phones or tablets. I was expecting to see the castle, but there was so much more! A great shop with an ATM fine food and drinks, great live music, a walkable path, and tours. I would have stayed forever if I could send my mom a text letting her know I wouldn't be home lol would love to go back! read more

See all

I had one a good time here. It was another great find for me. I am glad I came. It is a must see. I recommend this place. I had no problem getting here I used Google maps. It was a long but nice drive for me. You see many cows and green for miles. It was like being in the country. As you get closer to the castle. You will clearly see signs to guide you. I had no wifi once inside the castle. As you drive up. There is plenty of parking. The place has a little dirt road that leads to the castle. To the right side you will then see a little stand to purchase tickets, CASH only. They do have a credit card machine inside the ship. I purchased the two tours. I thought it was worth it. It's one cool place. You can take pictures outside but not inside the places. There are plenty of beautiful picture opportunities here. The guides have a script and it's a funny one. They really did a good job putting it together. My firstly tour was of the castle. They explain and tell you a little bit about the castle, the artists and the art work. I personally enjoyed everything. The second tour was about the grounds surrounding the castle and a littlebit of history. I don't want to spoil the adventure so I am not gonna say much. They take you on the back side of the property in a golf cart and show you around. They did a great job. This people really enjoy their work here and it shows. Next to the castle. There is a big ship that is actually a restaurant. It is neat. It's the place get drinks and food. I recommend to check it out. The desserts are great. The property has a walking trait. I did some of it. It's another dirt seashell road. It leads to beautiful large tree. It was a nice walk with some mosquitos. I had a cat that kept me company. He walked with me and neow by my side. He had a lot to say lol. read more

See all

What a fascinating talent and Solomon was! Truly amazing! I would recommend several hours to see the exhibit, the boat in the moat and the gift shop with cafe. His creative talents will grab your attention surely. read more

Pure and simple, Solomon's Castle is one man's tangible "love letter" for his gift of life! Yes, it is out in the middle of nowhere. That makes it even more special to me. An exciting day-trip drive for those tired of the usual. Howard Solomon was an amazing man and the legacy he left here reflects that! He created a giant castle, boat-in-the-moat restaurant, and an avalanche of stained glass, recycled, welded metal, and other visual objects that are always sure to entertain. As for Howard's "love letter to life?" Howard's was a life well spent, indeed! Even if you do not find it all to be 100% aesthetically pleasing, look at all this one man created! He made the MOST of life. Can we all declare the same? I was blessed to enjoy a personal tour from Howard years ago. The tours and fun here still continue, though the artist passed away in 2016. I have not had the pleasure to dine in the boat, but family has several times. They always said both the food and value were excellent! To conclude: Like with other negative yelp reviews of fantastic places, I like to view that particular yelper's positive-to-negative review ratio. Some people will always be "glass half-full" while others will always be "glass half-empty." I am sad for those that gave this place a negative, and am even sadder for the friends and family around them. Howard Solomon was a truly amazing man. He lived a very full creative life, and visiting his personal oasis in this lonely part of Florida will always be a true blessing! Many thanks... read more

Solomon's Castle - Mr. Solomon's homemade masterpiece! - Tours Near Me - Ona, Florida

This place was fun. Very eclectic and interesting. Everyone in our party enjoyed their lunch. read more

Solomon's Castle - The castle - Tours Near Me - Ona, Florida

This is a unique castle structure in Ona Florida. This is such an amazing place to visit. The artist had such a great imagination and perspective to build everything here from scratch using anything he could find. This place is a perfect spot to spend an afternoon exploring rural central Florida. If you're hungry there is a place located just steps away call "The boat in the moat". This was also constructed by the same person. To top it off there is a nice old car collection to visit as well. What a great place to visit! read more

What a wonderful place to visit. The man who built it, and did the thousand pieces of artwork was not only an artist but had to be a genius. Our tour guide in the castle was phenomenal. We loved the tour guide on the second tour of the cars and barns. The outdoor food location under the oak trees was wonderful. The food service personnel were so friendly and very helpful. We had the tuna on a croissant with the side of spinach, pie and chicken salad on a croissant with french fries. Both were delicious. The walnut pie was great and was big enough to be shared with the whole table we loved the whole day and I can't wait to go back. Highly recommend this very interesting place. read more

Solomon's Castle - Tours Near Me - Ona, Florida

See all

Finally made a trip here and it's definitely a great off the beaten path kind of place. The art here is quite extraordinary and Solomon himself made everything out of anything he had or had been provided to him. I love all the metal odds and ends art here. I also loved the car collection too The boat on the moat is super interesting too. We brought our little dog and they were so dog friendly. It was a nice place to go to beat the heat and the rain. It is far out there so you really won't be finding to much around but afterward we went to Sarasota and of course there's stuff to do there. read more

See all

It's tough to review this place. It could be 5 stars if you really like quirky stuff, could be a 2 if you don't. I think overall it was worth the entry and drive out here since we were already in Wauchula. However I would not drive out here just to come here. I would describe it as hoarders meets Picasso. This dude must have been a big time hoarder, luckily he was talented enough to make pretty cool stuff out of his hoard. They have 2 different tours, one of the castle itself which is basically like a museum showcasing his artworks and another which takes you to some barns where they have several cars from like the 1930s and earlier. I think the castle is like $18 for adults and the cars maybe like $10. I think the cars could easily be skipped if you want to save money and are not into vintage cars. As for the restaurant in the boat we shared a reuben sandwich because we were quite hungry. Based on that sandwich I would not recommend eating there unless you really have to or try something else. The patio area was nice so maybe just sit and have a beer, bottles were reasonably priced. Overall a fun day trip if you are bored in Wauchula. Castle I would say 4 stars, car tour 3 stars and restaurant 2 stars. read more

See all

Great afternoon spent at Solomon's castle. If you are coming to this attraction make sure to have cash on you for entrance fee and a full tank of gas. This Castle is in the middle of citrus and cattle farms and is very rural. Also make sure you know how to program your car back home as wifi is hard to get. Solomon Castle is in Hardee County in the town of Ona. Yup in the middle of farm land and beauty. So many cows all over and citrus. Howard Solomon came to Hardee county to live among red necks and farmers being a nice Jewish boy from New York 1972. As a child he was very handy and had a lot of nervous energy and hence he was suspended from a few schools for all this energy . One teacher thought he was retarded but really she was a poor judge of character.As a high schooler in 10 grade he was sent to a machinist draftsman school where he learned how to work with wood and sheet metal but he was expelled because he really wanted to be a comedian. He loved keeping his hands busy as this was therapy for him. He built the 12,000 square foot castle for his art and family. The castle is built from repurposed aluminum printing plates. The structure features multiple towers ,turrets, a dungeon,a draw bridge, lighthouse , wide moat 65foot Spanish galleon.The boat is a restaurant and is run by his daughter and husband Alane and Dean. The Castle is packed with decades of art a sculpture of elephant, lion, rhinoceros made from steal drums. Most of his art has a pun as he was a comedian at heart and a self taught artist actually I would call him a genius. Most of the neighbors knew they could drop off their junk and he would repurpose it into amazing art. Some of the art was made from pieces of wood , beer cans , tuna cans, plates and what ever he could get his hands on. The tour of the castle was very nice but fast as I would have loved to study the art longer and the second building stored all of his model T cars I believe about 10 of them all different and all in working condition. The entrance to these two sections cost 22.00 . Both tour guides were excellent. The restaurant was very nice and the food was fresh and very tasty. My friend had the chicken pot pie and spinach . I had the salad and we split the walnut pie with ice cream. Lunch with drinks cost us with tip 45.00 Service was excellent as Dean and helper were waiting on us. Come visit this quirky art and have a very nice ride in the rural part of Florida this is only about a half hour away from bradenton Fla. read more

Solomon's Castle - Tours Near Me - Ona, Florida

What a great place to go and discover the unique work of this artist. Really enjoyed the tour inside the castle.

Mr. Solomon was super creative and I enjoyed touring his artwork and creations. Was it worth the $122 for 4 people? I'm not sure I'd go that far. But either way, we experienced it and took some good photos (outside.... No pix inside allowed). My 5 year old was bored but he occasionally got a kick out of some of the statues. The restaurant was cute. My little one got a hot dog that was like a foot long! So needless to say, he didn't finish it. But for $6.95 (and it comes with chips and ice cream!), I didn't blame him. It was a nice experience, being from out of town. read more

Solomon's Castle - The boat in a moat. (Aka the restaurant). - Tours Near Me - Ona, Florida

That was very interesting! Our guide Andrea was AMAZING, informative, entertaining, knowledgeable and personable. If you go - she is the guide to have! read more

Solomon's Castle was the vision of Howard Solomon. He was a high school dropout with a knack for building things. Howard started carving at age four and they have an intricate little car he made at that age as well as inlaid wooden box he made at age 10. He started his 12,000 foot, 3 story creation of a medieval castle in central Florida in 1972 after moving back to the states from the Bahamas. The castle is out in the middle of nowhere and I didn't have cell service which made finding my way back quite the adventure. When Howard discovered the land he purchased didn't have enough space to build vertical he decided to build up. The purpose of the castle was to serve as an exhibition space for his art pieces that didn't sell and to have a place to live in. He had a workshop in the back and had living spaces in the front and upper floors.The exterior of the building is covered in aluminum printing plates thrown out by the local newspaper. To save money he painted "bricks" in the walkway and "tile" on the floor. Howard never threw anything away because he used everything in his art or building the castle. He gave himself the nickname "The DaVinci of Debris." He would look at a piece of junk and something would stick out about it to him or look like something to him and from that idea he would craft a sculpture. Other art pieces are wooden montage copies of modern art works. For instance he would recreate a Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post cover out of bits of wood. Some of his art pieces include a chair made out of 86 beer cans, an elephant made with seven oil drums, a black and white knight out front (night and day), and 80 stained glass windows. One of my favorite pieces was a train Howard made in the Bahamas in 1968. Parts of the train were created from a lampshade with a trumpet valve, a 1910 Ford kerosene lantern, and a xerox machine. Most surprising of all is the engineer of the train has Solomon's own hair because he never threw anything away! After completing his castle Solomon added a "Boat in the Moat" restaurant which is a replica of a 16th century Portuguese Galleon where To handle weddings and other events he built a lighthouse to provide an event space. One important thing to note about the castle is they only accept cash or personal check. The check thing made me laugh because I can't remember the last time I wrote a check but it was years ago. Fortunately I had enough cash on me to cover the $24 admission for my daughter and myself. If you think that was steep it really was for what you get. You also can't take any pictures inside the castle which was a total let down. You only get to tour the first floor. The upper floors including the bedroom are off limits. Our tour guide for the castle was Cheryl. Her personality could best be described as snappy. If I dared to ask a question I was met with a brusque I'll get to that. She had a script and she did not want to deviate from it at all. Unfortunately for us that was a script filled with puns. I like a pun in a sparing dose but this was too much. Every piece of art had a groaner attached to it. At one point I looked at the room filled with at least 30 things and thought I am not going to make it. To give you a taste of the top flight comedy there was a religious fish (holy mackerel), a motorcycle made out of gears, sprockets and used car parts (Evil Kornevil), a sea turtle skeleton with a wig stuffed in the bottom (the tortoise and the hare), a gun that shoots toilet plungers (used for flushing out perpetrators),and Cleopatra's half boat (she lost the other half in a divorce, she was in de nile, denial). Imagine non stop puns told by a slightly angry woman and you get the picture. When Cheryl wasn't punning us to death she was taking calls from her husband on her Apple watch. Howard wrote the script and I guess he wanted his art presented a certain way but you should be able to ask a thing or two without getting snapped at. Maybe the puns were more charming when they used to be told by Howard himself as he gave the tours. After watching a video of Howard Solomon I don't think Cheryl was able to translate his charm or humor. Howard passed away on August 23, 2016 in his castle just the way he wanted. It is now owned by his daughter Alane. Solomon's castle stands as a testament to one man's thriftiness and the ability to dream big. The most touching part of the tour was seeing a picture of Howard with his family and the shoes and hat he laid down every night in his living room until there was a morning he didn't pick them back up again. I am not sure what the future of the castle will be. It was built on a swamp and you can really feel the tilt in the floor especially in the kitchen. Whether the castle can be prevented from sinking into the ground is still anyone's guess but if you like quirky roadside attractions than this may be the place for you. read more

See all

We were camping in the area and decided on a little day trip to check out the castle. We did the double tour of the castle and the garage with all of the antique cars. Be prepared to wait to buy tickets because there was only one register right at the entrance of the boat. I found the tour entertaining but it is long because they tell you about every piece in the collection. His pieces are very interesting and eclectic. I wish they had smaller versions for sale because I saw several I loved. Seeing the families living quarters in the castle was a nice perk. The garage is a pretty good walk away from the castle so be prepared if you're doing both. The cars are amazing though. You can tell he loved them. The restaurant in the boat looked very good. We walked through to get to the gift shop but didn't eat there. It was busy though and the food looked good. Next time we're in the area we'll make sure to stop by for lunch. read more

See all