5 Best Castles in Florida For a Regal Experience

by

Yes, you read that correctly–there are castles in Florida. Many visitors to Florida mistakenly believe it is just a tropical haven. Florida is a tropical haven. It also has a diverse array of national parks, state parks, national monuments, beautiful beaches, and crystal-clear waters. But did you know that it also has a solid European heritage?

Not-to-be-missed Castles in Florida

Vizcaya (Miami, FL)

Who says you have to go to Europe to see jaw-dropping architectural grandeur? Vizcaya and its gardens are a resting place for a man with a passion for art and history who sought to build a haven and escape from reality and harsh winters. 

You’ll discover a renaissance-inspired mansion in the middle of Miami’s tropical hardwood hammocks. Treasures from the past, when the romish and greek ruled the European hemisphere, are on display in the mansion.

castles in Florida Vizcaya with a dark dining room table, chairs with red cushions, white tablesetting for 10, napkins on top of bowls. Room has white walls trimmed in a gold color
The dining room of Vizcaya, one of Florida’s castles

Industrialist, Traveler, Collector, Castle Builder

James Deering, the builder of Vizcaya, was an industrialist who traveled the world searching for unique and unusual souvenirs to enrich his mansions’ nature. Deerings’ Vizcaya, built in 1914 in a style of the past century, includes modern touches: electricity, a phone, and a central vacuum system.

It is impossible to capture the stunning beauty of Vizcaya as you walk through its doors. Dominating the center of the entranceway is a glass dome adorned with fauna.

Imagine being a guest of James Deering and staying in one of the many themed rooms during the winter months. The stories the walls could tell of the beautiful parties and soirees that James Deering hosted! Guests included movie stars such as Lilian Gish. 

James Deering entertained on an opulent and decadent level. I imagine that readers of the book “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald could envision the indulgent touches that marked parties at Vizcaya. At its height, Vizcaya employed 1,000 workers during the winter months to run the home.

As you stroll through Vizcaya’s marble corridors and gaze through the stained glass doors, you’ll notice several treasures. Vizcaya is a remarkable example of Paul Chalfin’s meticulous attention to detail, which he used to design the mansion’s 70+ rooms. There are gilded panels, carved mantels from Tuscany and France, and many other treasures dating back to the 15th century.

Vizcaya’s Garden

When you read about Eden in the Bible, you have to wonder whether James Deering modeled his gardens after that place. As an admirer of Versailles in Paris, he used numerous examples of their gardens with low, manicured shrubs to build captivating patterns, paths, and mazes to surround his castles in Florida. European figurines like those seen in Greek temples border the pathways, making you wonder if you slipped into a fairytale. 

The Gardens of Vizcaya, one of the castles in Florida, are surrounded by pebbled walkways; includes shade trees and shrubbery
The gardens of Vizcaya, one of the gorgeous castles in Florida

Deering and landscape designer Diego Suarez wanted to create a Mediterranean atmosphere of being in Italy or France. They incorporated orchids, including Vandas and Cymbidiums, and palm trees surrounding Cuban limestones to evoke that feeling of being transported to the Mediterranean.

Winding your way through the labyrinth of bushes resembling mazes, taking in the fountain garden, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a hidden paradise. The fountain garden is unique as it honors the surrounding native forest in the back.

Another feature unique to Vizcaya is a massive barge. The barge has two purposes: to defend Vizcaya from storms and to welcome guests arriving by boat from Biscayne Bay. At the front of the ship is a large casino Pavilion adorned with shrubbery, fountains, and lighting. It is the perfect location for greeting arriving guests.

Elegant, extravagant, and opulent were words used to describe Gatsby’s parties. Today, you can experience a Gatsbyesque gathering at one of Vizcaya’s late-night parties to glimpse what it was like 100 years ago.

Castle Otitis (St. Augustine, FL)

Castle Otitis rises to a height of more than 50 feet. It is reminiscent of medieval Irish castles built over 1,000 years ago. It was designed by Ottis Sadler and Rusty Ickes in 1984 and completed in 1988. 

Sadler and Ickes wanted to evoke the mood of an ancient Irish monastery or a Christian church. It weighs over seven million pounds and is built entirely by hand out of concrete block with reinforced steel rods. 

The interior of the building was designed and crafted by Lee Carpenter and took three years to complete. The woodwork on the staircase, altar, Bishop’s chair, and pulpit are from cypress and southern heart pine. 

Unlike some castles in Florida, this castle isn’t hundreds of years old, it reflects a spiritual dedication along the St. Augustine seashore. In 1992, the American Institutes of Architects formally recognized it as a landmark. There is a public interdenominational Christian worship service on the last Sunday of each month.

If you’ve always wanted to see Ireland’s castles but didn’t want to make the trek across the pond, here is a chance to get a taste of what it’s like – make sure to make an appointment before you go through. 

Villa Zorayda (St. Augustine, FL)

Built by Franklin W. Smith in 1883 as his winter home, Villa Zorayda is now a museum. Obsessed with the Alhambra palace in Canada, Spain, Smith incorporated the Moorish revival architecture into Villa Zorayda.

Some castles in Florida used poured concrete and crushed coquina shells, common construction materials throughout St. Augustine. 

Villa Zorayda was Smith’s home for 20 years. During that time, Villa Zorayda was the Zorayda Club, where St. Augustine’s elite socialized. Abraham Mussallem acquired the property in 1911. Mussallem, a Lebanese immigrant, was a well-known authority on oriental rugs and Egyptian artifacts. Suddenly Villa Zorayda was transformed as Mussalem’s passion for oriental rugs and Egyptian antiquities melded with the castle’s Spanish architecture. 

Throughout its lengthy history, this castle has experienced several alterations. These changes are visible as you stroll through the home. Stained glass, thick rugs, and drapes create the sensation of being in an oriental palace.

In the early to mid-1920s, Mussallem turned the estate into a gambling establishment and speakeasy. In the late 1920s, Abraham and Olga decided to shut its doors and move into the house with their children. However, recognizing the significance of the structure, the Mussallems reopened it as a museum in 1933. Since then, the castle has been in the family’s possession and protection. 

This one-of-a-kind castle combines the finest of both worlds as you experience its rich history. On the guided tour, you’ll discover more about Franklin Smith, and Abraham and Olga Mussalem, learning how their lives and passions influenced on of the most spectacular castles in Florida.

Stetson Mansion (DeLand, FL)

Before the 20th century, the most significant and Florida’s first mansion, the Stetson Mansion, was built in 1886. This Gilded Age estate was created by the hatmaker John B. Stetson. 

The handmade wood embellishments are some of the home’s exquisite details. When walking throughout the estate, keep your eyes peeled for the 16 unique mosaic patterns in the parquet wood floors. There are also 10,000 panes of antique glass throughout the home.

This castle has a unique history. The Stetson was the first of the castles in Florida to be designed and constructed with Edison electricity, steam heat, indoor plumbing, and a call bell system. Talk about groundbreaking!

Yet another intriguing fact about this enormous dwelling is that it is privately owned and has always been occupied.

Today, the home has been restored and is open for tours. Though it is not a museum, its owners live in the house.

Henry Morrison Flagler Museum (Palm Beach, FL)

It would be an understatement if I said I felt like a princess wandering through the Flagler museum. 

What if I told you that this castle and mansion was built out of love from a man to a woman? Someone who was literally carrying their woman on their hands and fulfilling every wish they had? A fairytale, Disney has yet to write and film.

What if I told you that before this love story involving this castle could be written, there was a lot of tragedy?

First, I’d want to tell you a little bit about the history of this palace, so you’ll understand why it’s so significant.

A Love Story for the Ages 

Philanthropist and businessman Henry Flagler was ahead of his time in his innovations, ideas, and treatment of women. Soon, Rockefeller and Andrews invested in his plans. Within two years, he founded Standard Oil Company, one of the most powerful oil companies in the United States.

Standard Oil sent Flagler from Ohio to Manhattan, New York. During his time in New York, his first wife, Mary, was diagnosed with Tuberculosis. Her doctor suggested she relocate to Florida during the winter. Unfortunately, in 1881, Mary passed away at 47, leaving behind a son.

The geanology of Henry Flagler, an oil and railroad baron, who built one of the castles in Florida, Whitehall
The genealogy of Henry Flagler

Flagler and Ida Alice moved to St. Augustine, but only two years later, Flagler remarried Ida Alice. Unfortunately, not long after, he lost her to a mental illness.

Flagler met and married Mary Lily in 1901 and designed and built Whitehall as a winter home for Mary Lily. Located in Palm Beach on the Atlantic Ocean, architects John Carrère and Thomas Hastings designed Whitehall.

In 1902 The New York Herald hailed the home as “…more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world” because of its 100,000 square feet and more than 75 rooms. As you travel the hallways of the magnificent palace, you see every detail selected with love.

Whitehall, another of the castles in Florida, 2 stories, red tile roof, colums in front, with arched doorways
Whitehall, Henry Flagler’s home in Palm Beach

Henry lavished his love and pearls on Mary Lily, and some of these pearls were valued more than diamonds.

Hanging in the music room of Whitehall is a portrait of Mary Lily wearing the pearls Henry had gifted her. The music room resembles French Versailles. There is an organ at the end and a grand piano on one side, where Henry and Mary Lily frequently entertained.

The Last Train to Paradise

The fact that Flagler planned to expand his train to Key West as far back as the late 1880s shows how far ahead of his time he was in his thinking. 

Flagler extended the rail route from Miami to Key West. This route was approximately 156 miles, much of it over the water. Thus, Flagler called this route the Over-Sea Railroad. Today, that route is called the Oversea Highway, making it convenient to visit the castles in Florida.

Traveling the route today, you can view the remains of the original Flagler rail bridge, erected more than a century ago. The 1935 Labor Day hurricane destroyed the rail line.

Key West was already one of the most populous towns during the early 1900s. Henry Flagler wanted to take advantage of the Cuban and Latin American traffic passing via the deep harbor to the Panama Canal.

Museums Connected to Castles in Florida

Despite its age of more than a century, the train you’ll see and enjoy is remarkably well-preserved. Flagler owned a sumptuous railcar. In the light, the sun-kissed wood in this train glows with showers, bathrooms, and mattresses to provide a place to relax while traveling from Jacksonville to Key West. 

You might imagine yourself riding this train and looking out the windows. You would be watching schools of fish darting about in the crystal-clear water below, or maybe even a dolphin swimming by – can you imagine this breathtaking experience?

Have you ever heard of the book Last Train to Paradise? It is about Flagler’s trains and railway system and is a must-read!

If the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach isn’t on your list for Florida, it needs to be; it’s a unique experience.

European castles have a rich history dating back hundreds or even a thousand years, something our American history and our castles in Florida lack. The Flagler Museum in Florida is my favorite among American castles because of its emphasis on love behind it.

To Mr. Carson, the museum’s Public Affairs Director, I extend my gratitude for taking time out of his day to meet with me and provide further information – it was an honor to talk to someone so caring about the history and our Florida heritage.

Alex Cleland, who focuses on the tours and coordination of visitors at the entrance, also deserves a shout-out for his generosity in sharing his knowledge of Flagler’s past and that of the palace with me. My time with him was priceless, and I am grateful for every second. When you visit, don’t be afraid to say hello and greet him on my behalf – we need more passionate people like him.

Some Last Thoughts on Castles in Florida

As the United States is the youngest country in the world, naturally, there are few castles to be found. 

However, there were philanthropists throughout the last two centuries who adored the notion of castles. They wanted to share the heritage and the touch of French, Oriental, German, and Spanish influence with others. Allowing everyone to experience a bit of Europe in the United States was their vision; today, their dream is becoming a reality.

Suppose you have the desire to stroll the hallways of a castle, to imagine yourself as a princess. In that case, Florida has five castles for you to experience without having to make the jump across the pond.  

After all, isn’t that every girl’s dream? Someone who adores you so much they build a dream castle for you?

Start Planning Your Next Trip

Read about more amazing trips – and start planning your next vacation! You could cruise to Alaska, travel to Italy, or jet off to Christmas Island!

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *