Coronado Heights Castle, Saline County, Kansas- Travel Review

Coronado Heights: Me climbing down the side of the turret.
All photos Courtesy of Jake Mcmillin  

 

During my research of ‘Castles to Visit in the Midwest area’ The architecture of Coronado Heights in the review left a little more to be desired, but still the structure of this castle gave me enough inspiration to want to go out and see it. So, I set off on the journey that at first, led me to Mason City, Illinois. Once I began heading towards Kansas for the first time, I can say that I was highly impressed. No wonder Dorothy from the wizard of Oz wanted to get back there so bad. The hills and boulders of Kansas are a wonderful sight to see. When arriving to the castle you start to see hills sitting in the sky and I couldn’t help but wonder which on the castle is on. When you pull into its front gates you drive up a winding gravel road surrounded by beautiful trees and sights of farmland and distant cities like, Salina, Ka. Once you get to the very top the views become breath taking. Not only does the small castle vibrate a great atmosphere but being on the top of this 300’ hill you get views that only birds get the pleasure to see. When you walk into the Coronado Heights in Saline County, Kansas you walk into the medieval dining room with two flattened stone tables with a fireplace to the side of them.

Inside Front Door of Castle

You could just imagine the soldiers sitting in the dining hall eating, celebrating, victorious from their last conquest. This castle was built in the 1930’s with the intention of turning this 300’ hill into a picnic area which led to them constructing this ‘Castle’ with Dakota Limestone. There is no lighting in the dining room except for the windows sitting atop of the Limestone walls letting pillars of light in during sunup. Inside of the front entrance there is a small, narrow, winding staircase, taking you to the second floor where you get access to the exposed roof and surrounded battlement. Here you can look out onto the trails below and the clouds, what feel like only a few feet away. There is also a third level on top of the turret of the castle, which is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. There are two points of entry to this third level. But although a bit tricky, one being a small window hole in the ceiling next to the staircase that you must hoist yourself up into or a second point of entry from the open rooftop, there is a protruding stone that you can grab onto and lift yourself high enough to grab the battlement and climb over to the third floor of the castle.  

This castle has been reinforced by the 21st century with new poured concrete floors on the exposed roof and reinforced beam brackets upholding the roof from the inside. There are grills and fireplaces with stone picnic tables located around the edge of the hill. This castle is open from 8am to 10pm, but this castle is a sight to see on a dark night with no bleed lights, the stars can shine brightly behind the castle along with the moon. The overall peace and serenity of the Coronado Heights Castle is also a great place to bring the family for a picnic.


Coronado Castle at Night 


For A virtual Tour of Coronado Heights Castle Travel here: https://youtu.be/3Xt2zylnr8k


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