Aerial view of the entire Falkenstein Castle property, straight out of the Bavarian architecture textbook (Credit: Jim Wreyford)
Tucked away in Texas Hill Country, nestled among the hills in our own backyard, there are castles to be found.
These aren’t the enormous kingdom-defending forts our European counterparts built during the Middle Ages, but smaller variations more befitting of their Hill Country setting. What if I told you such majestic structures can be found within a 90 minute drive of Austin?
Yes, there are some relatively well known castle-like structures within the Austin area, buildings like Pemberton Castle and the Texas Military Institute Castle. But you don’t get the castle feeling until the building is set against a dramatic landscape, something you might see amongst the rolling hills of England or Scotland.
Certain parts of the Texas Hill Country mimic European landscapes. As you round a corner off Texas Park Road 4 South just past Longhorn Cavern State Park near Marble Falls, and you first set eyes on Falkenstein Castle perched atop a hill, you get a sense of being transported back in time.
Falkenstein Castle
Falkenstein Castle was built in 1996 by Texas developer Terry Young and his wife Kim. The idea was born from a trip to Germany the year before, when the couple visited one of the most famous castles ever created, Castle Neuschwanstein. This same castle served as the inspiration for the fairytale castle at Disney World.
View of the pond found inside the Falkenstein Castle grounds (Credit: Kim Young)
On their fateful trip, Terry Young and his wife were touring Castle Neuschwanstein and noticed some of the original architectural drawings looked quite different from the completed project. Upon inquiring, they learned of a secret project that was being considered once Neuschwanstein was complete.
This second project was set to be more spectacular than the original castle in every way. Unfortunately, due to a king’s untimely death, the secret design was never acted upon. However, the same architectural drawings ended up being the foundation for what is now known as Falkenstein Castle, a Hill Country castle with Bavarian DNA.
Falkenstein is still considered a private residence, but it can be rented out for weddings or even television and film projects. The gates are typically shut, so if you want to visit be sure to set up an appointment beforehand.
7400 Park Road 4 South, Burnet, TX – Website
Smythwick Castle & Lodge
The entire castle property consisting of 5 bedrooms can be rented online
About 20 miles east of Falkenstein Castle, tucked away in tiny Smythwick, TX, is the Smythwick Castle & Lodge. While not a castle in the traditional sense of the word, Smythwick describes the venue as a “country castle” and somehow the description just fits.
The Smythwick property is the smallest of the three featured in this article, but its exterior space covers over 10 acres total. Much of that space is unspoiled Texas Hill Country with waterfalls, ponds and grand Oak trees.
Smythwick Castle & Lodge is now mostly used as a wedding space, but the entire property can be rented out via sites like Airbnb. The 5-bedroom space can accommodate up to 10 people.
Cooking classes are also offered throughout the year with the option to stay overnight.
The Smythwick property includes 10 acres of unspoiled Texas Hill country with ponds and waterfalls
12615 East FM 1431, Marble Falls, TX – Website
Castle Avalon
Gargoyles stand guard as you approach the Castle Avalon’s main entrance
On the opposite side of Hill Country, about an hour south of downtown Austin in nearby New Braunfels, you can find Castle Avalon.
Built in 1996, Castle Avalon takes its name from the legends of King Arthur. Avalon was said to be the final resting place for the legendary king, rumored to be the last place of magic before the world of Man.
Upon entering the property, you are greeted by a 22-foot tall gatehouse where admittedly it is odd to see a Texas and American flag flying atop castle spires. You are then welcomed with a beautiful mile-long stroll through trees before you come up to the castle, which was built on 160 acres of pristine Texas Hill Country.
The castle entrance is subdued by the huge oak trees that line the entire property
At one point, Castle Avalon was a fully functioning bed and breakfast with a commercial restaurant. Now the castle is mostly used for weddings and other special events. It is the most easily accessible of all the castles mentioned here, with the main office open during normal weekday hours and on Saturday.
10900 Hwy 46 West, Canyon Lake, TX – Website
The stately grounds of Castle Avalon with two front balconies
Whether you are planning your next fairytale wedding or just looking for a unique venue to host a special event, these Hill Country castles are a perfect place to start. It’s good to have some Old World enchantment right in Austin’s backyard.
@Crafty_Ed wants to know:
What are your favorite castles or other magnificent structures in Texas Hill Country?
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Just a heads-up about the Smythwick Castle. Nice owner, but the “cooking class” that we attended was nothing more than being handed a recipe and being pointed to the fridge for ingredients. When ingredients were unavailable (or had gone bad), we were told they weren’t important. We prepared the dishes with no input, alongside the hostess and other couples. Then we all sat down and ate together. Kind of a supper club where you do some of the cooking in someone else’s kitchen and then visit with people you don’t know. On a positive note, the food we prepared was tasty. If you’re actually looking for a cooking class, I’d highly recommend one of the Central Market classes! Also, the “decor” of the castle–to be as kind as possible–was fairly tacky. Probably less glaringly awful at night?? Again, very nice owner and I wish them the best.
Interesting insight – thanks for taking the time to comment. Out of curiosity, when did you attend your class?
From the photographs, the “castles” look a little half finished or like they ran out of money. Typical of the flitting socialite that picks and nibbles but never quite fills the glass with more than a sample of the wine. The website has crappy photos and looks more like a 6th grader did it…..
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I agree, this whole thing has a very 6th-grader look to it. The first one is big enough and such to at least appear as a castle, and I’m sure the folks who own it have as much money as someone who owns a real castle in Euorpe. But Young’s Faulkenstein (tip to the movie) has no moats, no knights, no gun/bow-arrow ports, no horses that are evident. Curious, I went to the Web site for this place and looked at a few wedding photos; one declared this couple was “Merried…” (sic) there.
I went to a wedding at the Avalon Castle and other than the facade (= false front) it’s just a plain ole building with a staircase. No real feel of a castle there. It’s pretty cheesey too.
As for the 2nd “castle” mentioned, it looks like a boring kind of house / long barn with one big round turrent-looking thing which apparently is enough to qualify something as a castle to the author. Of course, all of these are available to rent, so that seems to be the driving force for the article. None have any real heritage to them even.
Far better: Chase up a road trip of the painted churches around Austin (mostly towards Smithville). These are a handful of beautiful, old, quaint, and extremely real churches (not sure they’re all fully “active”), mostly originally built and crafted by European immigrants common to early central Texas. Each has it’s own little history and you can practically feel the love and artistry that went into their construction and maintenance. And there’s nothing commercial about them, except maybe a humble collection box at the door.