The Hidden Castle In North Carolina That Almost No One Knows About
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OnlyInYourState Staff
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Once you’re outside of Durham and amongst the rolling hills of Red Mountain something mysterious appears. Tucked deep in the woods, a mysterious castle more suited for the Russian elite or a German hillside appears. Castle Mont Rouge surrounds itself in legend and rumors. The gorgeous structure is now dilapidated but was once home to so many dreams and hopes.
The castle is a dream-to-life vision by artist Robert Mihaly. Once a sculptor for the likes of Washington Cathedral and commissions for Duke University; he set out to create an immaculate studio where his visions would live amongst the rolling hills and beyond the privacy of the woods. The castle is a mix of different styles, from European towers to Middle-eastern minarets and cupolas.
While Mihaly finished most of the exterior, the interior is left largely incomplete. A rumor surrounded the wayward structure, one that involved the death of Mihaly's wife and her lack of will to go on. While the rumor is just that, a rumor, sources report Mihaly's wife is very much alive with their divorce proceeding the abandonment of his creation.
While Mihaly finished most of the exterior, the interior is left largely incomplete. A rumor surrounded the wayward structure, one that involved the death of Mihaly's wife and her lack of will to go on. While the rumor is just that, a rumor, sources report Mihaly's wife is very much alive with their divorce proceeding the abandonment of his creation.
Joe Sledge, the author of Did You See That? has visited the castle a few times. In his book he notes, "There is a strange and haunting magic hidden in old castles, with their tall turrets and parapets. Gargoyles guard and terrify, making the building upon which they perch even more foreboding. Even as the castles age, the ghosts still abide the rules. Who knows how long the magic of an old castle remains. Maybe we can find out at Castle Mont Rouge."
He describes his visit to the castle as, " The building is not built in one specific style, with tall spires, onion domes of orthodox designs, and walls clad with marble. The cinder block construction was accented with wood floors."
He describes his visit to the castle as, " The building is not built in one specific style, with tall spires, onion domes of orthodox designs, and walls clad with marble. The cinder block construction was accented with wood floors."
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The inside is left largely unfinished and unseasoned explorers should heed caution as the building has become unstable and dilapidated from years of weathering. About two years ago, Mihaly actually saw the rise of interest in the castle. From Atlas Obscura to the popular page, Abandoned Homes of North Carolina, Castle Mont Rouge gained press and within that Mihaly sought a secondary chance. He started a GoFundMe to finish the castle, but the included video talking about knights and princesses was slightly off-putting and bizarre to many. Sadly, the goal was never met.
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Today, Castle Mont Rouge sits quitely at the end of a long dirt road. With vandals extorting the property, the neighbors have grown suspicious of visitors and it's best to use caution if visiting. That hasn't stopped everyone though, today, the castle has been badly vandalized with broken windows, glass, and grafitti.
It could be said the castle was doomed from the start. Sledge described it perfectly stating, "The cinder block construction was accented with wood floors. The castle rises through the trees, incongruous and sad, but still amazing. Most of the houses in and around Rougemont are common, regular. This one reaches up to the sky with tiny spires, a lost promise, a goal never met."
It could be said the castle was doomed from the start. Sledge described it perfectly stating, "The cinder block construction was accented with wood floors. The castle rises through the trees, incongruous and sad, but still amazing. Most of the houses in and around Rougemont are common, regular. This one reaches up to the sky with tiny spires, a lost promise, a goal never met."
Castle Mont Rouge is such an interesting place, have you visited it before?
Speaking of eerie yet romantic, this overnight ghost hunt in North Carolina will lead you to some beautiful destinations.
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