Abandoned places in Kansas City are pretty common if you look for them, but sometimes they can still surprise you. If you don’t get out a lot or have just moved in, you might not know about this hidden abandoned castle that’s slowly being overtaken by nature. It can get a little creepy if you’re here alone, because you might hear noises or get spooked by the whistling wind. Have you ever ventured to explore this urban castle before?

This beauty you see here is called the Workhouse, a castle that's been abandoned since the 70s.
The Workhouse - Kansas City Historic Castle Facebook
This urban fortress was built in 1897 and designed by A. Wallace Love and James Oliver Hog. It was first used as a city jail for petty offenders such as thieves or debtors.
Prisoners here worked as part of their punishments.
The Workhouse - Kansas City Historic Castle Facebook
Women sewed prison uniforms and men worked in general labor around the city, like many offenders do today. The prisoners here even mined the limestone used to make the building!
However, the jail closed in 1924, and it was later used for many purposes, including an event space for weddings and concerts.
The Workhouse - Kansas City Historic Castle Facebook
It's been a Marine training camp and a simple storage facility.

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Today, though, it stands unused and overgrown. There was an effort to revitalize the area and renovate it, but it seems to have disappeared since 2014.
The Workhouse - Kansas City Historic Castle Facebook
It's a little sad, but for the most part, I like to think of nature as a force retaking this space for good.
Like many abandoned places, trespassers have tagged the crumbling structure; however, it's fascinating to see these marks as the signature of another who has been here and also saw its beauty.
The Workhouse - Kansas City Historic Castle Facebook
So many lives passed through here, both during construction, in operation, and since it's abandonment.
Needless to say, the natural growth of things here is beautiful, and it's just another step in the lifetime of this urban castle.
The Workhouse - Kansas City Historic Castle Facebook

I don’t recommend visiting after dark (due to curfews, not ghosts), but many photographers and artists have found themselves taking photos of this amazing abandoned castle during daylight hours with no issues. YouTuber Dennis Mclear uploaded this aerial video of the Workhouse castle in 2016, where you can see most of the natural disrepair and overgrown areas that give this semi-creepy castle it’s character today.

You can find the Workhouse at 2001 Vine St. right here in Kansas City. Here’s a helpful map to direct you. Happy travels!

While you’re out adventuring, why not stop by one of the coolest attractions nearby, this amazing Big Cat sanctuary in Louisburg?

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