Celebrate the Holidays at This Charming Ohio Castle

When you think about castles, you often think about grand structures in faraway places where kings and queens once walked. Although no royalty ever ruled over the Buckeye State, Ohio does have a handful of castles, some of which are open for exploration and, in some cases, even overnight stays. 

One of these charming castles is nestled near Mohican State Park in Loudonville. Though it appears to have the rustic charm of an old English structure,  Jim Landoll built Landoll’s Mohican Castle in 2002. After a two-year tour in Europe, the retired Army sergeant wanted to build a castle in America.

After a journey into the publishing industry, Landoll began building his castle, which took shape as a 31-suite hotel situated on an expansive 30 acres of land. Since its opening, the castle has hosted several weddings and events, including their annual holiday display, Christmas at the Castle: The Kingdom of Lights.

Through Dec. 28, this outdoor walk-through event includes beautifully decorated Christmas trees, 150,000 lights and garlands adorning the castle walls and visits with Santa. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Jolly Old Elf drops down in the chimney of the pavilion to visit with the kids.

Visitors can enjoy an evening on-site after the show by grabbing a seat at The Copper Mug Grille for dinner. The newly expanded restaurant is decked out in Christmas decor so that the fun continues inside, and the menu is stacked with hearty dishes like glazed meatloaf, short ribs and schnitzel.

Since the castle was built as a hotel, visitors who plan ahead can even make an overnight of their trip by booking one of the suites like the William the Lion suite which is adored in festive decor from sparkling lights to holiday treats waiting upon arrival. Families who stay can opt for the Elf Tuck-In Experience too, which will bring a friendly elf to the room to deliver a small gift and read a bedtime story to the little ones.

For more information about Christmas at the Castle, visit landollsmohicancastle.com