Live like royalty by booking a stay at 3 of Nevada’s 4 castles
Learn about the four castles in Nevada, three of which you can stay in.
The mention of castles typically evokes images of medieval times with a king on his throne, a knight on a horse, or possibly the storming scene from “The Princess Bride.” In Nevada, however, our castles are a bit more modern. They’re also all quite eclectic with their own unique history.
From a family home that was used for a month to a longtime Las Vegas Strip hotel, here are Nevada’s four coolest castles — three of which you can stay in.
1. Stoke’s Castle
One of two castles in or near the remote town of Austin, Stoke’s Castle was once a summer home for a prominent Nevada family (even though they only lived there for a month). Built during the town’s silver rush in the 19th century, it was modeled after a medieval tower in Italy. The three-story stone structure had a fireplace on every floor, kitchen, dining room, living room, and two bedrooms with balconies on the second and third floors overlooking the expansive Reese River Valley.
Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, the castle structure remains today in honor of the town’s heritage. When booming during the 1860s-1880s, Austin was a town of enormous silver wealth and home to more than 10,000 residents. By 1887, however, the mines dried out and the people moved away. As of 2022, the population is just 16.
Stoke’s Castle has remained unoccupied and abandoned for more than 130 years though it is now owned and cared for by an Austin-area resident. Located on the west side of Austin, off the Loneliest Road in America (U.S. 50), Stoke’s Castle is worth a stop for photo ops and the views.
2. Paradise Ranch
Oddly enough, there’s a second castle in the remote Reese River Valley. This one sits on 160 acres of land off U.S. 50, about 12 miles southwest of Austin.
The rectangular Paradise Ranch Castle Bed & Breakfast was designed to resemble a castle with towers and rooftop turrets. It was built in 2010 by a husband for his wife. Though he passed away in 2014, she continues to share their beloved home with visitors as a bed and breakfast.
Those who stay in one of the three modern rooms enjoy full use of the property, including the kitchen. For a private bathroom, book a stay in the King & Queen’s Quarters ($155 a night). The Blue Room and the Secret Room (both $125 a night) have a shared bathroom. Guests can borrow DVDs to watch in the room at night, and a hot breakfast is served every morning in the dining room.
For amusement, there’s a cash-only bar, a jukebox, and a pool table in The Dungeon on the lower level. There’s also plenty of room on the property for guests to ride ATVs. You can even bring your horses if you provide the feed.
3. Hard Luck Castle
Want to be the king or queen of your own very own luxury castle for a night or two? The four-story Hard Luck Castle in Esmeralda County can be booked via AirBnB.
The most non-traditional of the castles on this list in terms of architecture, Hard Luck Castle is a circular structure built atop the 19th-century Hard Luck gold mine in 1990. This pet-friendly castle can accommodate up to 10 guests in four different rooms. The kitchen is equipped for guests (but bring your own food and drinks) and a private chef is available for hire.
The parlor has a fireplace, seating, and a working pipe organ from the 1920s. There’s also a big-screen TV and Wi-Fi. Guests are treated to 360-degree views of the open land from sun decks and a rooftop solarium with smokers, barbecues, and a hot tub. According to the Airbnb listing, the castle was built “with astrological precision” allowing for out-of-this-world stargazing.
Hard Luck Castle is located on 40 acres off Nevada State Route 267, between Beatty and Goldfield. The land is so remote that the closest store is 48 miles away. Be sure to bring a paper map!
4. Excalibur
The largest castle on this list is the Excalibur Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Built with a medieval castle theme and named for the mythical sword of King Arthur, it’s practically an entire kingdom.
The property includes a 28-story hotel, a 100,000-square-foot casino, four swimming pools, a dozen restaurants, a handful of bars, and an enormous arcade known as the fun dungeon. The arcade is fun for the whole family with midway-type carnival games, arcade games, and more.
Shows at the Excalibur include the adults-only Thunder from Down Under and the hilarious Mac King Comedy Magic Show. In keeping with the castle theme, the dinner show Tournament of Kings is a live-action retelling of the tale of King Arthur with horses, knights, jousting, and pyrotechnics.
Excalibur is conveniently located on the south end of the Strip at Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. And since this is Las Vegas, it’s located between replicas of an Egyptian pyramid (Luxor Las Vegas) and the Statue of Liberty (New York-New York).
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