If you’ve spent any time exploring Washington, you already know that parts of our state look straight out of a fairytale. And of course, every good fairytale includes castles. We’ve got those, too, including one in Yakima that seems to slip under the radar.
You’ll find Congdon Castle south of Nob Hill Boulevard on 64th Avenue in Yakima.
Walter Smith / Flickr The castle is currently occupied and on private property, so you can’t tour it, but you can see it from the road.
This majestic castle was built in 1914 (completed in 1915) by industrialist Chester A. Congdon, an attorney and mining magnate who was a builder of the Yakima Valley Canal.
Walter Smith / Flickr Chester came to Yakima from Duluth in 1889. Unfortunately he died in 1916, and he never even got to enjoy it.
Since Chester’s passing, the castle has been owned by the private and mysterious Congdon family.
Walter Smith / Flickr It was open to the surrounding orchard’s employees and their families for years, and in 1976, you could even take a trolley out to see it. But since 1987, it has been strictly a private residence.
The castle is said to have more than 80 rooms, including 18 bedrooms, a Great Room with a huge fireplace and an indoor pool that would temporarily drain all the water from the well when it was filled.
Walter Smith / Flickr It was built from local rocks quarried near the Painted Rocks, which was once owned by Congdon’s Yakima Valley Canal Company.
Because it’s so private, this impressive piece of local history isn’t well known by people outside of the Yakima Valley.
Walter Smith / Flickr Perhaps one day tours will be open to all Washingtonians.
This castle may be private, but don’t worry: Washington has several castles you can actually explore.
Walter Smith / Flickr
The castle is currently occupied and on private property, so you can’t tour it, but you can see it from the road.
Walter Smith / Flickr
Chester came to Yakima from Duluth in 1889. Unfortunately he died in 1916, and he never even got to enjoy it.
It was open to the surrounding orchard’s employees and their families for years, and in 1976, you could even take a trolley out to see it. But since 1987, it has been strictly a private residence.
It was built from local rocks quarried near the Painted Rocks, which was once owned by Congdon’s Yakima Valley Canal Company.
Perhaps one day tours will be open to all Washingtonians.
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