Did you know that we have many gorgeous historical castles right here in New Jersey? Bergen County is home to several architectural marvels, each more impressive than the last. Let's take a closer look at five local castles that have caught our agents' eyes during our time serving clients in this area.
Kip's Castle
22 Crestmont Rd., Montclair, NJ, 07042
Kip's Castle (formerly known as Kypsburg) is a stunning recreation of a medieval Norman castle right here in Jersey. It was built from 1902 to 1905 by Frederic Ellsworth Kip, a renowned industrialist in the textile industry. Both the building and grounds were designed by Kip's wife, Charlotte Bishop Williams Kip. Her favorite feature was the octagonal rose garden, a paradise she lovingly tended to each day.
After Charlotte's death in 1926, the castle changed hands many times and rarely received any maintenance or upkeep. It fell into disrepair until it was purchased by a local law firm in 1985 and was finally restored with the care it needed. As of now, all 9,000 square feet (as well as an additional 6,000 square feet inside the carriage house) have been restored and are open to the public. Self-guided tours are available during the afternoons from Thursday to Sunday, and visitors are free to roam the grounds from dawn to dusk any day of the week.
Alnwick Hall
355 Madison Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960
Alnwick Hall was built in 1904 by Edward P. Meany, director of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company and New Jersey Judge Advocate General. The manor is modeled after the much larger Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England, complete with decorative crenellations topping the outer walls.
This home was once one of many luxury homes that made up Morristown's Millionaire's Row. Today, few of them still stand, and Alnwick Hall itself has been repurposed into an office building known as "The Abbey."
Skyland Manor
2 Morris Rd., Ringwood, NJ
Skylands Manor is a striking Tudor Revival mansion located on the grounds of the New Jersey Botanical Gardens. The building itself is a marvel of elegant English architecture, and its grounds are just as impressive. With over 100 acres of formal gardens and more than 1,000 acres of untamed woodlands, this sprawling property is sure to keep you occupied even if you never set foot in the castle itself.
In addition to its role as a show-stopping centerpiece of the botanical gardens, the manor also operates as a working hotel. There are 21 overnight rooms and suites available for guests that are decorated in a mixture of styles from the late Gothic to early Renaissance periods. The public can also rent the gardens and ballroom for weddings, receptions, and other formal events.
The Legacy Castle
141 NJ-23, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
The Legacy Castle is a breathtaking monument to one man's dream. Construction began in 1998 at the behest of Mounir Badaan, a local entrepreneur who named the castle Legacy after his hope that it would serve as his last grand project.
Now that the castle is largely complete, it sees frequent use as an event space. Its prestigious Grand Legacy ballroom accommodates up to 1200 people, with several smaller rooms available for smaller parties. The castle's towering ceilings, gleaming wood finish, dripping chandeliers, and delicate gold leaf detailing all make the space feel as opulent as anything you'd see in a storybook. Many of the building's grand windows also offer a spectacular view of the property's massive freshwater lake, further reinforcing its fairytale atmosphere.
The Castle, Originally Iviswold
231 Montross Ave., Rutherford, NJ 07070
The Castle is one of the most prominent landmarks on the Rutherford Campus of Felician University. This 19th-century structure was first constructed in 1869 by Lloyd W. Tomkins (a New York land developer) as a simple two-story stone house known as "Hill House" in the local community. It was expanded into its current form by David Brinkerhoff Ivison in 1887, taking the name Iviswold in recognition of its new grandeur.
The property was sold to several different parties over the years, acquiring new features like a two-story addition and an indoor swimming pool. After being purchased by Felician University in 1997, it was carefully restored by historical experts and added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places in 2004 before being reopened to the public in 2013 as simply "The Castle."
Want to see even more of these beautiful castles? All of them are in easy reach from our Ridgewood homes for sale. Contact us today to get expert help in finding the perfect home in the historic residential areas of Bergen County.
