I’ll admit that when I first heard about a castle tucked away in the woods of Willoughby Hills, I was skeptical. Ohio doesn’t exactly scream medieval architecture, and yet here stands a stone structure that looks like it was plucked straight from the English countryside.
Squire’s Castle at 2844 River Rd, Willoughby Hills, OH 44094, has a story that sounds too strange to be true. Built in 1897 as a gatehouse for a grand estate that never came to be, this quirky piece of history has become one of the most photographed spots in Lake County.
What makes it truly fascinating isn’t just the castle itself, but the dreams, ambitions, and unexpected twists that shaped its existence. Today, it stands as a testament to plans gone awry and the beauty that can emerge from unfinished business.
A Gatehouse That Never Got Its Estate
The whole story begins with Feargus Squire, a Standard Oil executive who had grand visions for his property in the late 1800s. He wanted to build a sprawling estate that would rival the finest homes in Cleveland…