Built by Baron Ferdinand von Richthofen in 1887 (or 1883, depending on which record you go by), this registered National Landmark and Denver Landmark still shows the baron’s coat of arms: two lions placing a crown on the head of a judge.
The baron built the Castle as part of his Montclair boosterism, and also as part of his campaign to convince a lady from the east coast to move to the wilds of Montclair and marry him. He succeeded in both ambitions, although his bride would not move into the castle until he had done something about the dry, weed-covered grounds. It took two years for the trees and rosebushes to grow enough for her to consent to take up residence.
Over the years, the Castle has had several owners and has undergone several modifications. Early pictures show that the walls of the building were completely stone, and completely rectangular. A later owner softened the structure with a half-timbered second story and diagonal lines.
There is much more to know about this building and its builder – check out the two resources listed on the previous page.