Last Updated on April 9, 2022
If you find yourself in Charlevoix – or Northern Michigan at that, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the renowned and beautiful Castle Farms. This historical attraction will take you back in time as you wander the breathtaking grounds and explore throughout the castle. You may even find Castle Farms to be the perfect spot to hold your special event or wedding, as the grounds can host up to five events in one evening!
*Scroll to the end for my own personal story of why I LOVE Castle Farms!
Where is Castle Farms and how do I get there?
Castle Farms is located just a few miles south of downtown Charlevoix in Northern Michigan.
The easiest way to get to the castle is by a personal vehicle (or your fairy godmother’s pumpkin carriage). It is possible to travel here via public transportation, though it won’t be easy and it won’t be cheap. If you do not have a car or are traveling to Michigan without one, I highly suggest renting a car or using a service like Turo (think Airbnb for cars).
How should I prepare for my visit?
Make sure to check Castle Farms Event Calendar prior to your visit to see what the hours are (you’ll have to click on “Buy tickets” to see the specific hours open for tours). Sometimes, especially on weekends, Castle Farms will close its doors to the public to provide exclusive service to their private event guests.
The tour includes indoor and outdoor attractions, so prepare for Michigan weather (i.e. snow, rain, sun, hot, cold…all in one day!). The best time to visit is between late spring and early fall, when all of Castle Farms attractions should be open (yet still weather permitting).
Yes, Castle Farms is definitely the perfect “Instagrammable” spot for young adults. Though, note that this is mainly a walking tour and attraction – plan to wear comfortable walking shoes (or bring a pair to change into between your photo ops).
How much does it cost to visit Castle Farms?
Prices to visit the castle can slightly fluctuate throughout the year, but plan on paying around $10 per person for a self-guided tour.
What is there to do at Castle Farms?
Plan on spending around 2-3 hours (if not more) at Castle Farms. There is so much to see and do.
Upon arrival to the castle, head to the welcome center and gift shop where you can purchase tickets for a self-guided tour. Either take time to browse the gift shop at this time, or wait until the end of your tour.
In addition to your self-guided tour, Castle Farms offers a tram tour of the grounds that is included in your ticket price. When purchasing your tickets, make sure to ask if the tour is running (as it is weather permitting) and what time it starts (typically about two tours per day). Even if you have walked around the grounds, this tour is very interesting and educational.
As mentioned before, Castle Farms serves as a venue for weddings and events. Even if events are not going on at the time, it’s so much fun to walk through each event space (maybe this is just exhilarating for me as an event planner…).
Tour Activities
In addition to the five large event spaces, these are other things you will see or experience on your tour:
- Introduction video of Castle Farms
- Access to walk and roam through the castle
- Outdoor model railroad (with over 2,500 feet of track weaving through the gardens – that makes it the largest model railroad in Michigan!)
- A fun alphabet garden accompanied by a plant of that same letter
- A blacksmith shop converted into a WWI museum
- Royal wedding memorabilia
- A dragon from ArtPrize
- A birch tree forest
- A “growing” Castle Farms orchards
- Breathtaking gardens
- 1918 Cellars (a wine tasting room and bistro)
- Gift shop
- And more!
See the map below for more details of what you’ll see on your Castle Farms Tour.
Castle Farms Events
Make sure to check out all of the upcoming events at Castle Farms that are open to the public! The castle offers a wide variety of events to attract visitors of any age. Some events include wedding expos, wine & yoga, Santa’s workshop, paint & sip, farm-to-table dinner tours,
Cliff Notes Version of the History of Castle Farms
Once upon a time in the faraway land of Northern Michigan, the president of Sears & Roebuck, Albert Loeb, decided to build a dairy farm in the quaint town of Charlevoix in 1918. He modeled it to look like the stunning architecture found in Normandy, France and named it Loeb Farms.
Nearly 45 years later, John VanHaver purchased the castle and turned it into an artist’s haven. Castle Farms was now a gallery for people to view his artwork, grab a coffee and be inspired by the beautiful grounds. He even dedicated a spot for artists to design metalwork.
This only lasted a few years before Arthur (Art) and Edwina Reibel took over the castle and turned it into Castle Farms Summer Music Theater. Many popular artists came to perform at Castle Farms for nearly 20 years.
Insider’s Secret… shhh
*A little insider’s secret… Art’s presence can still be found in the castle today. As a former employee of Castle Farms, I’ve had the pleasure (and maybe fright) of meeting Mr. Art Reibel himself through strange and eerie experiences in the castle. (Message me if you want all the ghostly deets!)
According to a news article in the Battle Creek Enquirer announcing Art’s death in the Castle in 1999, the local police chief, Denny Halverson, described Art as, “He was definitely a colorful sort in the community. We weren’t sure where or how he was going to show up next”. He would be happy to know, I’m sure, that his mysterious and free-spirited legacy still lives on today.
After the passing of Art Reibel, the current owner, Linda Mueller, purchased and restored the castle in 2001. Today, Castle Farms is an exquisite venue for weddings, events, and tours. Recently, the castle added a wine cellar and bistro offering their very own selection of Castle Farms wine and tasty bites to try on your visit.
Why I love Castle Farms
Early-Life Crisis
It was back in 2010, I had just barely made it through the first month of being a freshman at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I was doing horrible in my science classes that I needed to pass to become a physical therapist, and knew it was time for me consider changing my major.
This same week that I realized I needed to shift my life goals, I had plans to go up to Northern Michigan with my parents to celebrate my mom’s birthday. I told my parents the news on the car ride up north, and found myself in tears trying to figure out what to do with my life. I had always wanted to do something more creative, but the only major I could think of was Art – which I found didn’t have too many career options.
My first visit to the Castle
Fast-forward a few days. My parents and I had heard about this historical attraction called Castle Farms in Charlevoix, MI. As we drove up to the castle, I was not only in awe of the stunning architecture in front of me, but felt a shift in energy. My worries about my major just disappeared. I felt hopeful for the first time in weeks.
We paid our entrance fee for our self-guided tour and then made our way into the castle. My feelings that flooded over me were indescribable, but I knew this place just felt right – it was exactly where I needed to be at that moment. We spent hours wandering around the castle and the gorgeous grounds.
My Ah-Hah Moment
Midway through our tour, a small group of people walked past us, led by someone holding a clipboard and telling the guests about the space, how many people they could fit in the room she was showing, and explaining a brief timeline for their event. Right then, it clicked! This was my ah-hah moment! This girl was a real-life event planner. Up until this point, I had for some reason thought that job was just a glamourous made-up Hollywood job that was only in movies, like The Wedding Planner. I was going to be a wedding planner and hopefully work for Castle Farms one day!
Future J-Lo over here
These were pre-iPhone times for me, so I remember running back to our van after our visit to search through the booklet of majors/courses offered at GVSU to see if they had any sort of major that would allow me to be a wedding planner. This day was getting even better! GVSU offered a 4-year Hospitality & Tourism Management program that I could choose an emphasis to specialize in – one of which being Meeting & Event Management!
As silly as it sounds, my visit to Castle Farms was really a major turning point in my life. It led me to a new major, a memorable summer internship at Castle Farms, and an amazing career in the events industry. Although my interests within the events industry shifted a little, I still give Castle Farms credit for getting me to where I am today.
Military Spouse Travel Tip!
Be sure to ask for a military discount for your Castle Farms tour, as well as at other places in Charlevoix or Northern Michigan. Many local shops do not offer a military discount, but oftentimes they will give you a friends and family discount instead.
