The Odd Midwest: Hartford/Lake Wood Castle

April 11, 2005

Hartford/Lake Wood Castle

The first trip to the Haunted Lake Wood Castle - Photos and story by Justin Makler

Location: Off of RT 111 in Illinois between Edwardsville and Hartford in Chouteau Township.
File Under: Haunted, Death, ghosts, no trespassing, Castle, Madison County, Illinois

The year was 1989, the month was June and I was a high school senior doing what all high school seniors in the Midwest do on a Friday night, hanging out in the Mc Donald's parking lot. Fight for your Right to Party was blarring on the old Pinewood truck stereo as Jimbo pulled up to tell us about a party. (Quick note about Jimbo, he was the guy that was 4 years older than the rest of us still going to High School.) About four of us jumped in the bed of Jimbo's truck and sped off to find the party. Doing about 70 straight out of town I remember thinking, this looks like it's going to be a party in hooserville, oh joy. We pulled off the the highway, Jimbo killed the lights and drove just into the tree line, just far enough off the road so the cars on the highway wouldn't see. We jumped from the bed and followed Jimbo into the blackness of the woods. About 300 feet in we came to a concrete bridge that had crumbled from years of decay but you were able to jump from piece to piece avoiding the water. A misstep would mean a foot full of muddy water. I remember thinking that this might be a trick, Jimbo would lose us in the woods. Just at this moment, Jimbo yells make a right at the lions head. Huh? Yup, sure enough there was a large concrete lion, part of it's mane was gone and it made it look as though it had a monkeys head. After making the right we ran into a couple high school girls staring down into an old well. They were yelling "Red Mary, Red Mary, Red Mary." into the dark water. Right pass the girls I could see a small bonfire and about two dozen kids dancing, drinking and smoking on an old concrete gazebo.

About the time I said, "What is this place, where are we?" Someone came running through the woods yelling, "Cops! They are here with tow trucks." Everyone ran in different directions, I followed Jimbo and dove into the bed and we screamed off into the night without getting caught. A couple weeks later I asked several friends about the place but no one knew what the hell I was talking about. After thinking about it, I realized that the kids out there weren't from my high school and most likely the high school from the town over. The problem is I couldn't really remember where the place was and I went looking on more than one occasion.

The saga continues: The year is 2005, I'm back in Edwardsville visiting family and friends. I found myself in a friends car driving down RT 111 and I mentioned this above story. Jason said that he kind of remembered a place like that as well. We pulled off the road and decided to take a look. The first thing we saw was a silk pair of panties and both agreed that this was most likely the place. Sure enough we found the place. It was even creepier than we remembered. It was clear that this was something spectacular in it's day. Here are the photos we shot that day....

Now the story unfolds. After returning to NYC, I got an email from Jason. He had taken the photos to the Madison County Museum and they knew what he was talking about.

The place was called the Castle, built in 1897 by a hopeless french romantic for his wife. The castle was a 14 room mansion, the entire property was surrounded by a moat that had been stocked with exotic fish. In the early 1900's the Frenchman's wife died and he lost interest in the property and returned to France. Since then the place has been a speak easy, a resort, a military school and even a home for pregnant unwed mothers. In 1960's a couple from Woodriver purchased the property and had grand plans. Shortly after buying the place the couple became sick and the husband passed away. The wife moved into a more modest place and let the property fall into total dismay. It became a teenage party house and was wrecked by vandals. Only to be totally destroyed when a fire was started in March of 73. Today there is only remnants of the fountains, statuary, gazebos and bridges that surrounded the property.

Research Material: - Sent in by Jason Ray
Fire at Lake View Castle
Historic Photos Part 1
Historic Photos Part 2
Death By Train
GPS Shot
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Recent Photos Shot by Justin Makler

Related Links:
Prairie Ghosts:

___________________________________________

Do you have a story, photos or material to share. Please send contact: Justin Makler

10:28 PM in Ghost Stories, Haunted Places, Illinois | Permalink

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Posted by: | July 19, 2005 at 01:33 AM

I have been to this place meny times, and i have heard meny different stories. Mostly i heard it was an old gangster's house. i have not partied out there, but i have hicked out there quite a bit, i think it is so peaceful land pretty. i have never had any ghostly experences, i have never even seen another person out there besides me. but the point is that i have always wondered what the story behind the place was and have not be successful in my investigation, so i think that the fact that you found all this out is really cool. I am glad i stumble on this sight, i was actually tring to find some info on the place, and know i have. Thanks alot.
p.s i don't know if you have been out there lately, but it is getting worse. the trees are falling everywhere and destroying what is left, it is really quite sad.

Posted by: Casie R | June 28, 2006 at 04:04 PM

I thought your info on the hartford castle ia great,I have lived in Hartford all of my life and deer hunted and rabbit hunted there for years and never heard the true story......thanks

Posted by: Robert | August 02, 2006 at 07:37 PM

does anyone know who owns this now??

Posted by: Jon | December 07, 2006 at 07:54 PM

is it legal for anyone to pull in and browse around the lakeview property? should i contact anyone or ask for permission, and if so, whom? thanks alot.
p.s. i'm a huge history nut and like to learn about history by visiting the sites.

Posted by: tom | January 23, 2007 at 11:44 PM

I grew up in Hartford in the late 50s through the 60s. Many times my buddies and I would walk down the railroad tracks to the castle. You could see the bright red turret rising high above the trees. On several occasions we drifted onto the property but were politely asked to leave by an elderly gentleman. What memories your site brings back. Thank you.

Posted by: Ron | January 24, 2007 at 03:17 PM

My boyfriend and I and his family went to Lakeview castle today. we had saw some pretty neat thing like the bridges r still standing and one of the old pilars that went to the train station is still standing which is amazing after all these years

Posted by: TAMMY | March 08, 2007 at 07:07 PM

Thanks to your pictures and info (and that from Weird Illinois), we went out here today. It took a bit of trampling around in the woods and swamp to find the trail, but once we found it, we realized where we should have entered all along. The lion and the pagoda are still there - partially immersed in the swamp. Saw the remnants of an old garage perhaps (???) and a top of a cook-stove, a few wells and/or other holes in the ground, and were amazed at the circling, multi-directional cement walk-ways around the property. As mentioned, the area is extremely overgrown... but this is a site well-worth the branches and brambles. Wish I could have been around to tour it - or even just see it from afar - in its glory. The bridge remnants are nothing to cross over, but there are logs to try to use to balance your way across.

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