Visiting Loveland Castle had been on my friend and I’s summer bucket list for years. The kids were too young, our schedules didn’t match, or we just ran out of time. This summer, though, we got lucky and actually made it down there. Loveland Castle is about an hour and half drive and is pretty much 71S most of the way. It sits about 10/15 minutes from Kings Island.
The castle is really a sight to see. It was built as a replica of a Chateau Laroche in France where
Harry Delos Andrews stayed during WWI. He built the replica out of stones from the river where the castle sits. Yes, the man, with his own two hands, built the castle with stones he found in the river. Now, he didn’t do it alone. He was an avid Boy Scout enthusiast and had much help from the local leaders and boys. The castle rooms are littered with information about his life because it was his home. I can’t imagine! I love medieval castles, but I don’t think I’d could actually live in one.
Mr. Andrews also loved games. When you enter the castle to pay for your tour ($5/adult and $3 for children) you’ll see tables set up with puzzles and games. Mr. Andrews was an avid game player – and rumor has it could not be beat in checkers. 
The bet was, if you won you got bragging rites; but if you lost, you had to go down to the river and bring back a stone he could use to help build the castle. The castle is still being worked on to this day – want a summer job?
Another fun fact: it is haunted. No, not by old Harry himself who put his blood, sweat and tears into the place, but by two little children. Apparently (sad story), they had drowned in the river and haunted the banks where it happened. Do you see them in this picture of me as the queen? Could be, could be.
Anyhow, the castle can be rented for weddings and parties for a low rate. Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts can stay the night in the castle on Fridays. Only one troop at a time and the cost is low as well. Get all rates by calling them or checking out their website.
Plan your trip:
- Loveland Castle is about one and a half hours away. What do you need for kids? Mine watched Marley and Me and read and ate
snacks. - It is small. We ate a picnic lunch, toured, let the kids play and were only there about two hours.
- Port-o-potties. That is it. So, if you have a baby plan to change him/her in the car. There are gas stations and restaurants on the way if anyone has a phobia to those plastic out houses.
- Strollers = no. Not the best place to push a carriage, plus there is no way they’d fit inside the castle.
- Everything is stone. No running and acting crazy outta you, unless you want to fall and get a boo boo.
