Castle Services
Have you ever dreamed of a Castle wedding or letting your scouts sleep under the stars at a real castle? Click the link below to see a complete list of special events that Loveland Castle can be rented for. If you have questions or need more information please feel free to contact us through the Contact form at the bottom of the website or email us at lovelandcastle@fuse.net Most of our events are by appointment only and must have a completed contract which you can download from our Services page. Please Note: Before setting up a date for your event The Castle amenities Include inside/outside electric and portolets for bathrooms and a maximum of 40 parking spots.Activities
Here at Loveland Castle there are so many things to do and places to explore when you visit. From a quite walk down the pathways of the gardens exploring the various plants and flowers to a family picnic by the river. Below is a list of just a few of the activities offered at the castle. There is never a moment of boredom when you visit us.
Learn about Harry .
Upon seeing the Castle for the first time, most people exclaim "One guy did this?!?" Then they ask who this guy was! Spread throughout is info about Harry and his Castle. If you are really lucky maybe a Knight that knew Harry will be there.Picnicking .
Imagine being on the banks of a wide gentle river. Shade trees everywhere. Or atop an arched tower overlooking the river. For more privacy maybe a bench nestled in the gardens. There are spots all around the Castle for great picnics. There are also tables of the picnicking variety.Games and Puzzles .
Harry made chess and checker sets for people to play with. The originals are on display, but fine duplicates are ready to go! There are also puzzles to test the most stout of minds. Just remember the rules.... Winners get to reset the game for the next players. Losers and those who fail to put the puzzles back together have to go to the creek and get a rock!Ghosts .
If you believe in ghosts...the Castle has them! If you don't...fine, be that way! Either way, you will find pictures of the Castle's ghosts and ghost stories galore at the Castle! Not to mention you can read a few of our Knights ghost stories right here on the website follow the link at the top.Architecture .
Harry featured three distinctive styles of architecture. German, French and English. Four types of towers. A gigantic wall that has almost as many stones in it as the Castle itself. Harry's domed ceiling. A Dry-moat. Hand Tiled ceilings. Murder Holes, Stoop doors and lots more!Swords and Weapons .
The Castle has a fine collection of period weaponry located throughout. We always have pieces on display. We have many different types of souvenirs that you will want to take home with you.Gallery
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="6" gal_title="Sir Harry"] [Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="9" gal_title="Castle Gardens"]About Sir Harry And the KOGT
Harry Delos Andrews April 5th 1890 - April 16th 1981
Harry objected to modern warfare - killing at a distance. He preferred sword-to-sword medieval combat. He served as a medic in World War I, contracted spinal meningitis, and was declared dead in 1918. By the time that he was declared undead -- six months later -- his fiancé had married another man. Harry seemed not to have minded, he stayed in Europe, visiting castles. He veered away from women, period. Having more than 50 marriage proposals later in life, he turned all of them down!Did You Know Harry....
- Drafted and served in the Army during WWI as a medic. He didn't object to war itself, he didn't like the weapons of modern warfare. So, Harry enlisted as a nurse.
- Was the oldest living Notary Public in Ohio...and he never charged more than a quarter for his service.
- Was a well published author, including a guide book he wrote at the bequest of the U.S. Immigration Department to aid those seeking citizenship. A copy of which is on display at the castle.
- Graduated from Colgate University.
- Also made the road you take down to the castle. Buses cannot make it down this road still today!
- Grew vegetables year round in hotbeds of his own design. They were heated by railroad lanterns!
- Hid his secret room in the garden. The entrance was one of the arches in the arch wall. It was only discovered after it collapsed from years of neglect...Even the knights didn't know it was there!
- Had an amazing 189 I.Q.
All About the Knights of the Golden Trail
The history of the Knights of the Golden Trail, KOGT, is almost as fascinating as the Castle itself. The castle actually can be considered an afterthought, incredible as that seems. In the early 1920's one of Harry Andrews pet projects was his Sunday School / Boy Scout troop. He had a dozen or so boys that met regularly for Sunday School and Boy Scout activities. One of their favorite things was camping. As it happened; years ago the Cincinnati Enquirer, a local newspaper, had a promotion to establish a greater subscription base. If a person paid for a one year subscription in full, they received a plot of land on the banks on the Little Miami River in Loveland. Two of Harry's scouts, it turned out, had parents that took advantage of the Enquirer's offer and the donated the lots to Harry and his scouts. Harry and his scouts became regular visitors to the banks of the Little Miami. So much so that they took to leaving their gear at the campsite. But, between the elements, the wild animals and even people that stumbled upon their cache, their equipment constantly came out missing, damaged or unusable. Finally Harry had an idea, he would build two stone tents, to house their equipment and to provide shelter. If you have ever been a Scout you already know that each individual group, known as a troop, gave themselves appropriate names. Bears, Lions, Warriors are all typical examples. Harry's troop was named the Knights of the Golden Trail. Now standing back admiring the stone tents he had built for his Knights, it is easy to imagine Harry's 189 IQ clicking away...his Knights deserved a real Castle. The KOGT celebrated it's 75th Anniversary in February 2002! KOGT Fun Facts....- Knights still guard the Castle to this day.
- The Knights refuse to be part of pollution happening in the Little Miami River. They have been green for a long time before it was "Cool" to be green!
- Every member of the Knights of the Golden Trail consider it an honor to carry on the traditions started years ago.
- Sir Harry willed the castle and grounds to the knights upon his death at age 91 in 1981.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most asked questions about the Castle.- Question: Is it a real castle?
- Answer: Yes, a thousand years ago when the Roman Empire occupied Britain they built hundreds of keeps just like Harry's. It is full scale, except for the Ballroom which is a 1/5 replica of the ballroom Harry used as a field hospital in WWI.
- Question: How much does it cost to visit?
- Answer: The cost is $5.00 per person and children 5 and under free.On "Special Events" prices may vary.
- Question: Are there tour guides?
- Answer: No It is a self guided tour. However The Knight on duty may give you a brief history Of Sir Harry and or his Castle. Also there is a 3 interview Video and a short Documentary Of Sir Harry's time in Boot Camp During WWI, which should answer most of your curiosities
- Question: Is there food and drinks available at the Castle?
- Answer: There are picnic tables, benches, walls, towers, gardens....picnic spots like you have never seen picnic spots! Bring your own food and drinks and take in all the vast beauty while you picnic here at the castle. If you coming in a large group please make arrangements to take your garbage with you when leave.
- Question: Are there restrooms at the Castle?
- Answer: The Castle has 2 Portables at the south end of the parking lot.
- Question: What activities are their for kids at the Castle?
- Answer: Every group that stays overnight at the Castle gets a full tour, plus the Knight on duty will always be available to answer any questions about Sir Harry and the Castle (don't forget to ask about the Castle ghosts...if you dare!). In the German Game room there are hand made games, like chess and checkers, plus puzzles that Sir Harry and the Knights have created. The fire-ring is perfect for a bonfire, though you may one to bring a little wood incase what you find around the Castle isn't suitable. It is also great for marshmallows and smores! Personally I have always felt that snipe hunts are great fun for new members to a group, but that's just me.
- Question: Does the castle still do Scouts Overknights?
- Answer: Yes the castle still offers overnight stays to the scouts. All the information can be found on the services page.
