The Curious Castle House

Without a doubt it ranks as one of Calgary’s most unique dwellings. I know the first time we drove past it prompted a triple take from both of us. “Did you see that?”…as we spun around completely in sync. Found in the exclusive Calgary community of Upper Mount Royal there stands a home that’s takes design cues from decades past, kitschy and over the top from every angle and darn proud of it. It’s been vacant and for sale for a time but we’ve since heard they found another use for it – more on that in a moment. On our visit, which you’ll soon join us on, it’s mostly empty save for some odd bits of furniture and remains from a Halloween Party held there a week or two prior to us going in.

Come get to know the Castle House. We’ve been given the keys and have free reign to bask in its greatness and explore its many rooms, halls and all those spiral stairs with no time constraints whatsoever. It’s perhaps not the most opulent place by the standards of this affluent neighbourhood and it’s certainly dated, but in personality and character, it’s above all and in a most unabashed way. It shouts “just look at me!” “Aren’t I wonderful?” We’ve seen nothing like it and we get around.

According to City of Calgary records, the building dates from 1946 although most of what you see came from a remodelling that happened later. Some data suggests if was done over in the 1970s, where as the city notes some major renovations having happened here in the early to mid-1980s. Which ever, it’s a temple to the Gods of design of the era. They owned it.

Oak panelling abounds, with deep rich carpeting or bright coloured tiling underfoot, and all about it’s things that make one feel as though having passed through a wormhole and travelled back some forty years. Just needs a Eldorado parked out front in “Carmine Red” to complete the scene.

Inside the curious Castle House, Calgary.

The dwelling is said to be some fifty five hundred square feet or so (so a tad smaller than C&C’s palatial manor) with four bedrooms and three and half baths. I swear there was more of each, but it is easy to get lost in the place, so I think we counted some twice. And there’s a spiral staircases everywhere. Up this one, down that. On the lower floor it’s the most awesome rumpus room ever! Snooker, wet bar…the makings of a rockin’ good time. The kitchen is straight out of the May 1981 edition of “Better Homes and Gardens”.

Take a look at the exterior and know how the place came to be known as the Castle House. It’s turrets and castellated walls with a full on medieval vibe. All that’s missing is a moat. Barred windows are for effect more than protection and in keeping it different, the address is done up in Roman Numerals. Summed up, it’s unapologetically strange…and fabulous.

In spite of everything being so old, it’s clear to see the residence and contents were very well taken care of and kept meticulously clean. Nothing appears worn. Appliances are straight from the Eaton’s Catalogue and fixtures equally so and look brand spanking new. All quality stuff, it seems no expense was sparred and when done it seems they liked it so much they kept it, even as the world of home design and decor changed around them. This funny old fashioned house .

It’s been suggested that a prominent (and onetime disgraced) Calgary businessperson was the last to occupy the Castle House. Otherwise, we’ve found nothing about who have may have lived here or built the place. Records, however, speak of an earlier dwelling that stood here beforehand, but nothing more is known about it.

The house was acquired by the current owners, a luxury home builder/sales firm, in 2018 after being offered for sale by a number of different realty firms for the preceding half a year or so. Back then we made a request to go in, but were (flatly) turned down and so had to settle for a shot from the street then…here: Castle House.

On the market for a while now, but with no takers, there’s plans to turn the house into an artist’s residence. For a time that is, until the demand returns and it can made available for purchase again. A home valued at one and three quarter mil is a hard sell in the current (depressed) environment, especially one so different. Not everyone is going to appreciate the design, so this shrinks the field of potential buyers.

Weeks before our visit, the owner’s hosted an Halloween/Haunted House type party here with many rooms being dressed up in various spooky ways. Judging by what we saw of the aftermath, they had a darn good time. A wall of old school CRT tube TVs gives us flashbacks of Elvis and his penchant for watching multiple boxes at one time. And then taking the occasional pot-shot at one with a big old Dirty Harry-sized pistol.

Early pictures of the house when it went up for sale show furnishings inside, all retro of course, and looking straight out of a vintage showroom. It all looked in perfect shape. Not sure if these followed the former owners to their new digs or were sold off or disposed of some way. Please tell me there weren’t sent to the dump…

When sold we expect the house, at a minimum to get a full-on make over, and while I suspect the form will remain, the rest will get a modernizing treatment. With that said, any “redecorating” done by those partiers seen in the photos won’t matter.

Old school tech at one time cutting edge.

When shooting outside the Castle House we were approached by a neighbour asking our purpose. Seems there’s been a steady stream of gawkers stopping by the place since it went up for sale. We chat them up, show them a few shots and satisfied there’s no funny business going on, they leave. We asked if they knew any history but said no. Funny how you can live next door to some place and not know a thing about it or the residence. Heck, I guess we’re guilty of it too.

Passing dog walkers give us the curious eye. What in the world is someone doing running around the place so late?

A look at the clock and we realize many hours have passed. It’s 12pm! We so love exploring and soaking up the ambience that we often loose track of time. Sadly a problem cropped up with our camera on this shoot, unbeknownst to us till later, that caused a number of photos to be corrupt and unrecoverable, so a couple rooms and angles were missed. Still we got some good stuff and we hope you enjoyed the tour. By the way a shout out to Canon who stepped up to fix the issue for free. Our unit is an oldie, used and abused, and well past warranty. We’re a perpetually broke group so this helped ease the strain on an already near-bare pocketbook.

We run about, taking it in one last time, killing the lights and it’s down the regal circular staircase into the red room (red carpets, red lighting), head out, one last shot looking back and we’re gone.

The Castle House is quiet again. For a time. Sure enjoyed exploring it.

A big thanks to Maillot Homes who allowed us access. We’re doing a series for a publisher on “unique” Calgary homes, pushed back a year account Connie’s brush with that nasty SOB C-word disease, and of all the one’s we visited so far, it stands out as the most memorable. Damn, we like it. But “weird and quirky” is what we do…it even says so on our business cards.

More interesting homes, some lived in, some not…
Robertson House/Lana Lang House Superman III – seen in the film.
The Amazing Brady Mansion – once glorious, now abandoned.
The Humble Miner’s Cottage – locked up since the 1980s.
Peeling Paint and Lace Curtains – one day they just up and left.
Dome Home and the Boneyard – geodesic overload!

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date: November 2018.
Location: Calgary, Mount Royal.
Article references and thanks: Rob Ohlson and Sarah Murray of Maillot Homes, City of Calgary Land Records.

Please respect that the Castle House is private property.

It’s a time capsule alright.

Spiral stair here, spiral stair there.

Over the top vintage decor.

Red room!

Signs of a Halloween party held here.

A room to get creative.

Turn off the lights…and it glows.

All that red…

On this wall, the retro gal.

And here, the mournful monarch.

Right out of a vintage Eaton’s Catalogue.

Searching out a TV guide…

Top floor exploring.

At every turn reminders of that party of weeks before.

Looking out over the neighbourhood.

Kitschy on the outside too.

Here in exclusive Mount Royal.

At the time it was for sale…

And in all its glory, a look at the entire house.

Shout out to Maillot Homes who allowed us the tour.

MCVIII is stuck in the MCMLXXs/MCMLXXXs.

One last glance back, close the door and we’re gone.