Mr. Bishop's Castle

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PUEBLO - Colorado isn't exactly a place where you'd think of finding a medieval castle, or any castle for that matter.

But if you take a drive about 30 miles south of Pueblo, you'll find a work of art hidden off a mountain highway.

Travelers have come from around the world to see one man's dream coming to life.

Jim Bishop, a high school dropout, bought two acres of land near Rye, Colorado for next to nothing when he was 15.

It started out as a family cabin.

"Then in June of '69 I started building the stone cottage and people called it a castle and here it is," Bishop said.

That's when Bishop found his calling.

"I've done this for 41 years, by hand, by myself" Bishop said.

He had a few extra hands along the way, but it's hard to find good help when you're a perfectionist.

You won't find any cranes, or pulleys, just Bishop and his vision.

When he's not welding at his actual job, he's out on the castle, and on his own.

It's where he's worked since he was a teenager.

"I'm 65, but I'm in pretty decent shape," Bishop said.

From wrought iron bridges, to stained glass windows, tourists can only stare.

The towers will reach 250 feet when they're done. They're connected by walkways and Bishop's past. One is named after his late father.

The other is after his 4-year-old son who died falling from a tree in the woods more than 20 years ago.

Even that didn't stop him.

"Nope. I just work and cry. Work and pray. I work on through it. You can't hide from nothing," Bishop said.

Until his final days, he says he'll keep working.

"I decided when I open the paper one morning and read my own name in the obituary, I'm not even getting out of bed that day. Then it's time to quit I guess," Bishop said.

When he's gone, Bishop hopes his children and grandchildren will continue giving tours of the castle for free to visitors.