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West Liberty, Ohio: Mac-A-Cheek and Mac-O-Chee Castles

Brothers Abram and Donn Piatt built gothic revival "castles" for themselves, only a mile apart, in the 1800s, and gave them easy-to-confuse names. Both are open for self-guided tours.

Address:
10051 Township Rd 47, West Liberty, OH
Directions:
Map point is for Mac-A-Cheek Castle, which is on Township Rd 47 just south of its intersection with Hwy 245. Mac-O-Chee Castle is one mile east, on the north side of Hwy 245 at its intersection with Hwy 1, at 134 W. 1st Ave.
Hours:
Summer daily 11-5. Spring and Fall Sa-Su 11-3. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
937-465-2821
Admission:
One castle $15. Both castles $25.
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Visitor Tips and News About Mac-A-Cheek and Mac-O-Chee Castles

Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.

Mac-O-Chee Castle

See it while you still can. It is deteriorating but still offers an amazing display of workmanship you may never see again. The tour guide stated that due to a lack of skilled restoration artisans and the cost, not much can be done to repair the crumbling walls, peeling hand-painted ceilings, etc. However, it is evident that a simple coat of something, anything would go a long way to preserve the massive front doors that are west-facing and being attacked by the weather. They are down to raw, bare wood. Such a shame. An occasional coating of lemon oil on the impressive woodwork would be nice. So there is a lot that could be done very affordably that is just not being done. Breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time.

[Mimi, 08/16/2017]

Castle.

Mac-A-Cheek and Mac-O-Chee Castles

Two castles (very near the Ohio Caverns), about a mile apart, known collectively as the Piatt Castles. Tours are self-guided and, as others have stressed, not air conditioned, which starts to become a big deal when you're climbing staircase after dusty staircase into increasingly hot, dark and oppressive levels. Respect roped-off areas, as some rooms are in such disrepair that the floors are not safe.

We got pretty much all of the history we needed at the larger castle and decided, after seeing the deteriorated state of the much smaller one, to just take a look from the outside. Tour guide mentioned many signed volumes left by important authors (like Harriet Beecher Stowe) who were guests at the castle, but added that they weren't on display...they were "kept somewhere safe".

[Kitsa, 07/11/2017]
Mac-A-Cheek Castle

This place is run-down. I would not waste your time or your money. The owner of it was not nice and she was asking for money to help with renovations.

[CK, 10/24/2016]
Mac-A-Cheek and Mac-O-Chee Castles

There are two really cool castles to tour in West Liberty. They were built by two brothers who imported labor from Ireland to build them. One brother is described as a modern Rush Limbaugh type -- was an editor of a newspaper. These castles I think were built in the 1860s. The drive is quite nice and the grounds are lovely (not crowded with a lot of tourists) and personnel are available to answer questions on the tour. They are not air-conditioned unless you count the fans, so don't pick a hot day to go. One of the castles at the time we visited could be rented for weddings.

[Karol Courie, 09/17/2000]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Ohio CavernsOhio Caverns, West Liberty, OH - 2 mi.
Sturgeon Petting and Trout FrenzySturgeon Petting and Trout Frenzy, Urbana, OH - 7 mi.
Highest Point in OhioHighest Point in Ohio, Bellefontaine, OH - 8 mi.
In the region:
Giant Cottonwood Tree, Galena, OH - 40 mi.

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