6 Highlights You Can’t Miss At Washington’s Historic Thornewood Castle
Nestled on the shores of American Lake in Lakewood, Washington, Thornewood Castle stands as a magnificent testament to early 20th-century craftsmanship.
This 500-year-old Tudor Gothic mansion was dismantled in England, shipped across the Atlantic, and painstakingly rebuilt brick by brick in the Pacific Northwest.
Whether you’re a history buff, architecture enthusiast, or simply looking for a unique destination, Thornewood Castle offers visitors a glimpse into a bygone era of luxury and artistry.
1. English Tudor-Gothic Design
Walking through Thornewood’s massive oak doors feels like stepping into a European fairy tale. Chester Thorne, a wealthy banker, spared no expense when creating this 27,000 square-foot mansion in 1908, importing authentic materials from a 400-year-old English manor.
The castle’s distinctive red brick exterior features intricate stonework, while inside, hand-carved staircases and elaborate wood paneling showcase master craftsmanship rarely seen today. Each room tells its own story through architectural details.
Most impressive is the great hall with its soaring ceilings, massive fireplace, and ornate furnishings that transport visitors to medieval England while still offering modern comforts. The blend of historical authenticity with Pacific Northwest setting creates a truly unique architectural treasure.
2. Olmsted Brothers Gardens
Surrounding the castle lies a horticultural masterpiece designed by the legendary Olmsted Brothers, the same landscape architects responsible for New York’s Central Park. The sunken English garden remains one of the finest examples of their work on the West Coast.
Meticulously planned pathways wind through vibrant flowerbeds, ancient rhododendrons, and towering evergreens that frame stunning views of American Lake. The garden’s centerpiece, a large reflecting pool, mirrors the castle’s imposing silhouette and the changing Northwest sky.
If you visit in spring, you’ll witness an explosion of color as thousands of tulips, daffodils and other heirloom flowers bloom in patterns planned over a century ago. These gardens represent the perfect marriage between formal European design and Pacific Northwest plantings.
3. 15th & 16th Century Stained Glass
Among Thornewood’s most priceless treasures are its 500-year-old stained glass windows, carefully transported from England.
These vibrant works of art filter sunlight into rainbow patterns across the castle’s interior, creating an almost spiritual atmosphere throughout the day. Each panel tells a different story – some depict biblical scenes while others showcase heraldic designs or nature motifs. The craftsmanship in these windows represents techniques that have largely disappeared in modern glassmaking.
The most spectacular example hangs in the breakfast room, where a three-panel set dating to 1480 bathes the space in jewel-toned light. Glass experts consider these windows among the finest medieval stained glass in private ownership in America. Their survival through centuries and a trans-Atlantic journey makes them truly remarkable historical artifacts.
4. History and Legend
Chester Thorne built this magnificent estate as a gift for his wife Anna in the early 1900s, creating what many consider America’s only genuine castle on the West Coast. The story of its construction reads like an epic – three ships carried the dismantled English manor across the Atlantic, around Cape Horn, and up to Tacoma.
Local legends claim Anna never truly warmed to the castle despite its grandeur. Some visitors report encountering her ghostly presence in the hallways, still uncertain about her elaborate home. Presidential visits add another layer to the castle’s mystique.
Theodore Roosevelt reportedly stayed here, sleeping in what’s now called the Presidential Suite. The castle’s guest books contain signatures from numerous dignitaries and celebrities who’ve been drawn to this unique piece of European heritage in Washington State.
5. Filming Location
Horror fans might recognize Thornewood Castle as the sinister mansion from Stephen King’s miniseries “Rose Red.” Director Craig R. Baxley chose this location for its authentic Gothic atmosphere and imposing presence, which perfectly embodied King’s fictional haunted house.
The castle’s grand staircase, library, and great hall feature prominently throughout the series. Many rooms were left largely unchanged during filming, as the natural character of the castle provided the perfect backdrop for supernatural storytelling. Beyond “Rose Red,” the castle has appeared in “The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer” and numerous independent films.
Film crews consistently praise the location’s versatility and authentic period details that would be prohibitively expensive to recreate on a studio lot. Today, visitors can tour specific filming locations and compare scenes from the productions to the real spaces.
6. Paranormal Stories
Long before Stephen King’s fictional ghosts inhabited Thornewood, staff and guests reported unexplainable phenomena throughout the historic building. The most frequently encountered presence is believed to be Chester
Thorne himself, often spotted in his former office ensuring his beloved home remains in proper order. Overnight guests have described strange occurrences lights turning on and off, footsteps in empty corridors, and doors opening by themselves. The most active area appears to be the main staircase, where many report feeling watched as they ascend.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the castle’s centuries-old materials have witnessed countless human dramas. Many visitors say they feel a palpable sense of the past here, as if the very walls have absorbed the emotions of everyone who’s passed through them. This living connection to history adds another fascinating dimension to the Thornewood experience.
