Piatt Castles – West Liberty, Ohio - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Piatt Castles

West Liberty, Ohio

This pair of eccentric Ohio castles were built by a pair of brothers who wanted to bring a bit of class to the Ohio wilderness. 

View all photos
Mac-O-Chee Castle J. Todd Poling on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Mac-O-Chee Castle J. Todd Poling on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Mac-O-Cheek Castle Craig Hatfield on Flickr (Creative Commons)
The Piatt Castles Craig Hatfield on Flickr (Creative Commons)
The Piatt Castles Craig Hatfield on Flickr (Creative Commons)
351
1012
Top Places in Ohio
The James A. Garfield Memorial
James A. Garfield's Memorial and Tomb
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Helltown, Ohio
Peninsula, Ohio
David Grohl Alley
Warren, Ohio
 See All

Located just three-quarters of a mile from one another, the castles known collectively as the Piatt Castles were built by a pair of French Huguenot descended brothers who wanted to bring some baronial splendor to the Ohio wilderness.    

Built in the early 1800’s in a (at the time much more) rural area of Ohio, the duo of mansions, known respectively as “Mac-O-Chee” and “Mac-A-Cheek,” were built by Don and Abram Piatt, settlers who had made their fortune in Cincinnati. Mac-O-Chee castle is older, larger, and in slightly more disrepair than the other, but in their day both of the homes were unusually gorgeous examples of old world architecture. Each of the buildings was decked out in rich, intricate woodwork, painted ceilings and even indoor water closets, a luxurious innovation at the time.

Once the original owners passed away, their eccentric homes and the collection of artifacts within were opened as small museums, a state in which they are maintained and preserved today. The Piatt castles are still open for tours and are now a popular location for weddings and events, despite the original 1800s bathrooms.  

 

Know Before You Go

This address is for Mac-A-Cheek Castle. To reach Mac-O-Chee, drive northeast on OH-245 for 0.7 miles and turn left onto County Road 1.

eccentric homes castles homes architecture
Community Contributors
i
Added by
isabellkyrk
Molly McBride Jacobson
chrisbacke
Edited by
Molly McBride Jacobson, chrisbacke
Published
July 10, 2014
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Ohio Caverns
1.70 miles
Campbell Hill
8.37 miles
Hartman Rock Garden
24.56 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
The Crystal King
West Liberty, Ohio

Ohio Caverns

These sub-farmland caves are home to a majestic stalactite known as the "Crystal King."
Campbell Hill, the Highest Point in Ohio
Bellefontaine, Ohio

Campbell Hill

In this relatively flat state the highest point is an honored place.
A closer look at one of the many houses
Springfield, Ohio

Hartman Rock Garden

A miniature world of concrete and stone in Springfield, Ohio.
Temple of Tolerance
Wapakoneta, Ohio

The Temple of Tolerance

A gregarious Ohio resident has been building his whimsical temple to peace for decades.
Related Places
Warner Castle.
Rochester, New York

Warner Castle

This New York estate was designed to resemble a medieval Scottish castle.
Winnekenni Castle
Haverhill, Massachusetts

Winnekenni Castle

It was an experiment to prove that glacial boulders and rocks can be used in constructions and dwelling.
Areguá, Paraguay

Castillo Carlota Palmerola

An unlikely neo-Gothic castle in the Paraguayan countryside.
Iulia Hasdeu Castle.
Câmpina, Romania

Iulia Hasdeu Castle

This eccentric folly house was designed by Romanian thinker Bogdan-Petriceicu Hasdeu, with a helping hand from his deceased daughter's spirit.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web