Washington’s Tudor Castle Blends Native American Protection Spells & 400-Year-Old English Architecture

Thornewood Castle, Washington

Built in 1911 from 500-year-old English bricks, Thornewood Castle sits like a slice of Tudor history on American Lake in Washington state.

This 27,000-square-foot mansion wasn’t just some rich guy’s dream home though.

Between its haunted halls, movie star status in Stephen King’s “Rose Red,” and current life as a bed and breakfast, Thornewood has pulled off the impossible: making authentic English manor life work in the Pacific Northwest.

Chester Thorne Shipped an Entire English Manor Across the Ocean

When rich banker Chester Thorne wanted a home in the early 1900s, he didn’t just hire an architect. He bought a 400-year-old castle in England and had it taken apart piece by piece.

The oak stairs, massive front door, and wooden wall panels all came from this ancient English building.

He didn’t cut corners, even importing the red bricks from Wales.

Front Doors Date Back to the 1500s

Those massive front doors are crafted from English oak trees that were already 500 years old when installed.

They don’t use a single nail or screw. The doors are held together with wooden pegs called dowels, using methods from centuries ago.

When you push these doors open, you’re touching wood from the time of Tudor kings.

Walls and Floors Were Built to Last Several Lifetimes

The castle rests on a foundation that’s three feet thick, with walls measuring 10 inches thick and floors containing 18 inches of concrete and cinder.

The walls have steel reinforcement inside them, making this perhaps the most solid home in Washington state.

Three Ships Carried Castle Parts Around South America in the Early 1900s

Getting all those castle materials from England to Washington was no simple task.

It took three entire ships to carry all the bricks, wood, glass, and other bits across the ocean.

And since the Panama Canal wasn’t big enough for these ships at the time, they had to sail all the way around the tip of South America – a journey of many thousands of miles that took weeks to complete.

Construction Took Four Years and Cost $30 Million in Today’s Money

Work on Thornewood began in 1908 and wasn’t finished until 1911. The price tag? A cool $1 million – which would be about $30 million today.

The result was worth it: a 31,000 square foot home with 40 rooms.

Two U.S. Presidents Slept in the Castle Bedrooms

Thornewood has hosted some important guests in its time.

Both President Theodore Roosevelt and President William Howard Taft stayed overnight at the castle during their visits to Washington state.

They enjoyed the grand rooms, walked the gardens, and dined in the great hall.

Many other notable people from the early 20th century attended parties and events at the Thorne home.

Original Stained Glass From 15th-Century Churches Decorates the Windows

Look up when you’re inside to see more than 100 pieces of stained glass rescued from English churches built in the 1400s and 1500s.

An English duke spent 40 years collecting these rare art pieces before they made their way to Thornewood.

The glass creates beautiful colored light across the rooms when the sun shines through on bright days.

Enter a 100-Year-Old ‘Secret Garden’ Through Ancient Wooden Gates

Walk through century-old wooden gates to find the famous ‘Secret Garden’ designed by John Charles Olmsted.

This sunken garden features a circular path lined with flowers and shrubs, with steps leading down to a central area where a peaceful fountain sits surrounded by green lawn.

The garden bursts with wisteria, purple clematis and climbing plants that have grown there for decades.

Ghostly Parties From the Roaring 20s Still Happen in the Great Hall

Many visitors report seeing more than just the living at Thornewood.

People who stay at the castle have witnessed ghostly social gatherings in the great hall, with phantom guests in 1920s clothing dancing, talking, and even breaking wine glasses.

The most commonly spotted spirits are said to be Chester and Anna Thorne themselves, who seem unwilling to leave their beloved home.

Yale Graduate Founded Both the Port of Tacoma and a Major Bank

Chester Thorne wasn’t just wealthy – he was highly educated and business-smart.

After graduating from Yale with an engineering degree, he founded the Port of Tacoma and served as the first president of the National Bank of Tacoma (later renamed National Bank of Washington).

Tragic Shooting Accident Occurred Just Weeks After Chester’s Death

Not all Thornewood history is happy. Just three weeks after Chester died in 1927, his son-in-law had a terrible accident when a rifle went off and sent a bullet into his head.

Though he lived, doctors had to remove his right eye along with the bullet.

Years later, Chester’s daughter Anita sold the massive house after her mother Anna died in 1954, as it had become too large to maintain.

Native American Good Luck Charms Still Hang in the Basement Today

During renovation work in the 1990s, workers found wishbone-shaped sticks hanging from ceiling beams in the basement.

These are believed to be good-luck charms placed there by Native American workers during the original construction.

The sticks were meant to ward off evil spirits and protect the home. Through multiple owners and many decades, these charms remain in place, still doing their job after more than a century.