If you come up the old road, it will split. Exploring Elda Castle The Exteriorĭepending on which way you come up to the castle, there are entrances on all sides. Honestly, that seems like a pretty lame way to explore the place, and nothing ruins pics faster than a shiny modern-day car parked next to a beautiful, hundred-year-old castle. On my last visit, people actually opened the gates with the KEEP OUT and NO TRESPASSING signs and drove their cars right up to the castle. Currently, a Sotheby’s real estate sign sits at the end of the road. If you want to take the easier route, you can simply park at the preserve, walk left out of the parking lot, and then left again onto the old road leading up to the castle. I’m not gonna lie, it was fun – and the slight possibility of getting lost in the woods adds an extra sense of excitement! (Kidding – do NOT get lost in the woods). I eventually veered off-trail and did some crazy bushwhacking through some overgrowth and up ravines, only to emerge on the old road, right across from the castle.
Along the way you’ll see old stone walls and slight staircases hidden in the woods. The trails aren’t fantastically marked, but as I wanted adventure, that was fine.
I parked at Sunny Ridge Preserve and did a nice hike through the woods. A quick Google search will give you an address. If only I had the money *sighs wistfully* Getting to Elda Castle It is currently on the market again, for 3.2M. Anyone else noticing a pattern here? Anyway, she sold it to an investment firm in 2011. Lamont died, his wife tried to turn the place into a conference and retreat center, which didn’t work out either. He died in the 1990s, and the estate was bought by Dr. He spent years and a LOT of money trying to rehabilitate the place, which didn’t work out. It then sat empty again for more than a decade after WWII, and was heavily vandalized paint was poured onto the beautiful marble floors, and rooms were set on fire. In the 1940s it was bought by a company researching paint.
Abercrombie moved out, the castle sat empty for a bit. The Castle Got Passed Around A Lot…Īfter Mrs. Abercrombie left Elda Castle to live with her remaining daughter Elizabeth, in NJ. As if losing a child and her husband wasn’t enough, in 1937 the Abercrombie’s son David was killed in an accident on his ranch in Wyoming (apparently he was kicked in the abdomen by a horse). Then David Abercrombie died in 1931, after a long fight with rheumatic fever. In 1929, Abercrombie’s daughter Lucy was killed in some type of explosion while messing around with chemicals. On a side note, can I just add how cool it is that modern-day hikers, adventurers, and explorers make their way to the abandoned home of a man who once provided gear for such people? I feel as though David Abercrombie would approve.Īnyway, as with most large and gorgeous places that have been abandoned, the family has a history of tragedies. He had a really great customer named Fitch who eventually bought into the business, and voila – Abercrombie and Fitch was born. in 1892, providing gear for activities like camping, fishing, hunting… you know, outside stuff. To read more about his history, career, and life, click here. Honestly, I could write an entire blog post just on him, but to save on time I’ll give you resources to check out later. Picture from New York AlmanackĪbercrombie was a surveyor and an outdoorsy type of guy, with a very interesting background. The roof on the center section is gone now. The name ELDA is actually an acronym, standing for Abercrombie’s four children Elizabeth, Lucy, David, and Abbott. It’s also known as the Abercrombie Castle, but personally, I think Elda Castle sounds much cooler. David Abercrombie… like, as in Abercrombie and Fitch. This beautiful home was built in 1927 by Mr. However, if you find yourself here, a little imagination can transport you back to the days it was built – and you’ll be able to picture the abandoned Elda Castle as it was, in all its splendor. Unfortunately, those with a love of destruction have also stopped by.
Multiple explorers, history lovers, and urbexers have made their way to this castle over the many years it’s been empty. Why? Because it’s cool, it’s old, it’s abandoned… and we don’t see places like this anymore. Pictures of a beautiful old vaulted room, or aged spiraling staircases climbing up the outside of an old stone castle flood the internet. The name “Elda Castle” sounds like some type of mythical, medieval place – and it sounds awesome.
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