Overlook Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Overlook
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Overlook Castle in 1920
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 710 Town Mountain Rd., Asheville, North Carolina |
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| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Built by | Fred Loring Seely |
| Architectural style | English manor |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002804 |
| Added to NRHP | October 22, 1980 |
Overlook Castle, also known as Seely Castle, is a cool old house in Asheville, North Carolina. It looks like a castle! This historic home was built between 1912 and 1914. It was made for Fred Loring Seely, who was the son-in-law of a famous businessman named Edwin Wiley Grove. Mr. Seely built the castle after his father-in-law gave him a big piece of land on top of Sunset Mountain. This special property was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 22, 1980. This means it's an important historical site!
Contents
A Look Back: Overlook Castle's Story
Overlook Castle has had five different owners over the years. Each owner added to its interesting history.
The Seely Family's Time
The Seely family lived in the castle until 1942. That's when Mr. Fred Seely passed away at 70 years old. His wife, Evelyn Grove Seely, was the daughter of the well-known businessman Edwin Wiley Grove.
Becoming a College Campus
In 1949, Evelyn Seely offered to sell her former home to Asheville-Biltmore College. The college used the castle as its campus from 1949 to 1961. However, the college grew too big for the castle's space. There wasn't enough room to build new buildings. So, the college moved to a new, larger location in Asheville.
New Owners and Restoration
After the college left, Mr. Jerry Sternberg became the third owner. He made some important updates to the castle. He changed the heating system from coal to oil. He also put a brand new roof on the building. Mr. Sternberg hoped to turn the castle into a museum, but his plan didn't happen. He then tried to give the castle to a non-profit group.
Overlook Ministries became the fourth owner. Finally, the Wells family bought the castle in 1984. They are the current owners and have worked hard to restore the castle to its original beauty.
Castle Design: What Makes Overlook Special?
Overlook Castle has a unique design that makes it stand out. It's built like an English manor, which is a large country house.
Amazing Views and Ceilings
The castle features two huge glass windows. These windows offer incredible, wide views of the city of Asheville. Inside, you can see special ceilings called Jacobean ceilings. These ceilings have fancy designs from an old English style.
Gardens and Mountain Setting
Overlook Castle sits right on top of a mountain. It is surrounded by beautiful English gardens. These gardens add to the castle's charm and make it feel like a true historic estate.
Images for kids
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Overlook Castle from I-240, February 2022
See also
In Spanish: Castillo Overlook para niños
