Ozark Medieval Fortress Shuts Down!

[Merlin the Elder]

The castle project in Lead Hill, Arkansas has shut down due to financial woes.

If you're not familiar with the project, see: http://ozarkmedievalfortress.com/

We visited the site a couple of summers ago, and had planned to return this spring to see the progress. I'm bummed out!

[Archer]

Wow.  Terrible news.   Visited that place last September and it was awesome.  Building was going on.  Presentation was great.  Craftspersons were doing their thing and enjoying it very much.  Visitors were inspired by it.  It won't take many years for vegetation to take the place over.  Perhaps another benefactor will come along.  Was it not explained as non-profit MtE ?  The financial backers were mostly French owners of a castle in France, if memory serves.  I was looking forward to another trip to see their progress next summer.   Bought some of their hand made garb, good quality for a fair price.  Their donations jar was looking good and the ticket entry price was reasonable considering the size of the project.  Maybe someone will finish it and leave off the French cones on top to cut costs.  Bummer. 

[Rani Zemirah]

Oh, that really IS sad...  Scally and I have been wanting to take a trip over there to see it ever since we read about it here on R/F.  We've looked closely at the website, and the plans and info were all very exciting.  What a shame that they couldn't keep it going... but I do understand how it could happen, with times as difficult as they are now.  I do hope they can find alternative funding, though... and soon! 

[BubbleWright]

Just saw Larry the Cable Guy visit the site to do some Medieval work for his TV show Only in America. Must have been filmed last year. Nice visit to the work site to see how the stones are cut and moved into place.

[Merlin the Elder]

The only part of the process that wasn't historically accurate was the actual quarrying of the stone. OSHA had stepped in and required some changes. A team from Europe was going to come show them a method that would pass muster with OSHA and remain HA at the same time. I don't know if that ever occurred since we visited the site.

The stone cutting may have been the most fascinating part of the project. I really cannot imagine having to spend a day or two trimming every individual stone that went into the building. The most extraordinary part of that was how flat and smooth they could make a stone using hand tools.

I really hope they find a way to fund the project and get it reopened.

[The Rabbi]

Such dissapointing news as we had planned to revisit this year with a trip every other year in the future to keep up with the progress. Was truly an interesting visit with very knowledgable folk on site. Sending positive energy that way in hopes of a brighter future and a rekindling of the project.

[Rowan MacD]

  From the website, it certainly looks like they plan to take this up again if they can get funding.
    Hopefully this is a temporary stoppage, I wn tot see this someday.