Solomon’s Castle: The Shimmering Folk-Art Castle in the Florida Woods
Down a winding country road near Ona, in the rural heart of Florida, a silver castle gleams unexpectedly above the trees. Solomon’s Castle is one of the state’s most delightful surprises, a whimsical work of art built almost entirely from recycled materials.
A Castle of Cast-Offs
The castle was the creation of Howard Solomon, a self-taught artist and irrepressible punster who began building it in the 1970s. Its shimmering exterior is clad in discarded aluminum printing plates, giving the whole structure a bright, metallic glow in the sunshine. Inside and out, it is packed with hundreds of his inventive sculptures, nearly all made from salvaged materials.
Puns and Surprises
A tour of Solomon’s Castle is as much comedy as art. Howard filled the place with sculptures that double as visual puns, and the guides carry on his tradition of groan-worthy jokes. There is a full-size Spanish galleon out back that serves as a restaurant, complete with a moat, plus stained-glass windows and countless quirky creations to discover.
A Labor of Love
Solomon spent decades expanding his castle, proving that one imaginative person with a pile of scrap and a sense of humor can build something truly magical. The attraction remains a beloved roadside wonder, run with the same playful spirit.
Bring your curiosity and your tolerance for puns. Solomon’s Castle is a one-of-a-kind monument to creativity, recycling, and the joy of not taking life too seriously.
