A majestic and imposing site, even if you didn’t know it was there, Castle Otttis would definitely grab your attention as you drive by!
Castle on the Hill
On Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway, nestled between 3rd and 5th Street, protruding high from the palm trees and brush, the Castle Otttis is one of those sights where, “Wow!” is an uncontrollable reaction to first seeing the landscape-sculpture.
Castle Otttis
Built to resemble the medieval castles of Ireland and recognized as an official United States landmark by the American Institute of Architects in 1992, the exterior of the castle began construction on May 1, 1984, by just two men: Rusty Ickes and Ottis Sadler.
Once the exterior was completed in 1988, the interior work commenced for the next three years. Using mostly cypress wood and a bit of some old southern heart-pine, master carpenter and aptly named Lee Carpenter was solely responsible for finishing the interior and beautiful woodwork. Crafted to create the peace and serenity of an Irish abbey (Christian church) from the Middle Ages, including beams, staircases, pews, pulpit, alter and bishop’s chair.
As told by Mr. Ickes’s son, Mathias, Rusty began this project due to a series of dreams he had of images of a castle. After telling his good friend Ottis about the dreams, Ottis simply told him, “Well, we can build that!” And in 1991, what started as a dream ended in what millions of visitors to St. Augustine see majestically sitting on the hill.
So why the three “t’s” in “Otttis”? Rusty had written down the name he liked for the castle and gave it to Ottis. After realizing he had written it incorrectly, he apologized to Ottis but Ottis liked it! So the three “t’s” became a symbol for the three crosses in Jesus’ crucifiction on the hill called Golgotha, also known as Mt. Calvary just outside the Jerusalem walls.
”Done in remembrance of Jesus Christ.”
The castle was built for one purpose in mind: To be a sculpture to adorn or to view the landscape from within the castle, or to be adorned or viewed outside the castle from the neighboring landscape. Which, according to Mathias, makes it a “symbiotic relationship” with the surrounding area. Mathias also told us that the castle was never intended to be a home, a business, or a tourist attraction, “it was built as an expression of art in remembrance of Jesus Christ and to be a place of peace upon this earth.”
Castle Otttis Tours
Remember, this is not a true Florida tourist attraction. Castle Otttis is privately owned by the family of the man who built it and was never intended to be a tourist attraction. They respectfully request that you respect their privacy. However, knowing that the castle’s location and grandeur definitely draws attention, the family opens up Castle Otttis for viewing for small groups by appointment only. Mathias gives the wonderful hour tour and is an encyclopedia when it comes to his father’s creation.
Castle Otttis is also available as a venue for small weddings. Keep in mind there is absolutely no handicapped access at or in the castle. For more information on a tour, visit castleotttis.org or email Mathias at castleotttis@outlook.com but be sure to email at least two weeks in advance!
