Kathleen Lavey

Lansing State Journal

In the early years of the 20th century, James Oliver Curwood of Owosso got rich writing books, short stories and movie scripts.

So he did what anybody with money to burn might do: built himself a castle.

The pint-sized French chateau now belongs to the city of Owosso and draws visitors throughout the year.

"It's one of the most iconic buildings in Owosso," said Robert Doran, executive director of Owosso's historical commission. That's saying a lot in a city full of classic homes and buildings.

Curwood Castle, which the writer used as a studio, may be the smallest public castle in Michigan.

To marry in Michigan: Pick a destination wedding spot

Meadow Brook Hall is undoubtedly the largest. The English-style mansion on the campus of Oakland University in Rochester has 110 rooms, 39 chimneys and a vast and stunning ballroom that calls to mind a castle's great hall. It was completed in 1929 and has been open to the public since 1971.

Here's a quick look at Curwood Castle, Meadow Brook Hall and other Michigan castles you can visit or tour while dreaming of grandeur.

Meadow Brook Hall

Where: 480 S. Adams Road, Rochester (on the campus of Oakland University)

What: The 88,000-square-foot home is one of the biggest in the United States. It also just was voted No. 5 on the USA Today/10 Best list of the top historic homes to tour in the United States. (No. 1 is the Stan Hwyet House and Gardens in Akron, Ohio. Hearst Castle in California and the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina also made the list at Nos. 7 and 4, respectively). The estate hosts 50 to 60 weddings a year and about 50 corporate meetings and community programs.

From the Archives: Barnes Castle

History: Meadow Brook Hall was built between 1926 and 1929 by Matilda Dodge Wilson, widow of early auto magnate John Dodge, and her second husband, lumber baron Alfred Wilson. The 110-room home features carved wood and stone details and plaster ceilings and is modeled after the great country estates of England, which they toured on their honeymoon. During construction of the home in 1927, they went on a second architectural tour of England with their architect in tow. The house cost $4 million to build (more than $54 million in today's dollars), and the Wilsons hosted a gala housewarming party for 850 people in November 1929.

Matilda died in 1967, bequeathing the estate and $2 million in seed money to create Oakland University. The house opened to the public in 1971.

Tours and more: Tours are offered at 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and at various times on weekends. Reservations are not required. All tours are guided and last 60 to 90 minutes. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, free for ages 12 and younger. Special events are scheduled throughout the year, including the Downton Abbey-inspired Downton Days beginning in February, a mystery dinner in October and the December Holiday Walk, with the home decorated for Christmas. Learn more at meadowbrookhall.org

Henderson Castle

Where: 100 Monroe St., Kalamazoo

What: Bed and breakfast, banquet hall and French restaurant

History: In 1890, Kalamazoo businessman Frank Henderson and his wife, Mary, began building their dream home on the western edge of Kalamazoo. By 1895, they had constructed a 25-room Queen Anne-style, 11,000-square-foot masterpiece. The home included seven baths, one with a 13-head shower. It has its own ballroom, The exterior is crafted from Lake Superior sandstone and brick and interior trims include exotic woods, crystal chandeliers and leaded and stained-glass windows. It was renovated as a bed-and-breakfast and French restaurant in 2011 and now has its own wine label and underground wine cave. It also includes banquet space available for rent.

Tours and more: Four different tours range from the 20-minute “introductory tour” for $10 to the VIP tour which takes 90 minutes and costs $45 ($60 with wine). To book a tour or learn more call (269) 344-1827, email manager@hendersoncastle.com or go to hendersoncastle.com. Tour revenues help pay to preserve and renovate the castle. Upcoming projects include a new roof and fire-suppressing sprinkler system. Learn more about preservation efforts at hendersoncastlefoundation.com

Castle Farms

Where: 5052 M-66 North, Charlevoix

What: A popular wedding spot with spectacular gardens, model railroads and more

History: Built in 1918 by Sears, Roebuck & Co. president Albert Loeb, it was designed by architect Arthur Heun based on stone barns and castles in Normandy. It was a working farm and, in later years, was used as a concert venue, among other things. Current owner Linda Mueller renovated it as an event space, and it has been hosting parties and weddings since 2005. It can accommodate weddings from 60 to 350 guests in indoor and outdoor settings.

Tours and more: Castle Farms offers a twilight tour and dinner monthly during the summer. The guided tours are $50 and includes dinner; reservations are required. Public tours also are offered in July and August at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily. Cost is $15 adults, $14 seniors, $13 for military, $12 for ages 4 to 12 and toddlers free. Learn more at www.castlefarms.com.

Curwood Castle

Where: 224 Curwood Castle Drive, Owosso

What: A small-scale French Norman chateau that now houses a museum

History: Owosso native James Oliver Curwood was well known for his popular novels in the early part of the 20th century. (“The Courage of Captain Plum” came out in 1908; “Green Timber” was published in 1930; there are a couple dozen in between, including “The Bear,” made into a movie in 1988). Curwood was an ardent conservationist who also promoted environmental education. When he decided to build a writing studio, he commissioned this neat little chateau, where he started working in 1923. It doesn’t have a kitchen or dining room, but does include his original desk and other furnishings. Curwood died in 1927, bequeathing the little castle to the city of Owosso.

Tours and more: The castle is closed for the month of January. It reopens in February. Regular hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for kids. Each year the city celebrates Curwood and his legacy to the community with a citywide event. This year's festival is June 2 to 5.

Castle Museum of Saginaw County History

Where: 500 Federal Avenue, Saginaw

What: It’s now the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History.

History: Built as a post office and opened in 1898, the building was designed to reflect French chateau design with touches from the Italian Renaissance and Gothic periods. The building originally had three turrets, but one was removed during an expansion in the 1930s that added wings on both ends of the building, using limestone from the same quarry as the original. The building was almost demolished twice, in the 1930s and the 1970s, said Alexandria Jones, the museum's marketing director. Both times, "the public saved it," she said. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s. The museum's permanent collection includes exhibits on objects used daily by Chippewa Indians, a model railroad, exhibits on the lumber and automotive histories of Saginaw County and the Saginaw County Sports Hall of Fame.

Tours and more: The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sundays. Learn more at www.castlemuseum.org