Unearth The Voyage
Florida is full of surprises, but nothing quite prepares you for the sight of a medieval Irish castle rising up from the trees along the coast near St. Augustine. No, you are not dreaming, and yes, it is exactly as magical as it sounds.
Castle Otttis is a one-of-a-kind architectural landscape sculpture built by hand to honor the spirit of ancient Irish fortresses that stood over a thousand years ago. From its hand-carved cedar interiors to its rooftop views of the Atlantic Ocean, this place tells a story that is equal parts personal, spiritual, and deeply fascinating.
Whether you are a history lover, a photography enthusiast, or someone searching for the most unforgettable wedding venue in the state, this hidden Florida treasure deserves a spot on your must-visit list. Keep reading to find out everything worth knowing before you go.
Where Exactly You Can Find This Coastal Castle
Tucked just off Coastal Highway in St. Augustine, FL 32084, Castle Otttis sits quietly about ten minutes north of the historic downtown area. You would never expect to find a structure like this rising out of the Florida landscape, but there it is, partially hidden behind hedges and trees as if it has always belonged there.
The property is privately owned and sits close enough to the coastline that you can catch ocean breezes from the upper levels. The address puts it in a stretch of road that feels more like a scenic drive than a tourist corridor, which makes the discovery feel even more rewarding.
A small parking lot is located inside the gate, where a volunteer or host will typically direct you to a spot. First-time visitors often do a double take when the castle finally comes into full view from the entrance path.
The Dream That Started It All
Castle Otttis did not begin with an architect or a blueprint drawn up in an office. It started with a dream, literally.
Kendle Icke reportedly had vivid dreams about a castle in remarkable detail, and rather than dismiss them, he described what he saw to a builder friend who encouraged him to make it real.
That friend agreed to help, and together the two men began constructing a structure modeled after Irish castles that are roughly a thousand years old. Building materials were largely donated, which made the project even more extraordinary given how ambitious the design turned out to be.
Construction ran from 1984 to 1988, a four-year span during which Icke poured personal meaning into every wall and archway. He built the castle as a dedication to his wife, turning what could have been just a quirky project into something deeply heartfelt and lasting.
What Kind of Structure This Actually Is
A common misconception is that Castle Otttis is a home or a museum. It is actually classified as an architectural landscape sculpture, which is a fancy way of saying it was built purely as a work of art rather than a functional living space.
That distinction matters because it shapes how you experience the place. Every corner, every carved detail, and every carefully chosen material was selected for visual and symbolic impact rather than comfort or utility.
The result is something that feels more like walking through a painting than touring a building.
The structure has multiple levels, open windows that flood the interior with natural Florida light, and balconies that overlook the main floor below. Knowing it was never meant to house anyone makes the craftsmanship feel even more intentional, like every stone was placed with pure artistic purpose rather than practical necessity.
The Cedar Interiors That Will Stop You in Your Tracks
The outside of the castle is impressive enough, but the interior is where things get truly special. The inside is constructed using cedar in a post and beam style, which gives the space a warm, organic feel that contrasts beautifully with the rough stone exterior.
One of the most talked-about features is a ceiling detail known as the Thread of Life, an intricate woodwork pattern that draws the eye upward and rewards anyone willing to spend a moment just looking. It is the kind of craftsmanship that is increasingly rare and takes real patience to appreciate fully.
Natural light pours in through the open windows, casting shifting patterns across the cedar walls throughout the day. Photographers tend to linger here longer than anywhere else on the property, and it is easy to understand why once the afternoon sun hits those warm wood tones just right.
The Rooftop Views That Make the Climb Worth Every Step
Getting to the top of Castle Otttis requires navigating a few levels, but the payoff is absolutely worth the effort. From the rooftop, you get sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding coastal landscape, including glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean stretching out to the horizon.
The breeze up there is noticeably stronger, and the combination of salty air, stone walls, and open sky creates an atmosphere that feels genuinely removed from modern Florida. For a brief stretch of time, you could convince yourself you are standing atop a fortress on the Irish coast.
Sunrise and midday both offer different lighting conditions that photographers love to work with from this vantage point. The view also gives you a better sense of how the property is laid out below, with trees framing the structure and the surrounding landscape creating a natural buffer from the road.
The Irish Castle Inspiration Behind the Design
Kendle Icke did not design Castle Otttis from pure imagination. The structure was deliberately modeled after Irish castles that date back approximately a thousand years, capturing the thick stone walls, narrow windows, and vertical tower elements that define that architectural tradition.
Ireland’s ancient fortresses were built for defense and permanence, and that same sense of solidity comes through in the Florida version. The proportions, the material choices, and the overall silhouette all point back to that old-world source of inspiration with admirable accuracy.
What makes this especially interesting is that Icke achieved this look in the Florida heat using donated materials and grassroots effort rather than professional architectural resources. The result does not look like a theme park imitation but rather like a sincere tribute to a building tradition that has stood the test of centuries, and that sincerity is visible in every detail.
Visiting on Sundays and What to Expect
Castle Otttis is open to the public on Sundays from 9am to 12pm, and that limited window is part of what makes a visit feel special rather than routine. The restricted hours keep crowds manageable and preserve the intimate atmosphere that makes the place so memorable.
Before showing up, it is strongly recommended to email ahead or check the castle’s website at castleotttis.org to confirm availability. Entry is free, though a donation box near the entrance gives visitors a chance to contribute to the upkeep of the property, which is genuinely appreciated by the family.
Parking is available on-site within the gate, and the experience typically runs about 30 minutes for a casual walk-through. Groups that ask questions and engage with the host tend to get much more out of the visit, since the stories behind the construction are just as compelling as the structure itself.
Meeting Matthias, the Heart of the Castle Today
Since the passing of founder Kendle Icke in July 2023, his son Matthias has become the face and voice of Castle Otttis. He lives on the property and conducts tours for small groups who have made reservations, bringing the castle’s story to life with a level of personal knowledge that no guidebook could replicate.
Matthias covers everything from the masonry techniques to the symbolic choices his father made during construction, and his passion for the subject is obvious from the first sentence he speaks. He is described by visitors as professional, warm, and genuinely enthusiastic about sharing what makes this place unique.
The connection between the family and the castle runs deep, which is something you can feel during the tour. Having a host who grew up alongside this structure and watched it take shape gives the experience an authenticity that transforms a simple sightseeing stop into something far more personal and meaningful.
The Symbolism Woven Into Every Wall
Castle Otttis was not built randomly. Every element of the structure carries symbolic weight, from the choice of materials to the layout of the spaces within.
Kendle Icke and his builder friend made deliberate decisions rooted in personal faith, family devotion, and artistic vision throughout the entire construction process.
The castle was dedicated to Icke’s wife, and that spirit of love and commitment is something the current host references during tours. Matthias also describes the structure as a testament to Jesus Christ, adding a spiritual layer to the experience that gives the place a contemplative, almost reverent quality.
The Thread of Life ceiling detail mentioned by many visitors is one of the clearest examples of that intentional symbolism. It is not decorative in a casual sense but rather a visual representation of a concept that mattered deeply to the people who built this remarkable and enduring structure.
Why Photographers Absolutely Love This Place
Few places in Florida offer the kind of photographic variety that Castle Otttis delivers in a single visit. The exterior stonework, the arched openings, the cedar ceiling details, the rooftop views, and the surrounding trees all create completely different visual moods within steps of each other.
Natural light behaves beautifully inside the structure because of the open windows, which means you can capture warm, diffused interior shots without any artificial lighting setup. The rough textures of the stone walls add depth and drama to portraits and architectural shots alike.
Professional photographers who specialize in elopements and intimate weddings have praised the property for offering total flexibility and privacy during sessions. The variety of backdrops available within a compact space means you can shoot for hours without ever feeling like you have run out of interesting angles or compositions to explore.
The Most Unique Wedding Venue in Florida
Couples looking for a wedding venue that breaks every mold have found their answer at Castle Otttis. The property has hosted elopements, intimate ceremonies, and small gatherings, with the stone chapel area being a particularly popular spot for exchanging vows in a setting that feels centuries removed from a typical Florida venue.
Matthias and his brother assist with planning and are known for being accommodating, helpful, and genuinely invested in making each event feel special. The rustic charm of the space does the heavy lifting when it comes to atmosphere, requiring very little decoration to create a fairytale mood.
Couples have described the experience as peaceful, magical, and unlike anything else they considered during their venue search. The combination of handcrafted architecture, coastal breezes, and a host who genuinely cares about the people visiting makes Castle Otttis a wedding memory that tends to stay with people for a very long time.
The Role of Donated Materials in Building the Castle
One of the most remarkable aspects of Castle Otttis is that it was built largely using donated materials. Kendle Icke and his builder friend did not have a corporate budget or institutional backing.
They gathered what they could from generous contributors and made it work with skill, creativity, and a lot of determination.
That grassroots approach to construction adds another layer of meaning to the finished product. Every stone and beam represents not just the labor of two dedicated builders but also the goodwill of the people who contributed to making the vision possible.
The masonry and carpentry are detailed enough that most visitors assume professional contractors were involved at a significant level. Learning that much of the work was done by a small team operating on donated resources tends to visibly change how people look at the walls around them, adding a sense of admiration that grows with every detail you notice.
Accessibility and Practical Tips Before You Go
A few practical things are worth knowing before you make the trip to Castle Otttis. The castle does not have handicapped accessibility, so visitors with mobility limitations should be aware that navigating the multiple levels requires some physical effort.
The narrow passages and stone staircases are part of the authentic character of the space but do present challenges.
Photography is allowed inside the castle, which is great news for anyone who wants to document the visit. Bringing a charged phone or camera is highly recommended because the interior shots alone are worth the effort of the drive.
Always confirm your visit ahead of time by emailing through the website or checking castleotttis.org before heading out. Arriving without a reservation or outside of Sunday morning hours may result in finding the gate closed, so a quick heads-up message to the host saves everyone time and disappointment.
The Atmosphere That Visitors Can Not Stop Talking About
There is something about Castle Otttis that visitors struggle to put into words but consistently try to describe anyway. The property carries a stillness and a weight that feels different from any other attraction in the St. Augustine area, which is already a city known for its rich historical character.
The combination of handcrafted stone, cedar warmth, ocean proximity, and the personal story behind the building creates an emotional atmosphere that sneaks up on you. Many people arrive expecting a quirky roadside curiosity and leave genuinely moved by what they experienced.
The trees surrounding the property act as a natural sound barrier, muffling the outside world and giving the grounds a sense of peaceful seclusion that feels rare along a coastal highway. That quiet is part of the magic, and it is the thing that makes Castle Otttis feel less like a tourist stop and more like a genuine discovery worth protecting.
A Closing Word on Why This Castle Deserves Your Time
Castle Otttis is the kind of place that reminds you why spontaneous detours and off-the-beaten-path stops are often the best parts of any trip. Built by hand, funded by community generosity, and rooted in personal dreams and devotion, it stands as proof that extraordinary things can come from deeply human impulses.
The free admission, the Sunday morning hours, the knowledgeable host, and the sheer visual impact of a stone Irish castle rising from the Florida coast all combine to make this one of the most memorable stops in the entire region. You do not need to be a history buff or an architecture enthusiast to appreciate what Kendle Icke created here.
St. Augustine already has centuries of stories to tell, but Castle Otttis adds a chapter that feels entirely its own. Make the reservation, show up on a Sunday morning, and let this quietly extraordinary place do the rest of the talking for you.
