If you're looking for a hidden castle, odds are you're not looking next door. Maybe not even in Kansas! However, this castle is one of a few standing in the Sunflower State, but it's not noticed very often, unless you live nearby. Not that it's impossible to find, but anyone west of Wichita (and many in Wichita) probably haven't heard of this hidden castle. Fortunately for us, it also hosts a fantastic farm-to-table restaurant that'll give you double the reason to take the trip.
Note: this article was written in 2017 and the restaurant in this castle has since closed. However, they're still open for private events!
Ask the residents of Shawnee about Renee Kelly's Harvest, and they'll probably point you in the right direction. But, did you know it's housed in the historic Caenen Castle? The castle itself was constructed in 1907 by a dairy farmer, who quarried the stones by hand in his free time. Can you imagine having that much free time?
It's thought to be modeled after a French or Belgian castle, and originally had a full basement, 12 rooms, two and a half stories, and an interior water system.
The family lived at the castle until 1925, when it became a nursing home for the mentally disturbed. It's been just about everything, including a nightclub, a Halloween haunted house, and currently, a restaurant. It now has a modern kitchen as well as central heat and air, which makes it much better suited as the location of Renee Kelly's Harvest.
Today, you can make reservations for dinner or rent out the whole castle as the wedding venue of your dreams. Who wouldn't want to get married in a castle?
The food served here is as local as possible, and farm-to-table dining means the menu rotates with the seasons and what's available locally.
During the warmer months, you can sit outside and enjoy a nice glass of wine or your meal next to the castle's exterior. The whole grounds is so well taken care of, it really feels like you're walking into a mini storybook castle setting.
Can you believe this castle isn't popular with Kansans all over? It's definitely one of our most beautiful.
If you're interested in any of our other of our castles, check out this road trip we put together for that very reason!
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