A Castle Was Built And Left To Decay In The Middle Of Tennessee's Second Largest City

One of the strangest places in the state of Tennessee is located right in the middle of the state’s second-largest city: Memphis. Sure, it’s known for Beale Street and the blues, but Memphis is also home to one of the only castles that exist in the state. Learn a little about Ashlar Hall, known colloquially as Prince Mongo’s Castle, and maybe drive by when you’re in the city to take a peek for yourself. This one is a doozy!

Chris Wieland - Flickr

You'll find Prince Mongo’s Castle, known also as Ashlar Hall, in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee. It's surprising to drive by and see the crumbling mansion, but it's even more fascinating to hear the story behind the strange space.

Chris Wieland - Flickr

The castle itself comes in at over 11,000 square feet and was built by Robert Brinkley Snowden after his 1890 graduation from Princeton. The real estate developer designed and crafted the famed Ashlar Hall himself, and the eight-room mansion outfitted with a swimming pool and both a basement and attic was completed in 1896.

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Chris Wieland - Flickr

Fun fact - the Snowden family was Memphis royalty, and Colonel Robert C. Brinkley, the founder of the Peabody Hotel, was Snowden's great-grandfather. It makes sense why he had a soft spot for opulence! The castle was passed on to family heirs but fell under disrepair due to the extensive upkeep expense.

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Jerry Lewis - GoogleMaps

Robert "Prince Mongo" Hodges bought the castle in 1990 and turned the historic space into "The Castle" nightclub. The late-night hangout quickly became notorious for serving alcohol to minors and hosting crude events for the locals. Prince Mongo got in quite a few tussles with local law enforcement and he eventually had to shut down The Castle due to the many, many city violations.

Juan Montoya - GoogleMaps

He gave the hall away to serve as a nonprofit space, and eventually, the Urban Renaissance Initiative took over the property deed. The home was left to simply fade away in the middle of the city after a contractor who was meant to help renovate the space stole pieces of copper and stonework.

Ashlar Hall - GoogleMaps

The property has since undergone some extensive renovations by Juan Montoya, the castle's current owner. Memphis has had the privilege of watching the castle be revived and reworked over the last few years, but there is still quite a way to go.

Chris Wieland - Flickr

It's one of the strangest mysteries in Memphis, and it remains a story told time and time again.

You can learn more about Prince Mongo’s Castle right on Abandoned Southeast, and check on updates for Ashlar Hall here. What a fascinating story!