The Castle That Wasn’t: How Squire's Castle Became a Local Legend

Ok, we’ve mentioned Squire’s Castle before—but do you actually know the story behind how a mini castle ended up in a Cleveland Metropark in the first place?

Let me catch you up. Because this one has it all: a wildly ambitious millionaire, oil money, a gothic daydream in the woods, and a castle that never got to be more than a fancy gatehouse.

Let’s start with the man behind it:

Feargus B. Squire (or as his friends called him, Feargus O'Conner Bowden Squire). He wasn’t just any rich guy—he was one of the original executives of Standard Oil, back when Rockefeller and his crew were laying the foundation for what would become one of the most powerful companies in American history.

Squire started as a bookkeeper and quickly climbed the ranks, eventually becoming Secretary and Treasurer of Standard Oil of Ohio.

He made serious money. Enough to build a mansion on Euclid Avenue (back when it was called Millionaires’ Row) and enough to start dreaming about a rustic summer retreat far away from the smoke and chaos of the city.

So in the 1890s, he bought 500 acres in what’s now the North Chagrin Reservation. His vision? A massive English-style country estate called “River Farm.” Think: rolling meadows, a winding driveway, formal gardens, a huge manor house tucked deep in the woods. But first—he built the gatehouse. That’s the stone building we now call Squire’s Castle.

It was designed in a Romanesque style—arched windows, turrets, all stone everything. Not a true castle, but castle vibes.

(Want to know exactly what makes a castle a castle? Check out this article.)

And it had everything you’d need for a temporary stay while the main house was being built: living quarters, a kitchen, a basement with wine storage, and even a hunting room for Feargus.

But here’s where it all went sideways: his wife hated it.

According to local lore (and some reports from the time), Louise Squire found the place gloomy, remote, and totally not her scene. She liked her luxuries, and this rugged woodland dream didn’t exactly scream creature comforts.

Can you imagine a life where your husband builds you a literal castle and your response is, ‘nah.’?!?!

There’s even a rumor she thought it was haunted—which may or may not be true, but either way? She noped out.

But as time passed and the legend of the “castle” grew, one rumor stuck: that Louise went mad from the isolation and died inside its walls, only to haunt it for all time.

It's a dramatic tale—but there’s no truth to it. Just a fun bit of local lore that refuses to die. (Pun definitely intended.) 👻

So the big manor house? Never built. The family stopped visiting. The gatehouse was abandoned, vandalized over the years, and eventually stripped of everything inside, including the upper levels and the basement.

Now there are just stone walls and ghost stories left behind.

In 1925, Cleveland Metroparks acquired the land, and the public started calling the leftover gatehouse “Squire’s Castle”—even though again, it’s not really a castle. But who’s going to correct a great nickname?

Today, it’s one of the most beloved photo ops in Northeast Ohio.

You’ll find people there at all hours—taking wedding photos, filming reels, hiking the trails, or just wandering around wondering how this moody mini-castle ended up tucked in the woods.

So the next time Squire’s Castle comes in in conversation, you can impress your friends with your knowledge of this weird, but beloved Ohio structure.

👉 Click here for our roundup of other castles and grand estates around Ohio you can actually visit:

Yup. NEO has castles. You just have to know where to look.