This spectacular home was built by William A. Davis here on the slope of Iron Mountain in Manitou Springs. He and his brother planned Manitou Terrace, a large housing development that never materialized, of which the castle was to be the model home.

John Chapman did the stone work, and Sam Yarnell did the wood work. Both men invested in surrounding land of the proposed elite development. The house was completed at a cost of approximately $10,000. The original tract of land contained about 80 acres and included the summit of Iron Mountain.

The house was built to attract attention to the Davis brothers' subdivision, but no lots were sold. W.A. Davis lived in the castle a while, but there were long periods of time the castle stood vacant. It was believed by many to have been haunted from the beginning.

The castle was leased in 1908 by Alice Crawford Snow, who was an actress, spiritualist, and medium. Seances were held in the castle a couple times a week, and reportedly they would have tables and chairs moving all over the place. All sorts of sounds could be heard coming from different places. According to Mrs. Hakes, who later lived in the castle, when the wind blew it sounded like Gabriel blowing his horn.

Alice Crawford Snow, despondent over her career and her life, attempted suicice in the castle and was found by her lawyer friend in bed with a very bloody knee and her bedclothes afire.

Alice's elder sister was Emma Crawford who melodramatically requested she be buried on top of Red Mountain upon her death. Emma's spirit is supposedly the ghost of Red Mountain. Years after Emma's bones were found lying on the slopes of Red Mountain, but there was never any trace of Alice after she left the area following her recovery from her suicide attempt. So all of the mystery has shrouded the castle and has fueled speculation that Alice's spirit is still present at the castle.

The house has been sold a half dozen times since the Louis Hakes family lived here during the 40s.

The haunts add to the glamour and curiosity of the stone castle and Red Mountain. Perhaps Emma Crawford still walks abroad at night on Red Mountain, and perhaps her sister, Alice Crawford Snow, has returned to walk with her---it is a lovely place to spend eternity; spectacular view of all of Manitou Springs — the Garden of the Gods, bright sunlight and gorgeous sunrises. So you can see why Alice and Emma may visit the castle on occasion. When Mrs. Crawford, mother of Emma and Alice used to visit the castle, she often claimed she heard Emma playing the piano, but Emma had been dead for years.

The present owners ask that the public be reminded that their home is on private property and neither it nor the grounds are open to sightseers.

Credits for narrative:
Frontier Times, November 1979
The Journal, June 25, 1892
Gazette-Telegraph, October 25, 1969