“Stokes Castle, Austin, NV” by Helen Gordon is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Stokes Castle is a three story stone tower located just one mile from Downtown Austin, NV. It was commissioned by Anson Phelps Stokes, a mine developer, railroad magnate, and member of a prominent east coast family. The tower was completed in 1897 and meant to be used as a summer home, but the Stokes family only stayed at the tower on a few occasions in June and October of 1897. Stokes ultimately ended up selling it the following summer in 1898, and Stokes Castle fell into disrepair until a distant relative bought it in 1956.
Currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Stokes Castle demonstrates impressive craftsmanship. It was modeled after a tower in central Italy and constructed from local Nevada granite stone blocks. These huge stones were hoisted into place with a hand winch and held in place with rock wedging and clay mortar.
The interior of the tower was grandly adorned with a fireplace and plate-glass windows on each floor, balconies on the top two floors, and expensive furniture and artwork. The top of the building was designed to be an open terrace with a sweeping panoramic view of the area, including a 60-mile view down the Reese River Valley to the south.
If you are looking for a historic stone tower positioned atop a hillside with a majestic panoramic view for your next production, be sure to check out Stokes Castle! For more information and pictures, you can view the full Stokes Castle filming location details here and don’t forget to register your project!
To find more film-friendly locations, be sure to visit our Nevada Filming Locations Database or contact us if you need further assistance with your production!
Sources:
https://travelnevada.com/discover/31032/stokes-castle
https://mynews4.com/news/local/nevada-proud-the-mysterious-story-of-stokes-castle
https://www.abandonedspaces.com/mansion/stokes-castle-in-nevada-built-and-abandoned-in-a-period-of-just-one-year.html