Craig-E-Clair Castle looks like something out of a dark fairytale. Hidden in the shady forests of the Catskill Mountains in Roscoe, New York, this structure has a chilling reputation.
The castle is thought to have been built in between 1915 and 1921, but the records from this period are foggy. It is known that Craig-E-Clair was built by Scottish native Bradford Lee Gilbert. The castle’s cursed reputation stems from the horrific fate of the family that built the now-decaying stone palace.
Gilbert died of a painful illness during the final stages of construction. His wife Josephine fell into madness, and was committed to a sanitarium about a year after her husband’s death.
Youtube/Walter Arnold
The property then passed to the couple’s only child, Muriel Harmer Wurts-Dundas. Unfortunately, a large part of Muriel’s fortune was stolen by her appointed guardians.
Youtube/Walter Arnold
Soon after, Muriel embarked on a quest to find “St. John’s Gold” in England. She began losing her grip on reality. She hired a local mystic who promised to locate the treasure with a magic wand.
Youtube/Walter Arnold
Muriel met the same fate as her mother, and was eventually committed to a mental hospital. The castle passed from the Dundas family and was eventually purchased by the Masons.
Youtube/Walter Arnold
Though the masonic order still owns the castle, it has been left unused to rot and decay in the forest. Naturally, dark rumors about the structure have sprung up over the years.
Youtube/Walter Arnold
Some say that Josephine was actually locked in the attic of the castle before she was committed, and that her ghost now haunts the estate.
Other local legends assert that anyone who stays overnight in the castle will be marked for death, and meet a grisly end within the next year.
Youtube/Walter Arnold
Obviously, the rumors about Craig-E-Clair castle are probably the product of the estate’s enigmatic appearance and decades of local storytelling. According to historical records, none of the Dundas family had the opportunity to actually live at the castle before their deaths. In fact, the records indicate that no one has stayed overnight at the castle since its construction, though it did function as a summer camp for a brief period . Regardless of what you believe, this place is certainly a mysterious and beautiful reminder of a grander age. It certainly is unusual that such an opulent castle has been left to crumble.
Youtube/Walter Arnold
For an exploration of the castle as it stands today, check out the footage below from YouTube channel “The Unknown Cameraman“:
For a beautiful beautiful photographic tour of the castle, including historical pictures, take a look at this video from YouTube user and photographer Walter Arnold.
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