In the late 19^th century, the uncle and godfather of the famous German World War I flying ace, The Red Baron, moved to Colorado to pursue business interests and immerse himself in Colorado’s beauty.  Baron Walter Von Richthofen quickly purchased 320 acres of land that he named “Montclair” and began building what is today one of Denver Real Estate’s most iconic and famous residences:  The Richthofen Castle for sale.

Today, the castle is the centerpiece of one of Denver’s most charming and desirable neighborhoods, and it is for sale for the first time in nearly 30 years.  Impressively designed and solidly built from Colorado rhyolite (a fine-grained volcanic rock, similar to granite in composition), it evokes a stature of nobility while also settling in comfortably with the neighboring Tudors, bungalows, Victorians, and traditional brick homes that are prevalent in Montclair now.

When Baron Von Richthofen completed the castle in 1887, he had plans to develop the surrounding land into a health and recreational resort.  At the same time, he stayed busy on the exquisite details of the castle, some of which include the original gold-inlayed and hand-tooled leather wallpaper (which remains in amazing condition), handcrafted dark oak woodwork, leaded-glass, a grand Porte-cochere and stone tower with crests and shields.  There is even a sandstone bust of Frederick “Red Beard” Barbarossa, which keeps a faithful lookout over the northwest corner of the property.

In addition to the sale of the castle, the current owners are also planning to sell more than one hundred pieces of furniture and artifacts some of which belonged to the Baron and Baroness.  Among the more elaborate pieces are a huge Knabe concert grand piano, a hand-carved dining room table, chairs and buffets owned by the Richthofen family, countless pieces of artwork, vases, clocks and rugs gathered throughout the years from other significant mansions in Denver, as well as from all around the world.

“This is the only true castle in Denver, yet it lives very comfortably as a home,” notes Casey Miller of Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty.  “It is not dark, dreary, or dungeon-like as some might imagine when they think of a castle.  Instead, it is very bright, warm and inviting with four separate enclosed sunrooms.  All of the rooms have great sunlight and a grand scale, and the main living room is 61 feet in length!  The castle is situated in a great location, on over an acre of land, and in a historic Denver neighborhood where each homeowner takes great pride in maintaining their architecturally significant homes of varying styles. This is one of the most unique residences for sale anywhere in the city, the state and the nation.  Few can say that they live in a castle, much less one with such an incredible history and significance to Denver.”

Identified by the National Register as “the most remarkable residence in Denver”, the 14,000 square foot Richthofen Castle is comprised of 35 total rooms, including a drawing room, library, music alcove, servant’s quarters, butler’s pantry, billiards room, “Red Baron Bar”, eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a wrap-around terrace and courtyard that are perfect for social gatherings.  The castle also had a moat at one time, fed by the Highline Canal, and although it is now filled with soil, the gated property remains very private, quiet and peaceful. In 1910, the castle’s owner at the time — E.B Hendrie — invested $2 million into the property to convert the second story of the front facade from a crenelated parapet fortress to a modified Tudor.  The architects were Maurice Biscoe & Jules Jacques Benois Benedict, two of Denver’s most respected and well-known architects.

“The Richthofen Castle is a very important part of Colorado history, and the people of Denver love and cherish it as one of the city’s most unique and admirable residences,” said Miller.  “It has been cared for and maintained with a great deal of respect over the years, and the new owners will feel a true sense of belonging when they settle in.  It is truly a one-of-a-kind property, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to purchase the most unique and intriguing residence in Denver.”

For more information regarding the Richthofen Castle, please visit www.RichthofenCastle.com or Fuller Sotheby’s International Realty.

Casey Miller
3033 E. 1st Avenue #500
Denver, CO 80206

Casey.Miller@SothebysRealty.com
Mobile: 720.201.2755
Office: 303.486.3722
Fax: 303.486.3701