The Henderson Castle – Kalamazoo
There is an exquisite piece of history located on the steep of West Main Hill overlooking downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan. This historic work of architecture is none other than The Henderson Castle, established in 1895.
The castle has been recently renovated and is under new ownership since 2011 and is open to the public.
The story of this home began with Kalamazoo resident, Frank Henderson. Mr. Henderson was one of early Kalamazoo’s most successful businessmen.
He was the owner and president of the Henderson-Ames Company which made uniform regalia for secret societies, fraternal organizations, and the military. Mr. Henderson’s wife, Mary, inherited a plot of undeveloped land on the western edge of Kalamazoo before the company’s large success. Mr. Henderson dreamt of building a grand suburb on this land.
Allowing that dream to come to fruition, in 1888, he enlisted the help of surveyors, engineers, and landscape architects to plot the land and create Kalamazoo’s first “natural site plan”. In 1890, Mr. Henderson was ready to build his home in his new residential district.
The Queen Anne style house was designed by C. A. Gombert of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The $72,000 building costs included seven baths (one with a thirteen-head shower), an elevator, a third-floor ballroom, and a hot tub on the roof (added later). The castle’s exterior was constructed of Lake Superior sandstone and brick, and the interior wood included mahogany, bird’s eye maple, quartered oak, birch, and American sycamore. The castle was built with 25 rooms in all and exemplified the most expensive tastes of the time.
The Henderson’s had a grand housewarming party in 1895 at the completion of the castle’s construction. Mr. Henderson however, did not live long in the residence. He died in 1899 and his wife remained at the castle until 1908.
After Mrs. Henderson moved away, nine parties have owned Henderson Castle. In 1957, the house was purchased as the future site for the Kalamazoo Art Center. However, when the Institute of Arts remained downtown Kalamazoo, the castle became the property of the renowned liberal arts school at Kalamazoo College which lies just a block to the north of the castle’s grounds. The castle has been in three movies all of which were horror films, including “In the Woods”. It has also been featured on the Discovery Channel and House Hunters.
LOOKING FORWARD
The Future of Henderson Castle
Called the Jewel of Kalamazoo, and ranked the top historic inns in Michigan by AAA, the grandeur of this 11,000-square foot Queen-Ann style mansion, sitting on 3 acres, offers an intriguing blend of architectural, artistic, antique as well as modern amenities, including wireless access for business travelers. Heated marble floors, crystal chandeliers, gorgeous leaded and stained glass windows, fiber optic accents, a sauna, steam room and rooftop hot tub make the Castle a haven in the city and a romantic dream come true.
Ten distinctive bedrooms are available, including our guest cottage – a wheel-chair accessible room.
The Henderson Castle is now owned by Master Chef Francois Moyet, acquired in 2011, and operates as a full inn with a Chophouse restaurant, organic garden, vineyard, and day spa. The castle offers 10 guest rooms, one of which is located in the guest cottage. Under Francois’ ownership, the castle is now accessible to the community.
The restaurant is open daily for Breakfast, High Tea Service and Tours. Dinner Service is available Wednesday – Sunday. The Castle is the prime location for vintage atmosphere, superb cuisine, and lovely staff for couples on their wedding day. We host many events allowing the community to enjoy this historic beauty that has been part of Kalamazoo for over a century. The Henderson Castle experience is one you will never forget.