This attraction gets the award in the Weirdest and Wackiest (and, boy, are there many) of Florida category. In 1974, Howard Solomon began building what has become a 60-foot-tall, 12,000-square-foot castle in a Manatee County swamp. Solomon, a metal and wood sculptor by trade, built the huge structure (where he now lives) out of 22X34-inch offset aluminum printing plates discarded by a local newspaper. He and the other tour guides (try to get the tour led by Solomon, or at least talk with him about his work) lead guests on a pun-filled tour of the castle, which is decked out with some of his smaller artistic creations, mostly made of other people's "trash," including a chair made out of 86 beer cans, an elephant pieced together with seven oil drums, a unicorn fashioned out of coat hangers, and about 80 stained-glass windows. Howard is continually building new things -- you never know what you'll find. If you're hungry, check out the Boat in the Moat restaurant, which is literally just that. You have to experience this to believe it.
Sarasota
Travel Guide
Sarasota› Attraction
Solomon's Castle
4533 Solomon Road, Ona, FL, USA
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Ona
Hours
Oct 2–Aug 1 Tues–Sun 10am–4pm. Closed Aug–Sept.
Phone
863/494-6007
Prices
Admission $35 adults, $32 seniors, $14 children 13-17, $10 children 4-12. Less expensive tickets for shorter tours are available
Web site
Solomon's Castle
Map
4533 Solomon Road Ona FL USA SarasotaNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.