Georgia man opens castle after he was forced to demolish Airbnb treehouse
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The Castle at Kingston is located an hour from Atlanta in Bartow County. Photo: Courtesy of Ryan McGovern
It's been nearly a year since Ryan McGovern was ordered by the city of Kennesaw to demolish the Treasure Hunt Treehouse he rented out through Airbnb — and used as a primary source of income for him and his family.
Why it matters: Since then, he's shifted his time, money and energy to something bigger and more regal to offer guests looking for a brief respite from the hustle and bustle of their busy lives.
The latest: McGovern earlier this month opened the Castle at Kingston, an Airbnb listing located an hour away from Atlanta in Bartow County, near Barnsley Resort. The property blends medieval décor with modern appliances and amenities (think "Game of Thrones" vibes, but with electricity, plumbing and a modern kitchen).
- Guests can also take part in a castle-themed treasure hunt.
- Other features you can expect: a hot tub, sauna, a small room with an actual throne (complete with crowns and robes), a fire pit and rooftop views.
What they're saying: McGovern said the castle has been five years in the making. It was also hard to find a builder who could construct a custom castle, so he and his father Randy took on the construction project themselves.
- His father, a wildlife artist, created several oil paintings that adorn the walls throughout the castle.
- While operating the treehouse, guests left reviews saying the stay made them feel like they were kids again, so McGovern said he hopes the castle provides that same "whimsical, magical experience."
- "I wanted to have people fool themselves into thinking maybe they're in a different time period or something."
The castle sits on a hill, but from the rooftops, guests will notice they are surrounded by ridges.
- "We wanted a spot on the hill with a good view, where it's quiet, close access to the interstate, close to restaurants at Barnsley, and this was just perfect," McGovern said.
The fine print: Since the county couldn't run sewer lines to the property, McGovern had to drill a well to access water from an aquifer. He also had to install satellite internet service.
Flashback: McGovern operated his treehouse in Kennesaw for five years until an anonymous complaint was filed with the city last year, the Cobb County Courier reported at the time.
- The city told Axios it determined McGovern did not obtain the electrical, plumbing or building permits required to operate an accessory dwelling unit on the property, so he had to demolish the structure.
- "It was so bizarre and heartbreaking," McGovern said, adding that he had to call and cancel reservations for guests who booked their stays six months in advance. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
- He was able to obtain the necessary permitting to build the castle.
The bottom line: McGovern said he hopes the rare opportunity to spend a few nights in a castle will be enough to attract people to his Airbnb property, particularly anyone looking for a quick romantic getaway.
- "It's good for kids too," he said. "They really love it because they can pretend like they're a king or a queen for the day."
If you go: The two-bedroom, two-bathroom castle can sleep up to nine people (when you factor in the sofa bed and a set of bunkbeds on site). The nightly rate starts around $479 on Airbnb.
