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2017/07/12

怡潔旅美遊記(五)--瘋狂城堡Bishop Castle(2017.07.08)

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週六(8)趁前往Great Sand Dunes國家公園之便順道造訪路過位在Pueblo西南方不遠的Bishop Castle,該景點五年前曾參觀過,此趟是特地帶小女兒進來參觀。
Bishop Castle是位在科羅拉多州丹佛西南方約150哩的一座單人獨立建造的城堡,該城堡行政區隸屬於Wetmore小鎮,位處San Isabel 國家森林範圍內;不少美國當地網站形容Bishop Castle乃是「最瘋狂的城堡」。
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Bishop Castle
Bishop Castle的建造人Jim Bishop是在1969年開始建造此城堡,當年他才15歲,建造此城堡的動機只是單純的想為家人打造一座小屋,以便在山上打獵、攀岩,並可從事一些戶外運動,當建築體愈來愈像一座城堡時,Jim Bishop就打算乾脆自己蓋城堡!從1969年到現在,一個人單獨建造的城堡仍持續進行中,四十多年來已用去了一千多噸的石頭。
"Did it all myself, don't want any help" Jim Bishop堅定的說。

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Bishop Castle constructor~Jim Bishop ˋ
Bishop Castle constructor~Jim Bishop

嚴謹來說,這座遠看像城堡的建築物親自走訪一趟後,你會發現似乎充滿危機;連結高塔的看似扭曲的鐵橋走起來搖搖欲墜的,要不是有夠大的膽還真不敢站在上頭;簡陋的旋轉梯直通塔頂、說是塔頂倒不如說是在城堡的最高點以幾根鐵條圍住的一個小空間,危險性十足,不過居高望遠,展望挺不錯的。
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Bishop Castle

"I always wanted a castleEvery man wants a castle"Jim Bishop常把這句話掛在嘴邊,Bishop Castle就處處凸顯出建造人Jim Bishop的夢想,所以不能以一般正規建築來評論城堡的結構;現今的Bishop Castle就在外牆伸出一節奇特的噴火龍,當這個城堡的壁爐生起火來,燃起的煙霧就靠龍的嘴巴排出,真是名符其實的噴火龍!
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70年代Jim Bishop4歲兒子,從城堡附近樹上墜落的意外中失足身亡,Jim Bishop稱自己當時邊建造邊掉眼淚,但這卻支撐他一定要持續蓋城堡的力量!
四十多年來Jim Bishop一方面獨立建造城堡,一方面要對付來自華盛頓的政治官僚,華盛頓當局要向Jim Bishop運來建造城堡所用的岩石課以稅金,這些石頭來自於屬於San Isabel National Forest範圍的Bishop Castle附近的私人土地;另一爭論的焦點是科羅拉多州商會一直拒絕在該商會的官方旅遊指南中將Bishop Castle列入具吸引力的旅遊景點。幸運的是這兩個問題在雙方各做了些妥協後已獲得解決,但是在城堡四處所立的告示牌多少可看出Jim Bishop的政治主張與對現狀的不滿,工作之餘Jim Bishop也常坐在Gift shop外的屋簷下高談闊論,如果你不認同他的主張,你大可不必接近。
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The sign at Bishop Castle
Bishop Castle constructor~Jim Bishop 1
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Bishop Castle constructor~Jim Bishop (L)
Jim Bishop希望在他死前能完成他的城堡,他現在正在進行護城河和吊橋工程,將來還計畫在外牆蓋一座雲霄飛車,一個大到足以容納一個樂隊的陽台,和以他的妻子菲比(Phoebe)為名的第二城堡。
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"I want to live as long as I can and keep building that castle bigger and bigger and bigger"Jim Bishop堅定的說。
Bishop Castle constructor~Jim Bishop
Bishop Castle constructor~Jim Bishop

Bishop Castle地址:12705 Colorado 165, Rye, CO

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