(ST. MARY, MISSOURI) — When you hear that you can stay in a castle, you might think of European countries like Ireland, Italy, Germany or France.
Well I’m here to tell you there’s a beautiful castle in Southeast Missouri (Ste. Genevieve County) – near the Illinois border.
Twin Turret Farm & Castle is a stunning property full of family-friendly activities, both indoors and outdoors, that is the perfect destination for your next family reunion or gathering with friends. It’s located in St. Mary, MO – roughly half an hour away from Ste. Genevieve.
In this article, we’re going to go through all the things you can do when staying at Twin Turret!
1: Go fishing!
Everyone caught a fish at the on-site lake. While we mostly caught bluegill, you can see a beautiful bass I reeled in during our stay!
This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. The lake is so beautiful and calm; and there were always fish biting!
2: Take a paddle boat, kayak or canoe out on the lake!
There’s a boathouse right by the lake, and a beach! The beach has bins full of sand toys that will keep your kids busy for a long time. My son (who is 3) loved playing with the CAT construction trucks in the sand.
There’s plenty of boats and ores to use, so get out on the water and enjoy the great outdoors! Bennett and I took the paddle boat out for a spin!
Bennett loves to get outside and explore with his daddy! Getting on the boat and fishing on the dock and beach with my boy was so much fun.
3: Swim in the indoor pool!
Too cold to take a dip outside? Luckily for you, there’s a heated indoor pool! At the deepest, it’s 7 feet. The more shallow side is 5 feet.
There are plenty of towels and pool toys there for everyone to enjoy!
4: Take a nature hike
There’s a loop around the property that goes around the lake. It’s a fun, scenic walk where you’re likely to see wildlife. Plus, you’ll get different views of the castle like my photo above! We saw a bald eagle, hawks, turkey vultures, a vole, deer, rabbits and more.
5: See a “crashed” plane!
I don’t have much history about this one, but I’m not complaining! It was pretty awesome to see a plane like this just sitting on the property. One of the things you’ll see while exploring the grounds. It’s right next to lake.
6: Play games in the game room!
Checkers, pool and darts are available in the big game room right next to the lodge room. This is another way to keep your kiddos busy for a bit! Especially if they’re learning how to play a game like Checkers.
The castle was originally more of a lodge for the owner, and the owners kept building on to it. The photo above and beneath are both in that main lodge room I was talking about. Comfy couches are available with a big TV on top of a beautiful fireplace.
To match the cabin vibes, we stayed in the lodge bedroom that is up the stairs from this area. A very comfortable king-sized bed and modern bathroom highlight the very spacious room.
7: Order Sirro’s for carryout!
On your way in to St. Mary, stop by downtown Ste. Genevieve and grab a meal to-go from Sirro’s. Delicious pizzas, appetizers and salads are available. We ordered the Sirro’s deluxe pizza, Sirro’s salad, grilled chicken salad, Totchos, Toasted Raviolis, and “Wing Dings” AKA boneless chicken wings. It was all so good!
Downtown Ste. Genevieve looks like a beautiful place to spend time, I hope we get to return soon! Thanks to Lauren and the team at Sirro’s for providing us a fantastic meal!
8: Climb the Castle tower!
You read it right! This Missouri Castle has a tower you can climb. After Rachel went up first, Bennett saw that mama did it – so he wanted to do it, too! Well, that meant daddy had to climb the tower with him. Bennett did a great job listening the whole way and letting me guide us up and down the ladder.
There are two levels of the tower you can climb to; showcasing great views of the front of the castle.
9: Stay in the Treehouse!
Did I mention the Castle can sleep up to 18 people?! There are so many rooms. On the third floor of the Castle, venture into The Treehouse. It’s painted vibrant green, and is a perfect theme for kids and families.
Find plenty of comfortable beds for your group, and stuffed animals for the kids to play with.
There is a full bath and shower on this floor as well.
10: Stay in the King & Queen’s Suite!
Feel like royalty by staying in the King & Queen’s Suite. Put on the robes while you’re at it!
And any king & queen needs a royal tub for bathing!
11: Host a medieval feast!
This had to of been my favorite room in the house. And trust me, it’s hard to choose!
With an outdoor deck right by the lake outside, you’re sure to catch a beautiful sunset by sitting in this room. You’ll notice in every room inside, or aspect of the castle outside, the attention to detail and beautiful architecture is on full display.
There are so many unique parts of the experience, you’re sure to find something new every where you go.
No matter what you choose to do, you’re sure to have a blast here at Twin Turret Farm & Castle. Not only is there so much to do, but the Castle is stocked with really anything you’d need!
On the front porch to the right, there’s plenty of seating for people to enjoy. On the right, there are multiple grills – and there is grilling equipment available!
This was by far one of the favorite stays we’ve ever done. The host, Lisa, was absolutely fantastic. I’ve enjoyed working with her every step of the way, and hope that more people will get to enjoy this beautiful castle for years to come! I hope to be back soon.
Where should we adventure to next in Missouri? Comment here or let me know on social media!
Matt Sheehan Official 