Landoll’s Mohican Castle: A Castle In Ohio

This autumn, I was in search of some unique places to stay in Ohio, USA and came across castles. Did you know there are actual castles in Ohio? I had never known there to be castles in my home state so of course this piqued my interest. After some searching and internet sleuthing, I came upon Landoll Castle in Loudonville, Ohio which is very close to Mohican State Park. This is certainly not the oldest nor the biggest of castles in Ohio BUT it is straight out of hell…

Landoll's Mohican Castle, Loudonville, Ohio

Learn more about this Ohio castle getaway:

How To Get There
Landoll’s Mohican Castle Backstory
The Stay
- The Rooms
- Amenities
- The Staff
The Restaurant: The Copper Mug Bar and Grille
Ghost Tours
Should you stay at Landoll’s Mohican Castle?

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How To Get There

Address: 561 Twp. Rd. 3352, Loudonville, Ohio 44842, USA

Finding the castle takes some twists and turns and the staff will recommend NOT to use GPS as the systems get a little confused out in the region. The castle is quite off the beaten path. We went old school with paper and pen written MapQuest style directions and that worked out quite well. There are signs at each turn for the castle, simply labeled “castle” and following them will get anyone there.

PRO TIP: I’d recommend arriving before nightfall as once it’s dark, it is REALLY dark out in the woods and it would be easy to pass right by the signs without even noticing. Don’t make that mistake… trust me.

Landoll’s Mohican Castle Backstory

Hotels can stand out for numerous reasons and they’re usually pretty good about selling those positive attributes in just the right way to get just the right customers. From being the most luxurious in a region to the most historic or the tallest with the best view to the tiniest inn in town, there’s one for everyone. There’s the most expensive and the cheapest, three star to five star and more and they’ve all got one reason or another to draw attention. Which is Landoll’s you’re probably wondering.

Husband and wife Jim and Marta once owned a printing company that they sold. They used the money to build a $6 million castle and restaurant. Two years after being built the restaurant burnt down just after their insurance had lapsed which led to stress, a divorce, the retirement of Jim and more.

While Marta took on the reins of the hotel and restaurant though she had no experience in the hospitality industry and her son Jimmy became the General Manager, they were ill prepared for running a hotel and inn. While Landoll’s Castle was getting booked for stays, likely due to the uniqueness of a castle stay, they were most certainly letting down their customers in numerous ways and by the time Ramsay came into town, the hotel was only worth $2 million, a far cry from what it was originally.

The castle was featured on the television show Hotel Hell with Gordon Ramsay in July, 2016. Ramsay, of course, stepped in to give his two cents on what needed to be done in order to rectify a bad situation and that’s where the story begins…

Gordon Ramsay noted at least a dozen issues and by the end of the episode, the castle is on the right track to making money and pleasing their patrons. Definitely watch the episode if you can before you head to the stay. It’s much much better now, but it’s just fun to see the backstory and Gordon Ramsay, isn’t it?

Having watched the episode of Hotel Hell to get some backstory, I was prepared. I’ve always wanted to visit a restaurant or hotel or just anything that had undergone a makeover on TV. Is it real? Do the lessons stick? What happens afterward? I’m not the only one that wonders, am I?

The Stay

The Rooms

The castle features 11 suites while there are now 14 new suites in the Stables building that was built in 2018.

The castle itself is pretty amazing to see with it’s towers, turets and castle appearance. The structure is interesting and the rooms seem to be separated by little walkways and stairways here and there so that you feel as though you’re in your own wing of the castle during your stay. With so many rooms and doorways and walkways, it was helpful to have the staff show us to our room the first time.

The decor in the room was lush with wooden and metal accents definitely fitting to a castle ambiance. Our room was spacious with a large bed, a seating area and TV and a kitchenette. There was a bathroom and shower and then a separate smaller room with a whirlpool bath. The closet was stocked with very comfortable robes and towels and the fridge had a European style saran wrapped breakfast dish the next morning.

Music was playing on a CD player when we entered. Hotel staff provided us with an information sheet and directions for our stay along with a key to get into our room which we fell right into for a comfortable rest before heading out again.

Amenities

Pool & Fitness Center

Spa: Take advantage of the relax aroma therapy, muscle release aroma therapy or a Swedish massage or deep tissue massage. Or, take advantage of the hot stone massage

Mini Bar: Each suite is stocked with Dean & Deluca salty and sweet snacks from chips to popcorn to gourmet nuts and gummy bears.

The Staff

The staff at the desk, in the restaurant and on the grounds was helpful and kind and greeted us as we took in the grounds and enjoyed looking around the castle itself. The desk staff also helped us with directions for outings and what to see in the area as well as what to take in at the castle itself.

The Restaurant: The Copper Mug Bar & Grille

Because Gordon Ramsay is a well known chef, it seemed obvious enough that there would be much focus on the restaurant in the episode and so we were also interested in how the food was still being churned out.

The decor, that was redone on the show, was beautiful and inviting. The vibrant red really warmed up the space and the decoration was simple but chic. We ordered some house wine and a bottle of local beer to drink, a seasonal salmon and beet salad and a pork dish with a PB&J for the toddler tagging along was ordered up too. During the week, there were only a few tables of people in the restaurant and a very helpful waitress hopping from table to table.

I thought the food was good, my salmon was a little dry, but the pork chop was very good though my husband thought there was an excess of green beans on the plate. I did think it was much better than what Ramsay had likely run into before he went though. The chef came out to greet the tables of patrons and kindly listened and chatted with everyone in the room. The restaurant doesn’t give off the castle vibe like the rooms, but most people probably don’t want a Renaissance Festival feel to their meal anyway.

It was nice to have the exquisite restaurant on the grounds within walking distance and nicely seasoned food to sup on.

Ghost Hunts

A recent addition to activities at the hotel is the popular ghost walks/ghost hunts. When you arrive to the parking lot, you’ll notice you’re near a very old cemetery. Join the history tour to take a trip back to the 1830s an visit Heyd cemetery. Are the people there helpful or mischievous? You decide. Reserve Your Visit Here

Want to look even further into the ghosts on the grounds? Join the paranormal investigations tour. Walk through the tunnel beneath the castle and walk into a cottage, the most haunted building on the property.

Should you stay at Landoll’s Mohican Castle?

Pros:

Off the beaten path. A castle to sleep in is a pretty unique place to stay and talk with others about.
Quiet grounds around the hotel to walk around and enjoy nature without traffic and crowds.
Spacious and lush rooms.
Great staff with helpful information.
Space to be disconnected.

Cons:

No wifi in the rooms.
Some of the staircases to the spires and lookouts seemed like they needed a little upkeep to make sure they’re sturdy.
Other restaurants, etc not within walking distance.

Looking for more to do in the area? Head to Mohican State Park. It’s nearby and offers some really stunning views especially in the autumn with all of the changing colors and foliage.

Mohican State park has 13 miles of hiking trails. There are 8.5 miles of mountain bike trails and bridle paths too. There are also paths that are equipped with wooden planks that make it easy for kids to walk along. If you just want to drive through the park, there’s also a great map to pick up with a driving course that shows where to stop including gorge overlooks, a covered bridge, a discovery forest and the Pleasant Hill Dam that was built in 1936. Take in the views and then head back to the castle to stay the night.

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