Famously filmed against some of the most scenic backdrops on the planet, “Game of Thrones” has long inspired fans to travel the world, seeking out a contact high with the HBO show’s stunning locations.
Should this eighth and final season debuting Sunday spark another wave of wanderlust — one that has you hankering to hunker down in a Castle Black, Winterfell or Casterly Rock of your own, perhaps? — we’ve rounded up a few places to plot your escape.
Don’t worry about racking up too many miles on your dragon. These “castles” are all conveniently close to Chicago.
Clayshire Castle
Bowling Green, Ind.
Calling all cosplayers: This castle comes stocked with more than 100 gowns, knightly garb and other medieval outfits, courtesy of seamstress and innkeeper Mary Jo Smock.
A pediatrician by day, Mary Jo launched the bed and breakfast nearly seven years ago with her husband, Douglas, an aerospace engineer and Middle Ages history buff.
“We knew that when we retired, we couldn’t just sit still,” said Mary Jo, aka Lady Josephine. So she and Douglas — make that Lord Douglas — did what any couple contemplating their golden years would do: “We decided to build a castle and open a B&B.”
Until now, they’ve been operating the business weekends only. But they’re about to say so long to their “real jobs” and take reservations seven days a week as of July.
Wrought-iron gates and a half-mile long gravel driveway lead up to the secluded property, about an hour southwest of Indianapolis. Bring your hiking boots; the castle is surrounded by 120 wooded acres, so you can spend plenty of time searching the grounds for blood-red-leaf weirwood trees and Children of the Forest.
Within the castle’s stone-covered walls, take a seat on one of the hulking, ornately carved wooden chairs — an Iron Throne of sorts.
Of the five guest rooms, among the most popular is the vineyard-themed Wine Cellar. It’s the kind of place Cersei Lannister, goblet of zinfandel within reach, might scrub off her walk of shame residue in the oversized wine barrel tub.
Rates are $200 during the week, $225 on weekends. Children are welcome. Just don’t let them climb the castle walls. (We’re looking at you, Bran.)
RavenStone Castle
Harvard
Jose and Rose Michel have come across a lot of castles over the years. Chalk it up to their tapestry business, which involves frequent trips to Europe to buy fabric for pillows, purses, wall hangings and other creations they sell at Renaissance fairs.
“Rose loves castles,” said her daughter-in-law, Terry Michel. “But if you buy a castle in Europe, it’s extraordinarily expensive — and it’s falling apart. What’s the next best thing? Build your own.”
That’s what the Michels did in 2001, when they broke ground in the farm fields of far northwest Chicagoland and set about constructing their 16th century-style dream home. The couple’s four sons and daughter helped with the manual labor, from excavation work and pouring the concrete to framing the roof. Rose designed every arch and turret, stocking the structure with antiques and artifacts from around the world.
Four of the rooms function as a bed and breakfast, including the richly hued Egyptian Suite with a whirlpool tub and private balcony ($175), a perfect perch for Daenerys to deliver a rousing speech to the Unsullied.
Beware: RavenStone is home to quite a few four-legged creatures — think rescue kittens, not direwolves.
“If you’re allergic to cats, this isn’t the place for you,” Terry said.
Pro tip: For an extra $10, you can make like a member of House Tyrell and have rose petals strewn across the bed.
Castle La Crosse
La Crosse, Wis.
Bookworm Samwell Tarly could geek out all day long in this charming B&B’s library, stocked with travel-related tomes and maps, some dating to the 18th century.
“It’s our favorite room in the house,” said Billy Bergeron, who bought the “Castle on Cass” two years ago with his partner, Brandon Rigger.
They’re the sixth owners of this 127-year-old, meticulously maintained Romanesque beauty, commissioned by a lumber baron who, like so many “Game of Thrones” characters, didn’t live long enough to see the finished product.
Each of the five suites is named for a type of wood found in this so-called Driftless Area, which sounds like one of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros but is in fact a real thing.
The mansion — once home to nuns — has managed to hang on to many of its Gilded Age details. Stained-glass windows, intricate woodwork and chandeliers dominate the decor, giving the place a regal air. Rates range from $220 to $265.
Rigger, a trained pastry chef, makes the breakfasts, which tend to be on the savory side (sorry, no pigeon pie). “We don’t want to sugar people up too much,” Bergeron said. Many of the ingredients are sourced from the region’s bounty of organic farms. The keeping-it-local ethos extends to the on-site gift shop featuring works by La Crosse-area artists.
This part of Wisconsin is situated along the Mississippi Flyway, a migration route for hundreds of bird species. You might get lucky and spot a Three-Eyed Raven.
Henderson Castle
Kalamazoo, Mich.
Imagine downtown Kalamazoo is King’s Landing as you kick back on your third-floor balcony in the Queens Tower room ($129 a night) of this purportedly haunted castle.
What are a few more ghosts, given that the night is dark and full of terrors?
“I’ve been here eight years and haven’t seen any ghosts,” said Francois Moyet, who bought the massive Queen Anne-style mansion in 2011. “I don’t know if it’s a haunted place, but it is an enchanted place.”
Made of Lake Superior sandstone and brick, the 124-year-old abode includes a spa and a steak-and-seafood restaurant whose kitchen is overseen by Moyet, an acclaimed chef.
The exotic Tibetan Room — one of a dozen at the inn — has a distinctly Dornish vibe with its warm color palette and rich fabrics.
The picturesque castle makes a pretty setting for nuptials. It usually hosts at least one wedding a weekend in the summer. And we all know “Game of Thrones” fans love a good wedding.
Should you wish to get your Greyjoy on and take to the sea, castle staff can arrange for cruises off the coast of Saugatuck aboard the Summer Wind Yacht.
Castle on Berwyn
Chicago
The lion imagery on the wrought-iron gate looks straight-up Lannister at this fanciful fortress in the 1400 block of West Berwyn Avenue.
“It’s known throughout the neighborhood as the Castle on Berwyn,” owner Kathy Klink-Flores said about one of Andersonville’s most recognizable buildings, an ornate assemblage of stained glass, statuary and rough-hewn stone. Architect George L. Pfeiffer, whose works are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, designed the 1904 structure.
Kathy’s late husband, Ron Flores, bought the elaborate greystone in 1975. He filled the sizable yard — a double lot — with remnants of old buildings he found in Chicago. Ron also collected antiques, giving them extra bling by adding brass, bronze and other materials he salvaged.
“I call it ‘Ronesque,’” Kathy said about his creations showcased in the top floor apartment, a two-bedroom, one-bathroom space available on Airbnb for $129 a night. (The online home-sharing service has a handy filter that lets you search specifically for castles.)
The Airbnb listing asks prospective guests to “be careful of antiques and treat them gently,” so no hide-and-seek games between Mag the Mighty and Hodor.
Twitter @lorirackl
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