Castle Built over 53 Years by One Man - COOLEST THING I'VE EVER MADE EP21

Jim Bishop's homemade castle is like nothing you've ever seen before. Over 53 years, Bishops castle was built rock by rock, with the help of a pickup truck, Jim Bishop, a welder by trade, built this 165 ft tall castle in the wilds of Colorado in the summer months. In this video, we meet Jim Bishop and his son Daniel, with Daniel giving us the ultimate tour. This is one of the most comprehensive looks at Bishop's castle ever filmed.

Follow us on Instagram @coolestthing for behind the scenes and other fun stuff.

Producer/Director: Guy Georgeson
Editor: Guy Georgeson
Director of Photography: Andrew Sheppard
Researcher: Sara Knowles
Associate Producer: Laura Morris
Illustrations: Arden Taylor
Music licensed from: Audio Network, Pond5, Epidemic Sound
Stock Media provided by Marscott / Pond5
Stock footage licensed from: Storyblocks
Big thank you to the Bell Fund for additional funding of this season!

[CoolestThing]

Thanks for watching everyone! We are back for Season 3 (finally). Had to take a break as we were not able to travel, but we filmed more episodes this summer and will be releasing one a month, so be sure to Subscribe! Happy to be back! The castle episode was a fun one! - Guy (Creator/Producer of Coolest Thing I've Ever Made)

[drestre]

Kudos to the son for keeping his fathers dream and vision alive and not putting him in a retirement home. Warms my heart! ❤️ 🏰

[alchemistblk]

I remember going here as a kid. My dad drove us four hours out of the way to go and walk around. We went home and he started building zip lines and rope bridges in our yard. I think he was inspired by what he saw in this castle.

[brentprosser]

There are men out there, everywhere, doing impossible things. Breaking themselves just to leave their mark on the world. This is truly wonderful and beautiful. May it stand for centuries as a testament to this man's vision and determination.

[MiamiPapi]

"I pray to god every night that I'll return to my old self and start building again." What an inspiration.

[quintusgrobler]

I think the part I respect most is him proudly admitting to doing this all for attention. Living his truth, no bullshit. 2.1 million people have seen you my man, excellent work.

[EF_]

Jim bishop is a national treasure, a true representation of free spirit and dedication. What a guy

[aneatasewell]

I ❤ how the son's eyes 👀 light up while talking about his Dad's intelligence, ingenuity, and hard work he put into building Bishop's Castle... all parents should be admired & respected like this! Brilliantly done Mr. BISHOP, Brilliantly Done!!!

[mikerecords]

As an ironworker and a fabricator i can respect the intensity in what this man has accomplished. Absolutely amazing.

[cold-wolf]

Building your own castle by yourself? it's a childhood dream all of us had.
You can't help but respect this level of commitment and effort. It's just so unique and inspiring.

[stevemartin]

I met Jim 20 years ago and wanted to do a documentary on him. I didn't know what I was doing but was fascinated by him. This was way before Youtube. I worked with Jim for two weeks and went with him every day for two weeks. He is a master self promoter. He wanted to show the world what one man can do. He wanted to be an inspiration for anyone to show that if you have the desire and determination that you can do it. I really got to know the "real" Jim Bishop. A truly inspirational and caring individual. I learned a lot from from him. Because of certain things that I won't go into and my own ineptitude as a new person doing a documentary it was never completed. None of it was because of Jim. I'm glad to see he is still hanging in there. I filmed him one day hauling rock. Jim is a slight man. Not big, not heavy, but one tough son of bitch. Everything on his truck was hand made and rigged by him. He commented on the fact that the manufacturer should at least give him a new truck for promoting the amount of work that he proved could be done with it. He is a true inspiration. Like our forefathers who overcame. No matter what. If there is a problem we figure it out and get it done. He was fearless when it came to heights. I loved the picture of him standing on the head of the dragon. He commented on not being able to fire it up (It does shoot flame) because propane was too expensive at the time. We became friends in those two weeks. I'm glad to see his son take an interest in the castle and carrying on a grand family tradition. Hang in there, Jim. Like you wanted my friend, you have become a legend in your lifetime. Best to you and your wife. Steve Martin

[mattnstewart]

This guy work unbelievably hard to build this and was stoked to host raves in it. I love that.

[stemikger]

As a jaded 59 year old New Yorker, not much blows my mind. This blew my mind in so many ways, I'm having a hard time digesting it. The accomplishment, the philosophy on why it was done, and the son's love for his dad just makes this amazing in very way possible. It's amazing how one man could have done this.

[bondyb]

Imagine if this man had YouTube to film his progress. He wouldn't have worried too much about money and we would have endless entertainment for years

[imhere]

Jim Bishop, Father, Designer, Builder, Engineer, Architect, innovator, Visionary has left a great legacy. Thank you, Jim.

[palehorse]

Long after all of us are gone and no one remembers anything we did or owned they'll still remember Jim Bishop's castle.

[onazram]

The back development on Jim is quite incredible, he was an armature bodybuilder for a time, but hauling that rock his whole life
make his back as strong as the Castle...

[creebro]

My family bought a cabin outside of Westcliffe which is 45 miles from Bishops castle in 1970 so, when we have gone out there for the last 53 years we always went to see Jim and the progress that he had made. He is anti-government and he would be working on the castle preaching as he built it about the government and how not to trust them. He is one heck of a man and deserves all of the credit. And it is great that his son will carry on.
I have always bought shirts and things in there gift shop and will continue until I am not able to. I'll see you in July 2023.

[vipahman]

This guy is a legend. I've been rebuilding my house, room by room, for 5 years now, but the scale here is epic! I finally have my superhero.

[R]

My family and the Scout Troup, my son was in, camped in the castle back in 2011. Jim stayed with us that night to telling us stories of the castle. It was a great experience for us all.