The Amana Colonies

The Amana Colonies are located just North of I-80 on US Highway 151 in southeastern Iowa. Their story starts in 1714 in Germany as a newly founded religious group. They became known as the Community of True Inspiration. Seeking religious freedom, the group left Germany for America in 1843-44. The society consisted of about 1,200 people and settled on 5,000 acres near Buffalo, New York. They soon found they needed more land and a place where they could isolate themselves from the common people. In 1855 they moved to Iowa and a 26,000 acre tract of farmland.

They were a self-sufficient communal society. They shunned contact, as much as possible, with the outside world, and attended religious services 11 times a week (surprised they found the time to farm). But......they did sell their excess to the outside world.

In 1932, amidst the Great Depression, the communal way proved to be a barrier to satisfying their overall goals so the society reorganized as a profit-sharing corporation. Private enterprise was encouraged and the society flourished.

Today the place is a Nation Historic Landmark and a tourist attraction.

While we sat and ate homemade cinamon rolls we were entertained by bathing birds (doesn't take much to entertain me anymore).

Everyting in tese villages was neat and tidy, even those that have moved on still keep their place up.

The view from the highest point in the main village. Picture was taken out a window at the top of an old grain elevator. It is now a very nicely remodeled visitor's center.

One of the homes, almost all were very similar and build from this same stone (probably out of their own quarry).

Okay, I wasn't ready for this. The brand name "Amana" originated right here in the colonies. I didn't expect a national brand to come from a religious based group of isolationists (even if they did buy into the capitalism and work for profit when they reorganized in the 1932).

Here stands Sharon in front of one the wineries. I should regale you with stories of how we spent the rest of the day taste testing and then stumbled back to the camper. But, the sad truth is we didn't even go in. Instead we went to the local meat market and loaded up on sauerkraut, sausage, ham, and cheese. After all, we have to maintain our figures.

Bishop Castle

The castle is less than an hour west of Pueblo, Colorado, and is definitely a fascinating place. Jim Bishop, founder, builder, and lord of the castle is a true character. I was fortunate (that may be an exaggeration) enough to get to speak with (actually listening is all I really did) with Mr. Bishop.

Jim and his father started the project in 1969 as a cabin. Jim's father bowed out of the project two years later and Jim has been doing it alone ever since.

There are a number of very good internet sites with info about the history of the castle, so I won't go into detail here. Info on those sites is at the bottom of the page.

I will relate one story that I didn't see published anywhere. I got this information from Jim (with his slant) and from some locals. In the Castle there are numerous signs relating Jim's personal views on politics and experiences with the local law enforcement persecuting him (according to Jim's version). So it goes that Jim was arrested and jailed by the local sheriff for some trumped up charges (for expressing the freedoms of his birthright). The real story is that Jim's dragon can belch fire. There was a burning ban in effect. The sheriff had repeatedly asked Jim to refrain from allowing the dragon to belch its yellow flame (from a propane burner). Jim insisted it was his (and the dragon's) right to light the night sky. The sheriff insisted that during a burning ban, it wasn't. The sheriff won.

Jim is a very good stone mason and iron worker. He built a marvel on a mountainside and kept it level. However, it is my personal opinion that if he ever put his level on his viewpoints he would find none that are remotely level. He is total disconnected with the real world. Enjoy the pictures and keep you head down in case the dragon belches.









This is Jim, resident mason, iron worker, tour guide, and story "yeller" (he doesn't tell, he yells). If you bring up politics then you should keep your head low...

If you are interested in more info just Google "Bishop Castle" or click on this link to one of the articles I thought was fairly good >>>>>> The Craziest Castle In Colorado.