Newman’s Castle

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

A Medieval Gem In The Texas Countryside

Just outside Bellville, Texas, is a scene that looks straight out of a fairytale: a full-scale medieval castle complete with a drawbridge, moat, towers, and a dungeon amid the rolling hills of a small Texas town.

It may look like a relic from centuries past, but this unique landmark isn’t ancient—it’s the dream of a small-town baker who decided to bring a piece of Europe to Texas. The idea was sparked decades ago, after Mike Newman (inset) graduated from high school and spent several years wandering through Europe. There, he became enchanted by the towering castles of the 14th century. Years later, when he bought land in Bellville, he originally planned to build a simple ranch-style home—until a friend’s offhand quip changed his mind: “Well, Mike, a man’s house is his castle.” Mike took the idea literally, breaking ground in 1998 and spending nearly two decades bringing his unlikely dream to life. As his nephew says, once Mike got an idea in his head, there was no shaking it. “He was a very strong-willed man,” says Chad Welty, who now runs the castle alongside his wife, Amanda. “When he gets something stuck in his head, that’s what he does.”

BELLVILLE’S LOCAL LEGEND

Back in town, Mike was already a familiar face. He had opened Newman’s Bakery in the 1980s, so when word spread that the baker had also built a castle, curiosity followed. The first official visitors arrived by bus from Harris County—a group of seniors eager to see the medieval fortress. Soon, tour groups became a steady rhythm, with Mike himself guiding guests through his labor of love. What began as a personal passion turned into a thriving local attraction. “He was just really proud of it,” Chad recalls. “He loved talking to people about the castle. And he was a businessman—he figured, sure, if people want to come visit, why not?”

Mike passed away in 2024, but his imaginative legacy lives on. Chad and Amanda are determined to continue what he started, expanding the property into not just a castle, but a full medieval experience. They’re already brainstorming additions like a medieval village, more event spaces, and overnight stays that would let visitors fully immerse themselves in the old-world fantasy.

For Chad, the castle is more than a unique tourist attraction—it serves as inspiration to dream big. “The whole purpose was to inspire people,” he says. “To show that you can do something crazy, and it can work.”

When You Go

The castle is about a two-hour drive from Georgetown and tours are available Monday through Saturday at 11am, with reservations required. Once inside the castle grounds, plan for about 90 minutes of exploration—wandering around the moat, climbing towers, and peeking into the dungeon—before gathering for a simple lunch of sandwiches, chips, and fresh-baked treats, all included in the ticket price ($20 for adults, $15 for children). Sturdy shoes are essential for the pebbled paths and outdoor terrain, and those enchanted by the setting can return for special oc- casions: the castle also serves as a storybook backdrop for weddings, wine tastings, birthdays, and other private events.

A 7-minute drive from the castle, Newman’s Bakery offers its own kind of local magic. A Bellville staple since the 1980s, it opens at 4am to greet early risers with coffee, quiches, kolaches, cinnamon buns, croissants, and donuts, along with daily soup specials. Pairing the bakery’s cozy comfort food with the castle’s awe-inspiring grandeur makes for a memorable day steeped in medieval fantasy.