Knapp's Castle, Mountain mansion ruins in Santa Ynez Mountains, US.
The stone foundations and archways of Knapp's Castle stand at 2,900 feet elevation, offering views across Lake Cachuma and Santa Ynez Valley.
George Owen Knapp, founder of Union Carbide, built this five-bedroom mansion with an organ room and observatory in 1916 on his 160-acre mountain property.
The ruins became a reference point for local photographers who captured sunset images through the remaining stone arches framing Lake Cachuma.
The site requires a 0.8-mile round trip walk from East Camino Cielo road, with minimal elevation change of 50 feet along an unmarked dirt path.
Five weeks after opera singer Lotte Lehmann moved into the property in 1940, a forest fire destroyed the mansion, leaving only sandstone pillars and walls.
Location: Santa Barbara County
GPS coordinates: 34.52330,-119.79300
Latest update: March 3, 2025 13:30
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