Pronounced Craig-Derek, the Castle was built between the years of 1887-1890 by Scottish coal-baron Robert Dunsmuir, who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal.
Craigdarroch Castle stands on a hill overlooking the Canadian city of Victoria on Vancouver Island, in the province of British Columbia. The castle’s prominent location indicated that Robert Dunsmuir was the wealthiest and most important man in Western Canada at the time.
Fit for a king, the Dunsmuir home is a spectacle of ornate Victorian decor from the extensive stained glass windows to the elaborate woodwork. The castle also notably has many, MANY stairs – the tower alone possesses 87 steps!
Long rumored to be haunted, it is said that a cacophony of paranormal activity was kicked up during restoration work.
Among some of the claims are sightings of a ghostly woman in a white dress standing alone by a window in the ballroom; objects being moved by themselves; a disembodied crying child; and a piano which plays by itself when no one is present.
At over 20,000 square feet of interior space, the castle has plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.