Solomon's Castle

If this looks different from any other castle you've seen before, I would imagine it is. View this large. This castle was hand built by the artist who lives there, Howard Solomon. To make it shiny and gleaming, he used recycled printing plates discarded by the local newspaper. Howard is big on recycling. He and his wife Peggy, who gave us a tour, live in one section of this castle. Another large part of the castle is dedicated as a gallery of Howard's eclectic art which is mostly created from "found art" like oil drum cans, engine chains, shovel heads and the like. The castle holds 80 stained glass windows, all made by Howard. He also practices woodworking, electrical work, boat building and plumbing among many of his 20 self-taught trades. I think he is pretty much sculpting, building things, painting, creating stained glass or whittling wood most all the time, even at age 77. Howard Solomon also built a replica of a 16th century Spanish galleon that is used as a restaurant, right next to this castle. Called the Boat in a Moat, it is one huge boat! We had lunch there and it was delish!

It was quite a drive way out into the Florida "cracker" country (think whip cracking cowboys) to visit Solomon's castle, but it was a very interesting date destination and definitely worth it, despite all the funny puns used a titles for Howard's art!