Castle Arkdale

Every single person in the world has a story.  When you look at someone you can't tell what they have done.  You can't tell where they have been or what joys or struggles they have lived through.  The same is true with the landscape.  You never know what lies beyond that long driveway or behind those large trees.  It is amazing what discoveries you can make by just listening to conversations and asking questions.  We discovered Castle Arkdale this way.  They don't advertise and don't have a sign, but at the end of a long driveway in Green Lake County Wisconsin is this most amazing bookstore.  It has over a million books.  We were looking for a certain book and someone mentioned that they may have it 'down the road'.  Down the road, where could that be.  The people that told us about it made a phone call and before we knew it we were entering into this amazing place.

Just down the road from this Green Lake County Park is Castle Arkdale.

 Castle Arkdale

 W1778 County Road K

 Markesan, WI 53946

It is recommended to call ahead to see if they are open.

(920) 398-3375 

These photos from inside the building were obtained from

+http://thisweekinbookhunting.blogspot.com/2010/06/castle-arkady.html

Apparently many years ago Lenore and Lloyd Dickmann began collecting books.   Lenore once taught at the UW-Oshkosh and later sold her books out of a schoolhouse in Markesan Wisconsin.  She needed more room for all of her books so her husband created a beautiful bookstore from a slurry tank.   I won't repeat the story because Bill Geist and CBS Sunday Morning did a piece on it.  Lenore and Lloyd are getting up in age and we don't know how long they will be able to operate this amazing place or what will happen to all their books.  Hopefully someone will be able to continue this hidden treasure.

Here is the youtube link.  http://youtu.be/EDAtNgjTRgM