# Castle at

- **Country:** the United States
- **Coordinates:** 42.727222, -86.167778
- **Location Text:** near Holland, Michigan, built in 1890 for Michael Schwarz. It now serves as a community center for the Castle Park Association.

Castle Park is an unincorporated private community located within Laketown Township in Allegan County, Michigan. Situated directly along the shores of Lake Michigan, this exclusive enclave consists of approximately one hundred cottages and summer houses. The community occupies the grounds of a former private estate originally owned by Michael Schwarz. While the area functions primarily as a residential retreat, its layout and historical roots are defined by the prominent structure that once served as the centerpiece of Schwarz's vast property, distinguishing it from typical lakeside developments in the region.

The focal point of the community's history is a distinctive brick castle-style house constructed in 1890. Featuring turreted architecture characteristic of the late nineteenth-century romantic styles, the building was originally the private residence of Michael Schwarz. Over time, the function of this unique structure evolved from a single-family estate home to a shared facility for the residents. Today, the historic castle serves as the community center for Castle Park, acting as a social hub for the owners of the surrounding seasonal homes while preserving the architectural heritage of the original estate.

Although specific details regarding the interior condition or recent renovations of the castle are limited in available records, the site remains a notable landmark within western Michigan. The transformation of the Schwarz estate into a private community of summer residences highlights a shift from Gilded Age individual grandeur to a collective recreational use. The survival of the 1890 turreted structure ensures that the visual history of the location remains intact, offering a rare example of castle architecture adapted for modern community use on the banks of Lake Michigan.

![Photo of Castle at](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Balmoral_Castle_panorama_20211026.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laketown_Township,_Michigan (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)