High in the mountains with a splendid view of the lakes, Castle in the Clouds was the home of Thomas Plante. The story is extremely poignant . . . a boy started working in shoe factories to become the owner of shoe factories and extraordinarily wealthy. He built is dream house and lived in it for 30 years. The year before he died, it was repossessed by the bank . . . he had lost everything. The "castle" isn't extravagent, but it is well worth the visit.
The visitor arrives at a parking lot . . . the reception/restaurant is in the former stables. Visitors are taken up the hill to the mansion by trolley. Once you receive an introduction to the Plant story, you pass through the house at your own pace. Notable are the bedrooms, one of which was often occupied by Teddy Roosevelt, Plant's friend. (And apparently the guy who advised him to buy Russian bonds just before the revolution). Also remarkable are the showers... each having several heads. Water for the house was brought from further up in the mountains and apparently the water pressure in the house was remarkable. Other features include Mr. Plante's secret reading room which is hidden behind a panel... a small room containing just a chair to allow the house's owner to escape from guests, family and staff. The house strikes one as being very liveable and completely lacking in ostentation.