Thornewood Castle – Haunted Castle in Lakewood, Washington

Thornewood Castle rises from the shores of American Lake like something transported from Gothic England. This 27,000-square-foot English Tudor Gothic mansion contains over 500 years of history within its walls.

Built between 1908 and 1911, the castle combines authentic materials from a 15th-century English manor with early 20th-century American craftsmanship. The estate has witnessed love, loss, tragedy, and unexplained phenomena for over a century.

Chester Thorne, a prominent Tacoma businessman, commissioned this architectural marvel for his beloved wife Anna. The couple spared no expense in creating their dream home on the lake’s edge.

Today, Thornewood operates as a bed and breakfast and event venue. Guests frequently report encounters with spirits who seem reluctant to leave their earthly paradise.

The castle’s reputation for paranormal activity has attracted ghost hunters and curious visitors from around the world. Multiple television shows have documented the unexplained occurrences within these historic walls.

Historical Background

Chester Thorne purchased a 400-year-old Elizabethan manor in England around 1907. He had the entire structure dismantled brick by brick, shipping everything across the Atlantic Ocean.

The original oak paneling, stained glass windows, and carved doors arrived in Washington by rail. Local craftsmen spent three years reconstructing the manor and adding American architectural elements.

The Thornes moved into their completed castle in 1911 with their daughter Anita. The family filled the home with priceless antiques, rare books, and European artwork.

Chester Thorne died suddenly in 1927 at age 71. Anna remained in the castle until her own death in 1954 at age 90.

The property changed hands multiple times after Anna’s passing. Each owner reported strange occurrences they couldn’t easily explain away.

In 2000, Wayne and Deanna Robinson purchased the deteriorating castle. They began extensive restoration work to return the mansion to its former glory.

The Robinsons opened Thornewood as a bed and breakfast in 2001. They quickly discovered their historic inn came with several permanent residents of the supernatural variety.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors to Thornewood Castle report an overwhelming sense of being watched in certain rooms. Cold spots appear suddenly even during warm summer months without any logical source.

Doors lock and unlock themselves throughout the castle without anyone touching them. Guests have reported being locked inside rooms only to find the doors mysteriously opening moments later.

Disembodied footsteps echo through the Great Hall late at night. Multiple witnesses describe hearing heavy boots on the wooden floors when no one else is present.

Objects move on their own with remarkable frequency at Thornewood. Books slide off shelves, pictures tilt themselves, and small items disappear only to reappear days later.

Shadow figures glide through hallways and across the estate grounds. These dark forms appear most frequently near the windows overlooking American Lake.

The scent of roses appears without explanation in Anna’s former bedroom. This particular manifestation occurs year-round, even in the dead of winter.

Electronic equipment malfunctions regularly throughout the castle. Cameras drain their batteries instantly, and recording devices capture strange voices and unexplained sounds.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Anna Thorne is believed to be the castle’s primary resident spirit. Witnesses describe a gentle presence in the Rose Bedroom, which was Anna’s personal sanctuary.

Guests staying in Anna’s former room report waking to find an elderly woman sitting in the antique chair. She appears solid and real until she vanishes before their eyes.

The spirit believed to be Anna seems particularly attached to her beloved rose gardens. Gardeners and groundskeepers report seeing a woman in early 1900s clothing tending the flowers.

She never acknowledges those who see her in the gardens. The figure simply continues her work before fading away like morning mist.

Chester Thorne’s ghost manifests differently than his wife’s gentle presence. His spirit appears more commanding and protective of the property.

Staff members report encountering a stern-looking gentleman in the library. He wears a three-piece suit consistent with early 20th-century fashion.

This male spirit seems to inspect the castle as though checking on his investment. He has been seen examining the oak paneling and running his hands along the carved mantlepieces.

A young girl’s spirit, believed to be the Thornes’ daughter Anita, plays throughout the castle. Her laughter echoes through empty corridors, bringing both joy and unease to those who hear it.

Anita’s ghost appears most frequently on the main staircase. Witnesses describe a child in a white dress running up and down the stairs.

Some guests report the child’s spirit knocking on their doors late at night. When they open the door, no one is there, but they hear giggling fading down the hallway.

A more sinister presence haunts the castle’s lower levels and secret passageways. This entity feels malevolent and unwelcoming to those who encounter it.

Paranormal investigators believe this darker spirit may be from the original English manor. The entity possibly attached itself to the building materials during the transatlantic journey.

Workers report feeling pushed and shoved in the basement areas. Several people have experienced sudden overwhelming dread that forces them to flee the lower floors.

Most Haunted Spot

The Great Hall stands as Thornewood’s most paranormally active location. This massive room features the original English manor’s oak paneling and a sixteenth-century fireplace.

Guests attending events in the Great Hall frequently photograph unexplained orbs and mists. These anomalies appear most prominently near the antique mirrors and windows.

The Red Lion Pub, located in the castle’s basement, rivals the Great Hall for supernatural activity. This underground space served as the Thornes’ entertainment area and wine cellar.

Staff refuse to enter the pub alone after dark. Multiple employees have been touched by invisible hands and heard threatening whispers in the darkness.

The tower rooms on the castle’s third floor generate numerous ghost reports. Guests staying in these spaces describe feeling unwelcome and sensing angry presences.

Room 7, known as the Tower Room, has the highest number of paranormal complaints. Visitors check out early after experiencing nightmares, sleep paralysis, and apparitions.

Can You Visit?

Thornewood Castle operates as an upscale bed and breakfast open to paying guests. The property also hosts weddings, corporate events, and special occasions throughout the year.

Room rates range from $250 to $595 per night depending on the season and room selection. The castle offers eight luxurious guest rooms, each with period-appropriate furnishings.

Public tours are not regularly scheduled, but the property occasionally hosts special events. Halloween season brings ghost tours and paranormal investigation opportunities for those seeking supernatural encounters.

Photography is generally allowed for personal use throughout the public areas. Professional photography requires advance permission and may incur additional fees.

The castle grounds include 100 acres of gardens, woodlands, and lakefront property. Guests can explore the formal English gardens during their stay.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at Thornewood Castle remains consistent throughout the year. However, guests report increased supernatural encounters during the autumn and winter months.

The hours between midnight and 4 AM produce the most dramatic manifestations. Guests brave enough to explore the castle during these hours rarely leave disappointed.

Full moon periods seem to amplify the spiritual energy within the castle walls. Multiple witnesses have reported seeing apparitions more clearly during these lunar phases.

The anniversary of Chester Thorne’s death in October brings particularly active supernatural occurrences. Staff report increased activity in the library and his former bedroom during this time.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A couple staying in the Rose Bedroom in 2003 reported a frightening encounter. They awoke at 2 AM to find an elderly woman standing at the foot of their bed.

The woman wore a long white nightgown and smiled at them gently. When the husband reached for the light switch, the figure vanished completely.

A wedding photographer captured an unexplained figure in 2008. The image shows a translucent woman in period clothing standing in the Great Hall window.

The photographer insists no one was standing in that location when he took the picture. The image has been analyzed by multiple experts who cannot explain the anomaly.

A paranormal investigation team recorded an EVP session in the Red Lion Pub in 2010. Their recording captured a male voice clearly saying “Get out” when no men were present.

The same investigation yielded temperature drops of 30 degrees in isolated spots. Their thermal imaging cameras documented these cold zones moving through rooms.

A guest named Jennifer shared her experience from a 2015 stay online. She described being locked in the Tower Room bathroom by an unseen force.

The door refused to open despite having no lock mechanism. After 20 minutes of panic, the door swung open on its own.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The television show “Ghost Adventures” featured Thornewood Castle in a 2014 episode. The crew documented numerous unexplained phenomena during their overnight investigation.

Lead investigator Zak Bagans reported feeling physically ill in the basement areas. His crew captured shadow figures on multiple cameras throughout the night.

The team’s most compelling evidence came from the Great Hall. Their equipment recorded what appeared to be a full-bodied apparition crossing the room.

Local paranormal investigation group Aghost Pacific Northwest has conducted several studies at Thornewood. Their findings suggest at least seven distinct spiritual entities inhabit the castle.

They documented extensive electromagnetic field fluctuations consistent with paranormal activity. These EMF spikes occurred primarily in the Rose Bedroom and Great Hall.

The group recorded over 40 minutes of EVP evidence during their investigations. Many of these recordings include intelligent responses to investigators’ questions.

Seattle-based psychic medium Karen Frazier visited Thornewood in 2016. She identified several spirits including Anna, Chester, and a protective female servant.

Frazier also sensed the darker presence in the basement. She described this entity as angry about the building being moved from England.

Local Legends & Myths

Local legend claims that a servant girl died tragically at Thornewood during the 1920s. Some believe she fell down the main staircase, while others suggest a more sinister fate.

This servant’s ghost allegedly appears as a young woman in a simple gray dress. She roams the servants’ quarters and back staircases late at night.

Another legend suggests that one of the castle’s secret passages contains buried treasure. Chester Thorne supposedly hid gold and jewels somewhere within the walls before his death.

Ghost hunters believe spirits guard this hidden treasure. Anyone attempting to find it faces supernatural resistance and terrifying encounters.

A darker legend involves ritual activity from previous owners in the 1970s. Some locals claim séances and occult practices opened doorways to negative entities.

This urban legend may explain the malevolent presence in the basement. Whether true or not, the story persists in local paranormal circles.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Thornewood Castle is private property requiring reservations and payment for access. Trespassing is illegal and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The castle features steep staircases, uneven flooring, and low doorways throughout. Visitors should exercise caution when exploring, especially at night.

The basement areas have limited lighting and tight spaces. Those with claustrophobia or mobility issues should avoid these lower levels.

The castle grounds include lakefront access with no guardrails. Children should be supervised at all times near the water.

Some guests report feeling physically ill or experiencing panic attacks in certain areas. Anyone with heart conditions should be aware that paranormal encounters can be stressful.