Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Castle-on-the-Lake Open House – June 1962

I've written many times about how Lorain could seem like a magical place to a kid growing up there in the 1960s. 

It seems like no matter where I looked from the vantage point of the back seat of the family car, something unusual and exciting was revealed: a giant Easter basket; a huge V in a park; a color-changing fountain; a massive drawbridge; animated neon signs; a steam locomotive in a park (as well as army artillery and a tank)... and a castle, right on the lake only a few miles from our house.

The Castle-on-the-Lake (as it was known for many years) really was a special place, and having a dinner there or an important event was a memorable occasion. I had my rehearsal dinner there. 

The place has had its ups and downs over the decades, and I hope that its current incarnation as Papasitos and Beer Mexican Grill is doing well.

Back in June 1962, the Castle-on-the-Lake had just undergone a remodeling, and was about to unveil its new look with an open house. It's all explained in the article by Jack LaVriha below, which appeared in the Journal on June 13, 1962.

So what was the biggest change? As noted in the article, "A new addition is on the east side of the building, which gives the Castle more of a "castle" look from an architectural standpoint. The addition provides about 3,200 square feet more of space.
"A large replica of a knight in gold armor adorns the front of the new addition. It is illuminated at night."


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2 comments:

  1. -Alan D HopewellJune 2, 2026 at 9:17 AM

    As a kid, when we'd come in sight of the Castle, I always imagined Richard Greene, in full Robin Hood attire, swordfighting with the Sheriff of Nottingham inside; why else would there be a castle there?

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  2. AnonymousJune 2, 2026 at 9:24 AM

    I love that building. My dad and his friends used to play behind there in the 50s. He said they built an underground fort and always points out the now huge tree they did chin ups on and he got in the water and carved his name on a cement pier that’s slightly to the left of the building.

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