Coral Castle, Homestead Florida

Coral Castle doesn't look like a castle, in fact it is an open air compound with a small two story building tucked away in the corner.  The first story is the work shop and the upper story is the bedroom.  What makes this place amazing is it was built by one man, Ed Leedskalnin, a Latvian immigrant. 

He "mysteriously" excavated, carved, and erected over 1,100 tons of coral rock to build this place, even though he stood only five feet tall and weighed a mere 100 pounds.  Again this was without outside assistance or large machinery.  He also did most of his work at night in secrecy.  In this part of Florida, the coral in some areas can be up to 4,000 feet thick.    He did have some skills working in lumber camps and came from a family of stonemasons in Latvia.

The pamphlet said it was an act of love.  When Ed was 26 he was betrothed to 16 year old Agnes Scuff, who he called his "Sweet Sixteen."  Agnes was his one and only true love.  Sadly, she broke off the engagement the day before the wedding.  Personally I think she was wise beyond her years.

Ed moved away first to Canada, then California, Texas and later when he developed a touch of tuberculosis, he moved to Florida City Florida.  It was in Florida City that he began his monument to his own true love.  When he found out that a subdivision was being built near him he moved all of the structures to Homestead.  Ed was a very mysterious, private individual and no one knows how he moved his structures 10 miles down the road to Homestead.  Some people saw them being moved but since Ed did much of his work at night no one saw him load or unload the trailer.  It took him three years to move to Homestead.

By 1940 Ed had all of his structures in place and he started building the walls.  The coral walls weigh 125 pounds per cubic foot. Each section of wall is 8 feet tall, 4 feet wide, 3 feet thick, and weighs more than 58 tons!  Like I said he did most of his work at night with only a lantern to guide his way and to help protect his privacy, he built numerous “lookouts” along the Castle walls.  If someone was spying on him he would simply stop working.  One of Ed's greatest achievement at Coral Castle was the 9-Ton Gate, a mighty slab of coral rock set on its side that could pivot in a circle with the push of only one finger.  It took him 28 years to finish his monument to Agnes.

Ed charged visitors ten cents a head to tour the castle grounds. There are signs carved into rocks at the front gate to "Ring Bell Twice" and a second sign just inside the property that says "Adm. 10 cents Drop Below". He would come down from his living quarters in the second story of the castle tower close to the gate and conduct the tour. Ed never told anyone who asked him how he made the castle. He would simply answer "It's not difficult if you know how."  When  asked why he built it, he would say "For his sweet sixteen."   This was Ed's only means of income.


In December of 1951 Ed became ill. He put a sign on the door of his Castle saying “going to the hospital,” took a bus to Jackson Memorial in Miami and died three days later in his sleep at the age of 64


I admire anyone who puts forth this much effort and dedication.  It is truly amazing.  I feel Agnes made the right decision when she left Ed at the alter. I goggled Agnes Scuff and in one of the articles I read it stated she was found and invited to come to Miami to see Coral Castle.  She declined, again another smart move by Agnes.

One last piece of trivia, Billy Idol wrote and recorded his song “Sweet Sixteen” as a tribute to Ed and the Coral Castle. The video was also shot on location at the Castle.


Enjoy the pictures.

"Sweet Sixteen"
I'll do anything
For my sweet sixteen,
And I'll do anything
For little run away child
Gave my heart an engagement ring.
She took ev'rything.
Ev'rything I gave her,
Oh sweet sixteen.
Built a moon
For a rocking chair.
I never guessed it would
Rock her far from here
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Someone's built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen.
Someone's built a candy brain
And filled it in.
Well I'll do anything
For my sweet sixteen
Oh I'll do anything
For little runaway child
Well, memories will burn you.
Memories grow older as people can
They just get colder
Like sweet sixteen
Oh, I see it's clear
Baby, that you are
All through here
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
Someone's built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen,
Someone's built a candy house
To house her in.
Someone's built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen.
Someone's built a candy brain
And filled it in.
And I do anything
For my sweet sixteen
Oh, I do anything
For little run away girl.
Yeah, sad and lonely and blue.
Yeah, gettin' over you.
How, how do you think it feels
Yeah to get up in the morning, get over you.
Up in the morning, get over you.
Wipe away the tears, get over you,
get over, get over...
My sweet sixteen
Oh runaway child
Oh sweet sixteen
Little runaway girl.
Gave my heart an engagement ring
She left everything
Everything I gave her
Sweet sixteen
Built a moon
For a rocking chair,
Never guessed it would
Rock her far from here
Oh, oh, oh
Someone's built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen.
Someone's built a candy house
To house her in.
Someone's built a candy castle
For my sweet sixteen
Someone's built a candy house
To house her in.
And I'll do anything
For my sweet sixteen
Oh, I'll do anything
For little runaway child.
Do anything
For my sweet sixteen
I'll do anything
For little runaway girl
Little runaway girl
Oh sweet sixteen
Oh sweet sixteen
Oh.