There are a LOT of unusual tales about this building, most of which is nothing more than people with overactive imaginations blowing smoke up your keister. Thankfully, the most interesting ones turned out the truest.
This beautiful monstrosity is called Kips Castle and was the magnificent home of an inventor and his wife, Frederic and Charlotte Kip. Charlotte designed the building as well as the landscaping on the grounds. When she died in 1926, Frederic saw it as a constant reminder of his beloved wife and put the property up for sale. Kips Castle was sold over and over again. One such owner was a cult leader by the name of Rajneesh.
In 1980 Rajneesh left India, complaining of failing health hoping it would justify his coming to the United States to start a ‘spiritual group.’ Although he seemed to have so many ailing body parts that would make the most devoted hypochondriacs roll their eyes, he denied all medical treatment during his time in New Jersey. Instead he would take his souped up, bullet proof, tear gas spewing Rolls Royce and drove around the back roads in the hopes that he would actually learn how to drive. He would also take your money just like any good cult leader will do. He made oodles of money selling books, video tapes, cassettes-you name it. If it could brainwash you, then it was for sale. And just to prove what a great guy he was, you could join his sex cult for FREE!!! What a deal!
Of course, there were far more men than women in this never-ending sex-capade so the men would have to get in line once they picked out the gal they desired…until the herpes outbreak that is…those were free too. That seems to be a killjoy whenever it flares up. Where were we?
So these orange toga clad ladies and gentlemen resided in Kips Castle for about one year when A.) the residence of New Jersey got sick of their sacrificial sounding music, sexual shenanigans and finding orange and red dye preloaded into the washing machines at the public laudromats, (allegedly) and B.) Rajneesh needed more space for all of his followers. So off they went to Oregon where they got into so much trouble that Rajneesh eventually fled from the United States and headed back to India since he had been banned from most other countries.
I know what you’re thinking…well, I know what SOME of you are thinking. Some of you are thinking, “What a disgusting story! Why would anyone write about something so grotesque! There’s not even a ghost involved!” But there is someone reading this right now who is thinking, “Charlotte Kip must be rolling over in her grave. To think this is going on in her dream home.” You know who else must have been beside themselves? The Salvatorian Fathers who resided in the monastery next door! Can you imagine them having to live next to this commune! Talk about bad neighbors! This must have been one heck of a test for them.
There is actually a documentary on Netflix about this guy if anyone is interested in learning more about him. It’s called Wild Wild Country. There are a ton more details and story about him and his followers, and if you are over 40 years old you may know about him already...caused quite the stink... but let’s get back to the castle.
(hit the little arrow to see the slideshow of Kips Castle)
Once the “come for the sex, stay for the herpes” sex god moved, a law firm snatched up the Castle and fixed up the rotten job the commune did on it (I hope they used bleach). They continued to renovate and after twenty years decided to put up a housing development on the property-because that’s what people with too much money do. They take a beautiful building, a beautiful piece of property and pave the hell out of it to put up more buildings.
Here’s my thought on that whole topic-don’t. There are plenty of abandoned buildings for sale that wouldn’t take half as much to remodel vs. starting from scratch. Thankfully, town ordinances, zoning laws etc put the kibosh on such foolishness and the law firm sold the castle after finding themselves in their very own legal battle. Oh, the irony.
The castle spent some time as apartments (sign me up please) but it now belongs to Essex County Parks and is rented out for events occasionally, including weddings….because nothing says happily ever after like sharing nuptials at the site of a Spirituality Thru Sex Group.
That leads us to my personal visit. The driveway winds up a small hill with a rock wall on one side. The 9000 square foot castle complete with a 6000 square foot carriage house was in fact, designed from medieval architecture. There are over thirty rooms and six fireplaces (and that guy needed more room). There are rumors of hauntings and weird things happening at the castle but in all honesty, no. There’s a monastery next door, animals frolic thru the grounds not even caring that we were there, I’d say all hell was compelled right the heck out of this place…or close to it.
However, I did not like the far corner of the property. I decided to just not go over there and explore the grounds where there were far more birds, squirrels, deer and chippy’s frolicking. But wouldn’t you know it, I ended up over there anyway. And I don’t know. I just don’t know. An arrow made of jagged rocks pointing at who knows what, a small grave or alter, and a small Infant of Prague statue…..No thank you. I was not sure what to think about this since the ‘grave’ was tucked back in the brush a few feet. The statue was found on top of what looks like an old well and was incredibly old and weathered looking. It made me wonder if with all the fornicating that was going on…….
If anyone has any more info on this or any thoughts at all, let me know.
I regret to inform you (not really) that I chose to eat at Bon Jovi’s restaurant on my way to Kips Castle and therefore did not make it in time to actually go inside the castle. I missed it by mere minutes. (I feel like there’s a Living on a Prayer reference/joke in here somewhere but it’s just not coming. You’re welcome.) The top floors are now used as county offices but there are still tours for the rest of the castle.
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