Posted in Tennessee
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January 12, 2022
One of the weirdest places in the state of Tennessee is located right in the middle of the second largest city in the state: Memphis. Sure, it’s known for Beale Street and the blues, but Memphis is also home to one of the only castles in the state. Learn a bit about Ashlar Hall, colloquially known as Prince Mongo’s Castle, and perhaps drive over when you’re in town to take a look for yourself. This one is a doozy!
In these uncertain times, please keep safety in mind and consider adding destinations to your bucket list at a later date.
You’ll find Prince Mongo’s Castle, also known as Ashlar Hall, in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee. It’s surprising to drive by and see the ruined mansion, but it’s even more fascinating to hear the story behind this eerie space.
The castle itself spans over 11,000 square feet and was built by Robert Brinkley Snowden after graduating in 1890 from Princeton. The property developer designed and built the famous Ashlar Hall himself, and the eight-room mansion complete with swimming pool and basement and attic was completed in 1896.
Fun fact – the Snowden family were Memphis royalty and Col. Robert C. Brinkley, the founder of the Peabody Hotel, was Snowden’s great-grandfather. It is logical that he has a weakness for opulence! The castle was passed on to the family’s heirs but fell into disrepair due to high maintenance expenditure.
Robert “Prince Mongo” Hodges bought the castle in 1990 and turned the historic space into “The Castle” nightclub. The late-night hangout quickly became notorious for serving underage alcohol and hosting rude events for locals. Prince Mongo had quite a few fights with local law enforcement and he eventually had to shut down the castle due to the city’s many violations.
He gave the hall away to use as a non-profit space, and eventually, the Urban Revival Initiative took over the deed. The house simply disappeared in the middle of town after a contractor who was to help renovate the space stole pieces of copper and stone.
The property has since undergone extensive renovations by Juan Montoya, the current owner of the chateau. Memphis has had the privilege of seeing the castle revived and reworked over the past few years, but there is still a long way to go.
It’s one of Memphis’s weirdest mysteries, and it remains a story told over and over again.
You can learn more about Prince Mongo’s Castle directly on Abandoned Southeast, and check out updates for Ashlar Hall here. What a fascinating story!
Address: Ashlar Hall, 1397 Central Ave, Memphis, TN 38104, USA
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