Entry No. 32 — the Kansas City file — filed under: architecture
Castle Northmoor
Built by stonemason Harlan Shaver in the early 1980s when he was 70, this hand-built, 40-foot-tall stone tower is a whimsical medieval fantasy nestled in a suburban neighborhood. The structure features handmade oak doors, lion statues, and a spiral staircase leading to oil paintings of chivalrous knights.
The story
In the early 1980s, a 70-year-old stonemason named Harlan Shaver decided a standard suburban yard in Northmoor was missing a 40-foot medieval stone tower. From 1980 to 1983, Shaver built the three-story structure entirely by hand, setting raw stonework directly into the landscape right at the corner of MO-1 and NW 50th Terrace.
The details reveal the obsession behind the build: hand-carved stone accents, lion statues sitting sentinel, and heavy custom oak doors. Inside the private structure, a winding spiral staircase leads past oil paintings of chivalrous knights. It stands as a rare piece of solo folk architecture hiding in plain sight along a quiet Northland road.
What it's like
Pull off between the white pillars marking the entrance. The ivy-clad tower looms unexpectedly right against residential surroundings. While the interior isn't open for public walk-throughs, the property owner welcomes visitors to walk up, admire Shaver's intricate stonework and carved doors, and explore the grounds. If you use the Geocaching app, search the perimeter for GCX612—it's one of the longest-standing active caches in the metro area.
The move: Park between the white pillars, hunt for the active geocache hidden on the property, and admire the intricate stone carvings and ivy-clad tower up close.
- 📍 Northmoor
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: MO-1 & NW 50th Terrace, Northmoor, MO 64151
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- S.D. Strong Distilling — Pair a retired stonemason's medieval tower with a subterranean vodka and gin tasting held 65 feet underground in a former limestone mine.
- Penguin Park — Follow one man's hand-built architectural fantasy with a quick stop at a retro park dominated by giant mid-century fiberglass animals.
- Screenland Armour — Trade Shaver's stone fortress for a late-night cult film or indie double feature at this vintage 1920s cinema down in North Kansas City.
Good to know
How much does it cost to visit?
It is completely free to pull up and view from the property grounds.
Can you go inside Castle Northmoor?
The interior is closed to the public, but you can inspect the handmade oak doors, stone carvings, and lion statues up close on the exterior.
Is it on private property?
Yes, but the property owner graciously allows visitors and geocachers to stop by, take photos, and look around.
Where do I park?
You can pull off into the driveway area marked by white pillars near MO-1 and NW 50th Terrace.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: geocaching.com · fotospot.com · Roadside America
last checked: 2026-07-21