Have you ever heard of Castle Village and the Enchanted Kingdom?

I hadn’t, until I spotted it while on a cemetery road trip a couple of years ago. As we drove along, a storybook castle suddenly appeared on the side of the road. It looked abandoned, and for a moment I wondered if I was seeing things.

What was a castle doing in the middle of rural Ontario? More importantly, why had it been left behind?

I made a note to research it later, and when I planned a recent day trip back to the area, I knew I had to make a couple of extra stops to finally check it out.

The castle was only part of the story. Behind it was the remarkable life of the man who built an entire fantasy world for families to enjoy, and whose final resting place is only a short drive away.

This is the story of Paul Des Roches and the dream he built.

Paul Vincent Des Roches was born on July 3, 1936, and was a talented woodworker, craftsman, and businessman who spent much of his life creating things with his hands.

In 1972, Paul built a castle near Midland, Ontario, with the goal of creating a unique place to sell his handmade crafts and woodworking.¹

Paul created items like birdhouses, candlesticks, and other wooden crafts, and his business became so successful that he was selling his creations almost as quickly as he could make them.¹

His gift shop eventually grew to offer nearly 10,000 items, including souvenir spoons and other collectibles.¹

What began as a small gift shop quickly became something much bigger. Paul continued expanding the property, eventually working with his daughter to transform the original seven-acre site into a 45-acre attraction filled with museum-like displays, and fantasy-themed areas for visitors to explore.¹

Castle Village And Enchanted Kingdom Park

Castle Village and Enchanted Kingdom was unlike anything else in the area. The castle featured towers, a water-spewing dragon, and a moat guarded by creatures from the underworld.¹

Inside the castle, visitors could explore a showroom that originally displayed early Canadian and American furniture before becoming the Museum of Medieval Arms, Armour and Heraldry.¹ The museum featured medieval weapons, life-sized suits of armour, and displays about heraldry, the study of coats of arms and their symbols.¹

In 1982, Paul added Dracula’s Dungeons, a horror-themed museum hidden beneath the castle.¹ Visitors entered by descending a spiral staircase covered in cobwebs before discovering prison cells featuring famous horror characters.¹

As the attraction continued to grow, Paul and his daughter created the Enchanted Kingdom Park, a fantasy-themed area built around an educational nature trail.¹

Visitors could explore fairy tale cottages inspired by familiar stories, like Snow White’s wishing well, and Hansel and Gretel’s candy house.¹ The park also featured Merlin the Magician’s Tower, a grist mill, a giant fountain, and an 80-foot suspension bridge crossing a pond.¹

Over the years, Castle Village became a popular tourist attraction, welcoming thousands of visitors and operating as a bilingual destination.¹ In 2005, the property received the Provincial Tourism Award from RDEE, a francophone economic development organization.¹

In 2008, Paul’s family decided it was time to pursue other interests and placed the property up for sale.¹ By then, Paul was 74 years old and dealing with health issues.¹

The property remained on the market for several years before being purchased in 2016 by businessman Deo Moreno, who introduced new attractions such as escape rooms, role-playing games, themed weddings, archery, and human foosball.¹

After closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, Castle Village never reopened. It is now listed as permanently closed.¹

When I visited, it felt like stepping into a forgotten storybook. Nature has slowly begun reclaiming parts of the property, but many of the buildings and structures still remain. It was easy to imagine families walking across the bridges, exploring the fantasy cottages, and discovering something new around every corner.

Even in its current state, Castle Village still reflects Paul’s creativity and determination.

Castle Village and the Enchanted Kingdom. Midland ON ©2026

Inside Castle Village

While I was researching Castle Village, I came across the work of photographer Mike Lalonde of Talking Walls Photography, who had the opportunity to photograph inside the property, and document what remains of this once-popular attraction. Mike was kind enough to give me permission to share some of his photographs..

During my visit, I didn’t venture inside, but toured the grounds from outside the fence. I was curious to see what the castle looked like inside. Mike’s photos offer a tiny glimpse of the spaces and artifacts that now sit in silence, covered in dust.

Inside Castle Village, Midland ON ©2023 Photos by Mike Lalonde of Talking Walls Photography. Used with permission.

Sainte-Croix Roman Catholic Cemetery

After seeing Castle Village and learning about the man who built it, I wanted to find Paul Des Roches’ grave. That brought me to Sainte-Croix Roman Catholic Cemetery in Tiny Township.

Paul passed away on December 8, 2022, at the age of 86, following a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.²

The cemetery was quiet when I arrived, much like Castle Village had been earlier in the day. As I searched through the cemetery, I wasn’t sure exactly what I was looking for. Then a ceramic portrait of the castle caught my eye.

I knew immediately that I had found Paul.

His gravestone features a ceramic portrait of Paul and his wife, along with a second portrait of his Enchanted Kingdom. It’s such a fitting detail for someone whose life was so closely tied to the place he had created.

I took a moment to pay my respects and thank Paul for bringing a little bit of whimsy and creativity into the world.

Gravestone of Paul Des Roches. Sainte-Croix Roman Catholic Cemetery, Lafontaine ON ©2026

This story highlights one of my favourite things about visiting cemeteries. You never know where a little curiosity will take you or what you might uncover.

Paul had a dream and actually built it. Castle Village might be quiet now, but his creativity and imagination are still there. It’s a bit inspiring.

I think the world could use more people who are willing to dream up something a little different and make it happen. A little more whimsy wouldn’t hurt either.

Thanks for reading!

---

References:

1. Castle Village And Enchanted Kingdom in Midland Ontario | Talking Walls Photography
2. Paul’s Obituary | Budgell Funeral Home