We are not from the area and we visited Squires Castle on a busy weekend. The place was packed! Even though there's what seems like ample parking, it was so full when we arrived that it was a little tough to find a spot. Before we came, we read that the castle is a stone ruin from the late 1800s and thought it would be interesting to explore but there was so much going on while we were there, that proved quite difficult to do. There were multiple people and families doing photo shoots in and around the castle... Like professional photo shoots. They had cameramen and lighting. There were lots of children running around and playing and people picnicking on the green space in front. There were just lots of people everywhere. We even saw a bunch of young people doing a full-on LARPing session and sword fighting just adjacent to the castle near the trees. It was really cute. Although we were just there for a short visit on our way, we did see lots of signs for trails and people walking and even though I didn't want to fight the crowds of people, my husband did go up and go inside one of the rooms in the castle and peek out the window at me. There were also benches and tables, but almost all of them were occupied. Like I said, there was a ton of people the day that we decided to stop but that didn't stop us from having a nice time. I'm glad we had a chance to stop here, but I definitely wish it had been quieter and we had had at least a moment to ourselves. I can see from other people's photos that this can be achieved by visiting at the right time, so if you can, I totally suggest stopping and enjoying this cool relic! read more

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'm so glad I decided to visit Squires Castle--it was absolutely breathtaking, especially in the fall! The vibrant autumn leaves created a stunning backdrop that made the entire experience feel magical. The castle itself is a captivating sight, but it's surrounded by scenic paved walking paths, vast open spaces perfect for picnicking, sports, and simply soaking in nature. It's clearly a popular spot for photography, as I saw multiple sessions taking place while I was there. The ample parking made the visit even more convenient. The castle's exterior is impressive, and the inside has a rustic, hollow charm that adds to its character. Whether you're looking to relax, explore, or capture the perfect photo, Squires Castle is an absolute gem during the fall season. read more

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Pretty cool castle with a lot of history, there are some trails by it. (My rev from Google Maps)

PHOTOS attached. HUGE Reservation! BIG open field. I love the historic SQUIRE's CASTLE here too. I first visited in November 2020 with a female group and we all had a blast hiking here. This whole reservation is perfect for hiking, walking, running, playing with your kids, etc. This is a great place to let your dogs roam around freely. Okay, I don't have children or dogs but I've seen a lot of kids here with their families and alot of dogs here too. Listen, I've seen people with HORSES come here too. They went deep into the woods/reservation so if you happen to have a horse roaming around, then this is the place for you to visit....haha. The only compliant that I have is more benches around the park would be nice. **** - 15/150 total reviews in 2022 - 493 total overall Yelp reviews - Reviewed on 8 March 2022 read more

Family vacation 2021...bringing the California variant of COVID-19 to your city. My daughter requested to visit the Squire's Castle here for a photoshoot. How she found out about this place, I don't know. But, this is a nice part with a nice castle here. The grounds were nice and green. The castle was open to visitors. It's free. It's a nice place to visit when in the area. read more

North Chagrin Reservation-Squire's Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Willoughby Hills, Ohio

This is a fairytale castle build by Mr. Squire, who must have always wanted a rustic hunting castle. It is such a favorite among the locals, that people were taking wedding photos one time I visited. Another time I visited, there was a group of people dressed in period costumes there also for photos, and enjoying the realism of this castle. The huge grounds has several walking trails and picnic areas. Each time I visited, there were a lot of people there, but not so much that you couldn't social distance. read more

North Chagrin Reservation-Squire's Castle - Trail before sunset - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Willoughby Hills, Ohio

North Chagrin is a great park. It provides some great hiking trails, which mostly run in a generally North/South direction. The park is on the Western side of the Chagrin River Valley and that provides some excellent opportunities for paths going up and down hill. Trails range from the paved multipurpose trail, bridal trails and hiking trails at all levels. I can get a good 5-7 mile hike in through the woods, usually along the upper and lower rims of the valley. There are a number of places to visit in the park, a good Nature Center, the lagoon and waterfall and Squires Castle. There are a variety of picnic areas and fields, in addition to a number of areas that can be reserved for a reasonable fee. Well worth a visit, especially if the weather is good. As always the Metroparks do a great job of taking care of the park and making sure that things are maintained and upgraded. One of best of the Metroparks for hiking and getting outdoors. read more

North Chagrin Reservation-Squire's Castle - Front View of Squire's Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Willoughby Hills, Ohio

Very nice place to spend time if you are looking to be outside. The castle itself is very cool looking and a hot spot for pictures. The stone, red brick, and open windows are all excellent photo ops. There is a nice large open field in front of the castle that provides plenty of room for children, dogs, or adults to run around and play. Ample benches and picnic tables. There are paved walking paths around the area as well as easy access to some good hiking trails. Worth the trip. read more

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I'm a huge fan of the Cleveland Metroparks and quite like Squire's Castle and its surrounding area. It's a place of note in the Metroparks, hosting a nice park, adjacent walking trails and of course, Squire's Castle, an actual castle, though now it is mostly just the bones of the days of Cleveland oil money. Feargus B. Squire was an executive with the Standard Oil Company and former mayor of Wickliffe. He built the castle to be a weekend English-style manor house, but his wife hated it and they barely used it. In the 1920s it was acquired by the Metroparks and they stripped the castle down to discourage vandalism, as it had sat vacant for so long that the stained glass was looted. The castle still sits on a nice hill and you can physically still go through the skeleton of the house on one floor. It's a pretty, well-kept area and a gorgeous area in the fall if you can hit it when the trees are changing. Dogs are welcome and you can always count on this corner of the Metropark to be slightly hoppin'! read more

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While planning my visit to Cleveland recently, I stumbled upon Squire's Castle as one of Trip Advisor's highly-rated attractions. Since I had never gotten to check it out when I lived there, I added it to the list. Located deep in the woods of the North Chagrin Réservation, it's a pleasant drive on a nice day to make it out there. The sky was blue on the Sunday that we drove out, and we found ourselves sharing the road with a number of bike-riders who were also enjoying the nice weather. We arrived at the castle and parked in the large parking lot. A number of other people were already there, including a couple of your buses worth of people. In fact it was so crawling with people on the day that we visited that we didn't end up taking any pictures. The castle itself was neat to see but honestly somewhat underwhelming. I liked reading about the history of it and going down some of the nearby trails, but didn't think that the building itself was worth the drive from where we were staying in the west side. read more

Nice little landmark with great trails nearby. Great for pictures and great togethers that don't require time inside. read more

North Chagrin Reservation-Squire's Castle - Squire's castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Willoughby Hills, Ohio

Charming area. Beautiful park with a very large lawn in front of the Castle. We brought chairs and blankets and had a picnic. Families were strolling. Kids were flying kites. Dogs were chasing freebies. You can't help but smile at the activity this well maintained lawn allows. read more

My family lives in the UK. When I visit this place, i get homesick! It's a beautiful environment.

Great place to hike and admire the beautiful Squire's Castle! The nature center is very pretty too. Definitely want to come back in the summer months and explore more of the trails. read more

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Very Picturesque! Beautiful castle to visit and explore. I did notice a walking trail behind the castle. There was no charge to visit. I really enjoyed the peaceful walk up to explore the castle. It was nice to walk around it and through it. Very neat. Come visit! read more

North Chagrin Reservation-Squire's Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Willoughby Hills, Ohio

Super cool spot! Beautiful to see and some nice trails behind! Beautiful spot for a picnic before a hike! read more

North Chagrin Reservation-Squire's Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Willoughby Hills, Ohio

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In early January, we had great weather. The Saturday we went was chilly & muddy but sunny and there were many other people enjoying the park with us. I took my husband and some friends and it was a blast. I have been meaning to see this castle - I've seen one in Cincinnati but not one in NE Ohio where I'm from so it was a must! The castle is bare and hollowed out but it is so cool. There are some plaques with history information as well. It's so peaceful & neat to walk around. And I love that it's in a metro park! Right behind the castle is a trail that kinda winds uphill. It was a nice way to spend a couple hours, with some friends in nature. You could totally have a picnic & make a day of this place. I would love to see more of the Chagrin Reservation as well. read more

North Chagrin Reservation-Squire's Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Willoughby Hills, Ohio

My wife and I use to live in Cleveland and this is one of our favorite things to do whenever we visit this area. We bring our kids here when visiting their grandparents and we bring a picnic and hang out here for a little. Great for a relaxing afternoon. read more

North Chagrin Reservation-Squire's Castle - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Willoughby Hills, Ohio

I have always loved these trails for running. And now I love them for walking my dog. The trails are much better labeled now than they used to be so it is easy to navigate the trails now (thank God). Beautiful park and people are respectful and don't throw trash or leave dog poop on the trails. read more

North Chagrin Reservation-Squire's Castle - My dog's fave trails - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Willoughby Hills, Ohio

A very tranquil location to stop and spend a few hours. When you know the history of the building, it makes it even more exciting. Just to imagine those who were there and the original intention that this castle was originally to be just the guard house, one can only imagine what the full estate would of been like had it been built. Be prepared for other visitors, this building is located within a park area. When we were there, there were several people having picnics, taking graduation and engagement photos, and even a group playing frisbee. We did a full review of this location on our blog site and YouTube channel. read more

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As a photographer, this is one of my favorite spots in Cleveland! The castle is so unique, and kids love exploring the inside. There is also a large area in front to play, as well as hiking trails through the woods behind. Images by Jennifer Elizabeth Photography. read more

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One of my all time favorite spots in the Metro park system. From the nostalgic mansion to the quiet and peaceful trails following behind to the other the top beautiful front 'lawn' filled with couples playing frisbee and folks playing catch with their 4 legged children. The grounds are maintained to perfection and the local residence that visit the location are always friendly and welcoming. This is truly a perfect family destination. Any given Saturday or Sunday afternoon you will find a newly wed couple taking photos as the backdrop is stunning. Having a stressful day? Need a great place to sit under a 500 year old oak and read a good book, eat some cherries and people watch to make the cares of the world drift away? Look no further. read more

Absolutely beautiful! It's a gorgeous backdrop and clearly everyone knows it considering the number of people who were there having pictures taken. On our sort visit there, we saw a wedding being set up, numerous photographers taking what looked like engagement pictures, children playing in the castle and dogs enjoys the fresh air. Simply a picturesque park! read more

Love walking down these trails and visiting the Squire's Castle, but I do warn that the trails can get hilly and if you venture down random trails along the way, you could potentially get lost. People can usually help you get back if you do, there are some trail markers and maps every here and there that can help as well. It's a great place to walk your dog or even have a family outing. Would recommend read more

Awesome spot for photography or even if you need somewhere to clear your head. Grounds are kept up with quite nicely, and it's never "too crowded" when you go. Nice little trial to walk on, and a cute little creek. Definitely worth checking out just to see it. You won't be disappointed. read more