RESERVATION and POLICIES:

50% Reservation deposit is required. The reservation deposit is refundable in case of cancellation when notifying innkeeper two weeks in advance. Full payment is expected shortly on arrival.

Personal Checks, Money Orders or certified checks accepted when sent one week before arrival. Credit Cards are not accepted. In other situations where payment via postal service is not applicable, such as due to short notice reservations, cash only upon arrival is acceptable.

One or two day notice is usually required to schedule a reserved visit.

Adults 18 years of age and over only.

No pets

No RV/mobile homes, or vehicle towing trailers, boats or stretched Limos allowed to approach the castle account there is a fairly steep private single lane curved incline as you approach the top of the bluff. Backing down the bluff is impractical and for some folks scary. Nor is there ample turning around for such modes of transportation once you were to come to the top of the bluff.

During the winter the 3/4 of a mile private road has been known to become impassable following ice or snow storms (it took 6 days for 16 inches to melt away the last winter). Vehicles with positraction have little success of making it to the top of a steep grade (about 15 car lengths) during the fall when dry or wet leaves lay on the road. Full refund in the winter months of reservation money in situations of bad weather include not only local inclement weather, but also, also covers the routes from where you originate to this destination.

Arrival and departure time between 5 pm and noon respectively for single day stay, but if there are no other reservations the day before or after a planned visit I am open to earlier arrivals or departures account it seems to help folks settle in, freshen up prior to engaging in activities here or in the community.

A typical breakfast of juice, coffee, eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast, pancakes, or French toast are considered covered in the room rate. When asked what speciality the castle offers with meals throughout much of the year Morel mushrooms lovenly gathered in spring does make for great omelets. Having been open for Four years now I have noted that about half of the folks visiting really like not returning very often to the lowlanders world, as such, guests should be aware the cooking up a storm and enjoying the formal dining area is considered quite appropriate but seeing that your on vacation the innkeeper does the dishes and cleanup affording you better use of your time. Pizza can be locally ordered and delivered. A Weber barbecue setup is provided along with black cherry wood for smoking your delectible entres in a gourmet fashion. Also a catering service featuring a four star chef is available in Cobden (see- local activities and link page.

Alcoholic consumption only by those of legal age. Friendly, moderate and responsible drinking patterns only.

No smoking inside unless all visitors agree.

. Before guests are allotted permission to take private walks during the day, I need to acquaint folks to safety issues of the terrain and where the boundaries lay. Some guests who have spent decades traversing nearly all the terrain in Southern Illinois have give the following response = 'What the hey is going on with this mountain?'. Usually the best way to explain the numerous number of cave vents and sink holes, is accomplished by pointing out one open crevice that exists (as a must show for safety reasons due to most likely outcome of an adult ending up with broken hips), noting how huge slabs of rock walls are seperated having loss soil over the years and more so during the last 5 years due to increased rain patterns and then have them simply look at the other already exposed huge rock pile patterns surrounding them. Good thing to bring walking sticks for hikes and taking your time when hiking here. Another explanation of the features just described of large slabs of rock is figurable when caving below. Unlike the cobden cave nearby its notable feature is a full crawling through versus Wing Hill Mountain caving is more like walking with occasional rooms to rest in. Thus west Wing of the mountain has a greater incident of the holes than the the other parts of the mountain. In total of the 25 acres on this property only about 1 acre in several sections are a problem. Common sense restrictions of not walking around at night on thi mountaintop beyond the immediate castle walkways or private drive (flashlights required and staying to road just like a vehicle) is necessary for safety issues.