Inside The Cursed Castle Deep In The Forests Of New York

An abandoned building sits forlornly within an overgrown clearing in the forests of New York’s Catskill Mountains. But this is no simple log cabin! Its witch’s hat roofs, soaring turrets and Gothic windows make it look like something out of a fairytale. Sadly, though, there has been no happily ever after here – just whispers of curses and ghosts that haunt the forgotten grounds.

Hidden in the Catskills

The Catskills are a vast, impenetrable wilderness that still stretches across much of southeast New York state. And they are just the sort of place where legends are born. Perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that Dundas Castle has been shrouded in myth and mystery for as long as anyone can remember. Though what is the real story behind this eerie and deserted place?

Dudas Castle

Built back in the first half of the 20th century, Dundas Castle was designed to mimic a far older style of building. But tragedy would strike just before its first owner could move in and indulge his baronial fantasies. Since then, the empty hallways and echoing chambers have remained mostly devoid of life.

Why was it abanonded?

So, why was this grand home just a few hours’ drive from New York City abandoned to rot and decay? And what of the rumors that a ghost haunts one of the upper rooms? To find the answers, a handful of brave urban explorers have ventured inside. And, thankfully, they have lived to tell the tale!

It has a rich history

Documentation about the early history of Dundas Castle is scarce, which is fitting for such a haunted building. In a 2011 post on his blog the Art of Abandonment, photographer Walter Arnold described a meeting with local historian Dr. Joyce Conroy in which she recounted the history of the estate. Apparently, the first person to build here was the New York architect Bradford Lee Gilbert, who constructed a hunting lodge in the 1880s.