Greenback Castle — Attraction in Loudon

As someone else said, it's difficult to choose a rating for this place. I'm going with the high end because of its uniqueness, which is the appeal of such a place.

For it's extremely unique. The closest I've seen to it would be Randyland in Pittsburgh, also a great stop. Apparently, one guy - Mr. Banks, whom I met - built the whole place. Unusual person, but very friendly and polite, if odd and very talkative. Craftsmanship is fascinating and creative. Whole place is weird in the best way - and occasionally not the best way.

Some things you should know:

It's on private property at the end of a gravel road. It's free, and you can park on the grass out front. Just start walking around and in. It's well-known (and apparently tolerated) by government officials, as Mr. Banks' letters attest. It's not exactly... safe? The structure is a hodgepodge, much of it very old, under construction, or both. Be careful as you walk through. There's a lot of trash in various places, and not all of it is artistic. While I felt pretty safe around Mr. Banks even though I was solo (partly because of his advanced age, to be honest), the place itself does give off this weird mix of peaceful + danger vibes. There's Christian imagery and messages everywhere (along with apparently a Native American shrine, Egyptian gods, and some other non-Christian spiritual elements), but I harbor serious doubts where Mr. Banks is really at spiritually. There's something spiritually wrong going on.

So should you go? I'd go back solo again. It's great. But let someone know you're going to be there, watch where you walk, pray a bit, and let yourself enjoy the absolutely unique accomplishment that is...

Junior has become a dear friend of mine, and I truly appreciate his accepting and open-minded spirit—so please don’t let any religious vibe deter you. Getting to know Junior has been a real pleasure; he’s one of the most generous people I’ve met. He constantly gives back to those around him and the community, donating many artifacts he’s discovered to local museums. His selflessness is inspiring, and he’s passionate about UT sports and, of course, the ladies. For newcomers: when you arrive, drive slowly all the way to the end of the driveway until you see the castle. There’s a small donation box near the front right of the castle—donations are appreciated but not expected. Junior dedicates hours each day working on his castle, and you’ll often find him there, eager to show you around. As he gets older, he could use a helping hand at the castle, whether it’s assisting with construction or donating recycled items like bottles, jars, cinder blocks, bricks, golf balls, cement—you name it. It’s clear that a lot of love and effort go into this project. Getting to know Junior has been truly enriching. He’s a fascinating man with a wealth of stories and knowledge—plus, he’s a talented musician! Check out his guitar videos on YouTube by Fred Scruton; you’ll see what I mean. While the castle might seem a bit intimidating at first or not everyone’s cup of tea, it’s the dedication and eclectic personality behind it that matter most. I feel so fortunate to be friends with someone like Junior. Let’s support him—whether it’s stopping by for a chat, making a donation, or buying his book on Amazon. He gives so much to others; it’s only right we...

Mike "TaleRider" Swain, a good Brother of mine, rode in from Oklahoma to join in the LibertyCon convention fun. Post Con, we went on a round about little adventure.

The coolest part of the stop, after we turned off the paved road, we met this older fellow, who literally popped out of the underbrush to talk with us a moment.

It turned out that he was the owner and builder of the castle, Junior Banks.

We parked and chatted with him for a few minutes, learning the history of the site and his reasoning for building it.

Personally, I’d call him a prophet, but he wasn’t preachy at all. He just wants folks to know that we receive messages from the other side that we have to interpret.

Words do not do this place justice. Even though it is still a work in progress and has been vandalized in the past, it is still an impressive undertaking, with much of the intricate details akin to eccentric folk art like you’d see at Paradise Gardens in Summerville, Georgia.

Very well worth a stop if you’re out and about on a scoot. It's one of those old school roadside attractions that have been slowly dying away thanks to the interstate systems.

Now, fair warning, this place is "Enter at own risk" We're coming into dog days, keep an eye out for wasps, hornets, snakes, etc. Junior Banks ain't getting any younger, and it looks like he's having a hard time keeping up the place. But it is a large chunk of land he's...