Incident at Seely Castle - Mysterious Castle - Asheville, NC 

The Castle, at 22,000 square feet in size, has had six known owners. The Seelys lived there until 1942, when Mr. Seely died at age 70. Mrs. Seely then moved to the Battery Park Hotel in downtown Asheville. In the winter of 1949, Evelyn Grove Seely, daughter of entrepreneur Edwin Wiley Grove and widow of Fred Seely, offered to sell her former home to the second owner, Asheville-Biltmore College. The college was there from 1949 to 1961, until they outgrew the available facilities. The limited area for developing new buildings caused the trustees to move the college to its current site on the northern edge of Asheville. The UNCA trustees sold the Castle and surrounding acreage to the Holiday Inn chain. They were the third owners. They kept some of the land behind the Castle and built a Holiday Inn building on this land. The county did not know the building was intended to be a commercial hotel so the owners were not granted a final permit. The owners converted the massive new block shaped building into a condominium complex (units selling for $99,000 in 2014). The chain owners sold the Castle and surrounding landscaped hillside to Jerry Sternberg for $40,000. He was the fourth owner. He convinced his wife that she would enjoy the Castle since she could have a 1,000 square foot closet. He upgraded the heating system from coal to oil fuel and put a new roof on the structure. He planned to turn the house into a museum but his plan never came to fruition. He then sought to turn the facility over to a non-profit organization. Overlook Ministries was the fifth owner. The sixth and current owner is the Wells family. They acquired it in 1984 and restored it to its original splendor.[3]

Having grown up in Asheville, we were always told a legend about a vampire living there and that was the reason the homeless population in Asheville kept disappearing

I grew up in Asheville and have known about this place my whole life. The reason it has fence and wire around it is because people hear stupid rumors and think they need to go investigate it. The property has been privately owned for as long as I've been alive. At some point in the '60s I believe it was used as a college. It's just a cool old house, no nazi's or anything crazy has ever gone on there.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I was very concerned for your safety once he pulled out that early 2000's era flip phone and threatened to take a .003 megapixel photo of you. Looks like you barely escaped that one!

I live in a small town about 20 minutes away from Asheville and the castle is a very weird place. I remember when I was a kid my Dad drove me and my sister up the mountain to see if we could get a look at it. Of course we didn't, but after watching this video I remember that man being in the yard (of what we can see) and raking leaves. Creepy! Love your channel!

CB: I know this is an old vlog but I'm going back over many of your old trips after having found your channel. Don't know if you check the comments on the old videos but I located the following information from the magazine WNC (Western North Carolina) from 2014: "Overlook was back on the market in 1983, and was purchased by Loren Wells, CEO of the Hendersonville-based clothing retailer Bon Worth, and his wife, Keela. The couple was dismayed to find the property beset by trespassers and vandals, a place where local teenagers went to make whoopie and mayhem. So they installed fences and other security measures, and for the past 30 years, the castle has been shrouded by an element of mystery. (Loren has not responded to WNC magazine’s requests for interviews.)" Based on what I've read, the gentleman that you encountered was Mr. Wells. Mr. Wells lead a very interesting life and was a football player at UNC (my alma-mater) in his youth. He passed away last year. The link to his obit is www.hendersonvillelightning.com/news/7269-loren-wells-who-built-empire-on-polyester-dies-at-age-76.html Mr. Wells was apparently in the earlier stages of Alzheimers when you met him, sadly. Seelys' was at one point a college and then was owned by Outlook Christian Ministries (they were a "full gospel" ministry meaning their services included "speaking in tounges" and being "slain in the spirit" which is where some folks may have confused the "satanism" stuff from. So, no Satanic Cult...just a guy that sold lots of ladies' polyester pants. :-)

I went inside that castle, when I was a kid, sometime in the mid to late 1970s. There was a small pond outside the front entrance with I think a small stone bridge going over it. There were Koi fish, if I remember correctly, swimming in the pond. I can remember that it was really cool getting to go inside a real castle.

I thought he was coming at you with a gun at first, then I saw it was a stupid flip phone! lmao

I knew this as the Overlook Castle. It was a very interesting place to see. It was actually built as a castle and looked great. I am sure the reason for the razor wire was to keep trespassers out. You could see the castle from Tunnel Road as you went up the hill towards the tunnel in the winter time. At one time it was rented out to Overlook Ministries (A Christian Ministry) , if I remember correctly. I accurately attended some of the services there for a while.The place was beautiful, at least back in the mid 70's

As long as you are on public property , its really nothing he can do. you should have asked him to call the law.

Speaking as an Asheville resident, that was sad but your reaction to his outburst was hysterical and adorable. 👻

Good job getting on the other side of the road. I once talked with a county tax assessor who had to deal with the occasional home owner who wouldn't let him on the property, which, of course they have the legal right to. The assessor would simply take pictures of the property from the street (public property) and then quite rationally assume he performed every update and possible remodeling available. Every time the home owner would complain about the jump in assessed value and let him on the property. I must commend you for your tactfulness and respect, by the way. I'm afraid if someone got in my face like that guy did I'd up the stakes and find someone with a drone! (evil grin)

You did nothing wrong, you didn't touch the fence you didn't attempt to go through the fence you stayed on public property if anything what he did was wrong and illegal.

Re: razor wire. My apartment bldg has fencing in back topped by razor wire. Its to keep bad guys out. As to the attitude of that man, he has probably had his share of people trying to get on the property because the place is known and closed off and "inquiring minds want to know". He's probably security for the estate and it's his job to keep people out.

You could tell he was not going the be reasonable from the start. It's unfortunate he didn't take the time to understand what you were doing before getting so pissed. Did he calm down later and talk to you or did he leave as pissed as he arrived?

"i'll take a selfie with ya." LMAO! that was great,

Lol he had a flip Phone. "Call the cops" "how about I call them for you!"

I HAVE LIVED IN ASHEVILLE MY WHOLE LIFE AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO INTO THE CASTLE MY MOTHER SAID AFTER HER HIGH SCHOOL PROM HER AND HER STEP SISTER WENT UP THERE AND THERE WAS A MAN IN A BLACK TRENCH COAT AND WAS VERY STRANGE SHE SAID HE WOULD NOT LET THEM IN BUT SHE SEEN THE BALLROOM THRU THE WINDOW AND SHE SAID THERE WAS HALF DOLLAR COINS IN THE FLOOR AND SHE SAID WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE SHE HEARD THERE IS A TORCHER CHAMBER IN THE BASEMENT WHERE THEY USED TO TORCHER PEOPLE SHE SAID THERE IS MACHINES THAT WOULD PULL YOU APART AND ON A CERTAIN NIGHT BLOOD WOULD POOR FROM THE WALLS AND YOU CAN HEAR SCREAMING SO IT INTERESTED ME SO WENT WITH TWO FRIENDS ONE NIGHT AND THERE WAS A STRIP RUNNING ACROSS THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE FENCE IT RINGS TO LET THEM KNOW SOMEONE IS THERE NEXT THING YOU KNOW I HEARD DOGS BARKING THEN THAT SAME MAN PULLED UP IN HIS CAR AND GOT OUT POINTED A PISTOL AT US I TOOK OFF DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WITH THIS CRAZY MAN CHASING ME HALF WAY DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SO I PULLED IN SOMEONE'S DRIVE WAY AND JUST SIT THERE AND HE WAS WAITING FOR ME AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY THEN DROVE OFF SO YES THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING STRANGE GOING ON THERE SURE WISH I COULD SEE THE INSIDE BUT THE DRONE IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA BUT HE WILL PROBABLY SHOOT IT OUT OF THE SKY IF HE SEES IT LOL LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY LUCK

He was pissed! I imagine he deals with people showing up almost daily.

that old man has anger issues, that was funny when you told him I'll take a selfie with you, classic. thanks for the video, keep them coming. ....

what the hell?! that was odd!

WOAH! You handled that nicely. His underwear was in a knot, that's all. The property between the street and the gate is public so there is nothing you can be charged with. I did in fact think it was sweet of you to say you did not mean to wake him up. Had he laid a hand on you though, he would go to jail himself for you were across the street and came after you. So you were VERY smart by keeping your camera going for evidence. Way to stay strong in a situation like this. You looked a bit worked up at the end.

My grandfather was in the SS and used to tell us stories of the really bad war criminals that ended up in the states and told us a few had connections to the owner of that castle but he probably had a bad case of dementia.

ohhhhhh what was he hiding,very strange

OMG that was hilarious! that old dude has issues! U handled it perfectly! bwahahaha ~ i live here in Asheville ~ i hope u don’t mind bears because this is now bear country 😎

"You used to call me on my flip phone... Or threatened to take a picture of me on it ...." Sang my grandson, laughing at Mr. Gaurdman as he watched your video with me...lol

Your a good man Jacob...he has the problem !!!

Oh Mercy!!! So much wasted energy being angry. I think, myself, I would of started laughing. I know that's not nice but I know I have when so much aggression is thrust at me. Your a Good Man Jacob ☆☆☆☆

The house has had five known owners. The Seelys lived there until 1942, when Mr. Seely died at age 70. In the winter of 1949, Evelyn Grove Seely, daughter of entrepreneur Edwin Wiley Grove and widow of Fred Seely, offered to sell her former home to the second owner, Asheville-Biltmore College. The college was there from 1949 to 1961, until they outgrew the available facilities. The limited area for developing new buildings caused the trustees to move the college to its current site on the northern edge of Asheville. The third owner was Mr. Jerry Sternberg. He upgraded the heating system from coal to oil fuel and put a new roof on the structure. He planned to turn the house into a museum but his plan never came to fruition. He then sought to turn the facility over to a non-profit organization. Overlook Ministries was the fourth owner. The fifth and current owner is the Wells family. They acquired it in 1984 and restored it

I love you so much Jacob ❤️

Wow! I would hate to see him if something really bad did happen.

I laughed way too much over this. Oh wow! That was awesome.

That's one nasty man... Show him friendship take a selfie! :)haha I thought he was going to send the dog on you..

The guy you encountered is probably a live in caretaker/handyman. I suspect he was upset because you're not the first person to set off the alarm by rattling the gate. It gets old after a while. Fred Seely was a building contractor from New Jersey, son-in-law of E.W. Grove, who conceived the Grove Park Inn, a well known resort hotel in Asheville. E.W.Grove gifted his son-in-law with 29 acres on nearby Sunset Mountain, where Seely built a 20,000 square foot mansion. The Grove Park Inn was completed in 1914, and Seely's mansion was completed in 1916. Seely added a western wing, housing a music room and library, in 1924. The proper name for the house is Overlook. There's nothing satanic about the place. It's just how rich people built mansions in what was then rural North Carolina back around the time of the first World War. Fred Seely died in 1942. Mrs. Seely moved to the Battery Park Hotel in downtown Asheville. The house was empty for a while, although there are some hints the property may have been used by the U.S. Government & possibly housed some secret war effort during that time. In 1949, she sold Overlook to Asheville-Biltmore College. It was the home of the college from 1949 to 1961 when the college moved to its current campus and became UNC Asheville. In 1964 the property was sold to a developer who built a high-rise on the north end of the property, and sold the mansion along with 6 acres of land to a local businessman who lived there with his family until about 1976. Unable to find a buyer for the property, the businessman donated the mansion to Christian Books Unlimited of Montreat, NC. in 1976. Christian Books Unlimited used the property to host Overlook Christian Ministries. The property apparently sat empty for a while before Christian Books Unlimited & Overlook Christian Ministries sold the property in 1983 or 1984. "Seely Castle" is currently owned by the CEO of a discount women's apparel chain based in western North Carolina. When he bought the mansion it was plagued by trespassers, vandals and local teens using the site to engage in behaviors their parents would not approve of. The new owners put the fence & security system in because they got tired of people showing up at all hours of the day & night. Many of the uninvited visitors did not have innocent intentions. The razor wire is there because too many people won't be at all bothered climbing over the fence.

LOL looked like fun. I guess a walk through was out of the question.

To hell with that old man, keep giving us great videos ✌️

I like how you tried to defuse the situation calmly when you realized his anger was escalating. Even after the way he treated you , you still treated the man with respect assuming he had emotional problems. At the end of the video you even apologized to the man for upsetting him.. Class act ....Subscribed!

What was up with the military style boots? What a weirdo!

My dad worked on the roof there and said the owner at the time had a pack of tamed wolves.

I have lived in Asheville all my life and there is a reason for the razor wire. There have been so many people trespassing over the years and trying to break into the castle. Seelys castle actually used to be a campus for a college. My mom was a police officer and worked security there. A family actually lives there now.

what alarm? you were outside the fence. I guess the dogs heard you talking and woke his ass up on the job!

The latest owners of Seely's castle are really rude. I heard the original owners were good-spirited. I wonder what's going on up there. It's my dream home and I pass by there quite often. Sucks the owners have to be so rude! I wish I could visit

I'm here because of Carpetbaggers Livestream from earlier tonight.

Bizarre!

SPIT In Your Face ? ... That Is Assault ( Against The Law ) HE was At FAULT .... NOT You

Hi! I'm a Asheville born and raised here. I didn't hear about this until last year. So, I went to go find it. I couldn't even find the fence! Please share with me how you got there!

I guess he thought he was threatening with his little ca. 2003 flip phone. "I'm gonna take yer picture..." 🤗

I’m def going to go take pics of that place. If he comes out and shows me his surgery scar I will put do him. I have had 33 surgeries. Had it been me, I would Have been thrilled someone wanted to see my place and then I would have given you the whole history , even on the day of my surgery and I have had major surgeries.

it looks like it had a lovely t of history, it's a shame that the owner doesn't open it up a few days a year for tourists.

Sucks people can have so much negativity in them. Especially towards someone as cool as you Jacob!

Was that Jim Lahey? Trailer Park Supervisor??

Opps.. now that was funny...how could he yell at such a kind soul as you...

Holy Crap, I thought you had dubbed in the dog sounds at first. Well it does seem like a great place to stay away from.

that guy was something else.....

Jacob you were absolutely right. why put up razor wire unless you have something to hide

good old Google,checked a few different sources and this is what I got

O my god poor you your the nicest man if he would have just spoken with you he would have seen that too 🤔😳😢🙄💋💕💕💕💕

I believe the dog sounds are a pack of coyotes...we have them all around here...I'm a native of Asheville

Yeah I know that guy and his dog, Rowan or something like that. What was he doing in that castle area lol I don’t think he was angry, he looked like he was joking around. But I’ve seen him around Asheville at different coffee shops, he seems like an easy going guy lol

No telling what's being done there. Whoever they said "lived" there is just to scare folks away

LOL ... " Lets Take a Selfie ( picture ) " .. Loool

What I see is a private citizen on his own private property. Leave him alone!

There is an easement on the sides of roads both for ingress and egress reasons, as well as possible widening or maintenance of the road, if needed. You weren't on his property, legally. Notice how far back from the road his fence is set, he cannot have it up next to the road.

There's an old home here in my hometown, the Kildare House, in Huntsville, Alabama. They people who live there are crazy, just like this dude. They get angry if you stop ON THE ROAD, in front of the house, which is a public thoroughfare, and just look at the house. No one bothers them. People just stop to look at it because it is so beautiful. They have recently had a tall fence erected around the property, and you can't see it at all now, except for the turrets and the roof line. Very disappointing.

wow! I can see the adrenaline still rushing in you . love the films !

he set the alarms off.

Tried to find it to take pics of the castle,but couldn't find it.

If you had a drone, think of the possibilities! Like someone said He's just a rent-A-cop AKA "Door shaker".

Wow! Everyone knows about Biltmore but I had never heard of this place before. Thanks for the informative video!

I would have woke him up again,lol. strange. its a huge castle what does he think people are going to do? crazy.

Spittled

Go back and give him a donut!

It has razor wire because people hear the rumors and want to go investigate. Not because there’s anything to hide. You come onto my property without permission, and I’m going to be pretty pissed off too.

People do some digging into that place really research it !!!!!!

I mean, lifting up your shirt to show a recent incision is just asking to get punched.

Advice for Homeowners: NEWSFLASH---THIS JUST IN: If you don't want people looking at your house and/or near the surrounding property then don't buy a gigantic place that has a wild reputation and that will automatically get attention. If you're going to live in such a place of course have fences (the razor wire is a bit extreme but it does keep troublemakers out) and professional security guards who don't have stoke-level blood pressure but you can't expect people to go by with their hands up to their faces, shielding their eyes, so they can't see where you live. You live in a place that attracts attention so expect attention.

They definitely have something to hide. You are so funny, you made my day.

Is this up by Helens Bridge?

I just read that this was built in two years. 😂🤣

That angry guy actually looks familiar. I'm pretty sure he was a customer of mine when I worked at the Highlands RadioShack ... seems like he was a really angry guy then, too (which is probably why he seems familiar -- he made quite an impression on me)

He looked like a painter

so we should get like 40 people with drones down there, huh

People with nothing to hide don't like intruder's

Satan worshipping?! I live in Asheville and that sounds like something somebody from one of the surrounding counties would say 😆

No but people who don't want anyone on their private living spaces who knows how nosey ghost hunters are.. ghost choose to remain invisible for a reason👻

This castle is not 'demonic!' Haunted maybe but not demonic.

That razor wire and that enraged old coot! Really, really WEIRD. You, sir, performed your "verbal judo" perfectly.

LOL!! Oh my goodness. Wow... Maybe he was under the influence of the demonic energy of the property. LOL Either way he should check himself before he has another huge scar over his heart. He's going to give himself a heart attack acting like that.

I like the drone idea. He might not even notice it.

He probably gets a lot of shit from urban explorers who have no moral compass. I just want to know, looking at the car he drives, I doubt he's at all the owner. Probably just the caretaker. Sometimes when it comes to people that angry all I feel is pity because it must be terrible to live inside that head. But... anyone who gets nose to nose with me and spittles... gets a face full of stomach gas and death breath. "BWARRPhfffblurp. Sorry."

But did the cops come?

people who want to be left the fuck alone do.

Dang that old boy needs his medication adjusted somewhat! I thought it very nice of you to offer taking a selfie with him after his rude behavior toward you! Maybe his life has just went to the dogs who knows what lurks in that cavity on his shoulders! Nice video thou Jacob!

I suppose those are the hazards of filming. Too bad he got overly upset or he would find out you are a kind hearted guy.

I belive that is a guard from the private owner.

Do you know if you can get into celeys casle know

You are a better man than me. I call everyone's bluff.

Those dogs barking and everything is probably a recording.

Haha, same thing happened to ATW. I'm sure you saw what happened when he taped the "Martini's" house.

The Carpetbagger, that elderly man is definitely a grouch. You did nothing wrong, and it was good that you were filming bc if the cops did arrive they can view your video.