San Antonio is home to some interesting buildings, to say the least. For years, locals have scratched their heads at towers that look like pyramids, unfinished complexes topped by bronze domes or homes that look like they belong in Greece instead of Texas. In fact, the city boasts multiple castles, and one of them is for sale on the Southside.
The head-turning castle at 250 Kelly Drive is about 6,150 square feet and sits on a 1.68-acre lot, according to real estate site LoopNet. Valued at just $669,440, LoopNet says the castle has been on the market since April 2025, and a large sign advertising its availability stands out front in a December 2025 Google Maps image. Behind the building, you can see what appears to be a playground set.
A real estate flyer for the site reads, “This property is an opportunity to acquire a unique building well-suited for a restaurant operation or an event center. Instantly recognizable, the new owner can ‘brand’ this property for their operation and draw customers from the booming south side of San Antonio and beyond.”
But what’s the history behind this unique-looking building? According to LoopNet, the castle was built in 1985, making it a little over 40 years old. Owner Jason Delgado filled MySA in via email, saying it was designed by his mother, who “wanted to create something unique on the south side of San Antonio” following a trip to Europe. “Upon her return, they submitted plans to the historic review board with big ambitions of creating a unique restaurant. Unfortunately, [the] board denied the application stating that the architecture did not conform with the Historical design standard.”
Delgado’s mother, Beatrice Ruiz, appealed the decision using a photo of castles in Europe alongside a replica of the flag of Castile and León, one of the flags under which Christopher Columbus sailed, and one of the six that have been flown over Texas. Her design for the castle at 250 Kelly heavily resembles the castle shown on that flag, and that allowed it to be approved, Delgado said. Over the years, it’s been a restaurant, a Head Start Center for children and a party hall hosting Renaissance-style events, Lucha Libre, haunted houses and campaign parties for former U.S. congressman Frank Tejeda and former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
“With a new roof overhead, a castle has ambition on the horizon. My mother … who built and operated it for many years, passed in 2024. The castle is currently on the market as it sails toward its next adventure,” Delgado said.
It’s not the only castle in San Antonio, and they all have big differences. One is a home built in the ’70s on San Antonio’s Northwest Side, just off Bandera and Evers Roads. It bears a Medieval-style facade conjoined with a garage and triangular roofline that make the whole thing pretty distinctive. Seemingly deserted for several years, it even got a mention on the Zillow Gone Wild subreddit, where one commenter said, “You could repel so many medieval sieges in this bad boy.”
You can find another castle — this one of much grander proportions than the others — at 950 Grayson Street near the Government Hill neighborhood. Built in 1894, Lambermont is just four blocks away from the Pearl and is now a boutique wedding and event venue with history as a private residence.