Atalaya Castle

Archer Huntington began building Atalaya Castle in 1931 and completed it in 1933. He built the castle after a castle on the Spanish Mediterranean coast from memory.

It is a Moorish style castle including thirty rooms which housed Mr. Huntington, his wife and their numerous servants. The rooms are situated in a maze of hallways. The castle has a 40 foot tower that was used as a cypress lined water tank. Pressure from the water stored in the tank allowed water to flow through the house.

Anna Hyatt Huntington, Archer Huntington's wife, was a talented sculptress. She enjoyed sculpting live animals and her work can be seen in Brookgreen Gardens located across Highway 17 from Huntington state Park where Atalaya Castle sits.

The 30th Annual Arts and Crafts festival will be held Sept. 23, 24 and 25 at Atalaya Tower. Fine visual arts and crafts will be on display along with a variety of musical entertainment. While you are there, check out one of our musical favorites the Low Country Chorus.

The castle is located in Huntington Beach State Park
just off of Highway 17 across from Brookgreen Gardens.