The Greenback Castle, also known as the Fortress of Faith, was constructed by a man named Floyd Banks, Jr. Construction began in 1994 and as of 2019, new additions are being made. The odd castle was built as a gift to God and displays bizarre religious iconography throughout. Greenback, TN
The Greenback Castle is one of the strangest places I’ve ever visited. Located in rural Greenback, Tennessee, this large structure was built by a man named Floyd Banks, Jr, along with the help of at least two other people. He began to build this castle in 1994. Around 2002, he came to the revelation that his task was in divine in nature and that his motivations for constructing the castle were a tribute to his Christian faith and God.
Over the years, more rooms have been added to the castle. Each and every single room is filled with symbolism that deals with religion and even Native American spirituality. Banks has written down his thoughts and feelings about certain concepts on the walls, which can be quite….bizarre. Other items of interest include "pictographs" which are mostly outlined with red paint. I have been told these "pictographs" are representative of something that has happened or will happen, such as the Greenback tornado that struck in March of 2011. Some of them represent religion, while others are supposed to look like people.
During my last visit earlier this year, newer additions have been added to the castle. These additions include an archway made of old beer bottles, a “jail”, a very elaborate pathway made of seashells and painted rocks, and a mural depicting scenes from the book of Exodus. Flowers have been planted on the grounds, as well as a small vegetable garden.
FYI, the Greenback Castle is open to the public and costs nothing to tour it. I’ve been to this place more times than I can count over the years.
ishylynnsays
I visited this place once in the early 2000s. It was trippy. We didn’t even plan to visit; just passed by and thought it’d be fun to check out. It looks a lot bigger now than when I visited. Floyd is a really interesting guy.
TheBlackHand417says
Reminds me of Howard Finster or something. So cool!
caneringsays
Does Floyd live there?
hydraowosays
I can’t tell if religion is what fucks people up or if people are just naturally fucked up and religion provides an outlet for their insanity
nova_mjohnsonsays
Reminds me of something sorta similar in Lynchburg, VA – this intersection has three buildings which all have similar sort of signs in strangely similar handwriting and nobody in town quite knows what it is/for.
dinojeanssays
It looks like a lot of religions. Poor remembrance of the past with weird shit stuck to it
chileheadsays
Mental illness writ large.
WhoisTylerDurdensays
I love the white sign, "I have proved The Almighty as a science fact."
"Where?"
Seanatronicsays
Super religious and not far from illiterate? Shocking.
TheArcherofRed says
The Greenback Castle is one of the strangest places I’ve ever visited. Located in rural Greenback, Tennessee, this large structure was built by a man named Floyd Banks, Jr, along with the help of at least two other people. He began to build this castle in 1994. Around 2002, he came to the revelation that his task was in divine in nature and that his motivations for constructing the castle were a tribute to his Christian faith and God.
Over the years, more rooms have been added to the castle. Each and every single room is filled with symbolism that deals with religion and even Native American spirituality. Banks has written down his thoughts and feelings about certain concepts on the walls, which can be quite….bizarre. Other items of interest include "pictographs" which are mostly outlined with red paint. I have been told these "pictographs" are representative of something that has happened or will happen, such as the Greenback tornado that struck in March of 2011. Some of them represent religion, while others are supposed to look like people.
During my last visit earlier this year, newer additions have been added to the castle. These additions include an archway made of old beer bottles, a “jail”, a very elaborate pathway made of seashells and painted rocks, and a mural depicting scenes from the book of Exodus. Flowers have been planted on the grounds, as well as a small vegetable garden.
FYI, the Greenback Castle is open to the public and costs nothing to tour it. I’ve been to this place more times than I can count over the years.
ishylynn says
I visited this place once in the early 2000s. It was trippy. We didn’t even plan to visit; just passed by and thought it’d be fun to check out. It looks a lot bigger now than when I visited. Floyd is a really interesting guy.
TheBlackHand417 says
Reminds me of Howard Finster or something. So cool!
canering says
Does Floyd live there?
hydraowo says
I can’t tell if religion is what fucks people up or if people are just naturally fucked up and religion provides an outlet for their insanity
nova_mjohnson says
Reminds me of something sorta similar in Lynchburg, VA – this intersection has three buildings which all have similar sort of signs in strangely similar handwriting and nobody in town quite knows what it is/for.
dinojeans says
It looks like a lot of religions. Poor remembrance of the past with weird shit stuck to it
chilehead says
Mental illness writ large.
WhoisTylerDurden says
I love the white sign, "I have proved The Almighty as a science fact."
"Where?"
Seanatronic says
Super religious and not far from illiterate? Shocking.
socratessue says
Pretty amazing example of outsider art, though