We took “a man’s home is his castle” literally.
MiniCastles is a design-build workshop that makes small castles real – the kind with hand-set stone and a working drawbridge, that also pass inspection. We’re based in Las Vegas and build across the Southwest.
Beige boxes, but make it a fortress.
MiniCastles began with a simple frustration: why does every new build look like every other new build? An architect, a master mason and a permit wrangler walked into a workshop – and walked out building castles you can actually live in, play in, and pass down.
We’re small on purpose. Every project gets the founders’ hands on it, real masonry instead of foam props, and engineering that means your castle is standing for your grandchildren.
Four steps, no surprises.
We handle the engineering, the permits and the mud. You handle choosing your colors.
The Audience
A friendly consult – your dream, your site, your budget. We sketch ideas and talk honestly about what’s possible.
The Blueprint
Design, 3D renders, engineering and permits. You approve every tower, window and weathervane before a stone is laid.
The Raising
Our masons and makers build – in our workshop, on your land, or both – with regular photo updates from the field.
The Crowning
We hand over the keys, raise your flag, and toast the new castle. Then we stay on call for the happily-ever-after.
The hands behind the stone.
A small crew of people who genuinely believe a house can have a turret and still be a smart investment.
An architect who got tired of beige boxes. Elena started MiniCastles to prove that a home can have a drawbridge and still pass inspection.
Thirty years in stone. If Tomas says a wall will stand for a hundred years, set your watch by it. He sets every keystone himself.
The reason your castle is legal. Jo wrangles engineers, inspectors and timelines so you can stay focused on choosing your colors.
Castle questions, answered.
Cost, permits, timelines and whether you can really live in one. Still wondering? Ask below.
It ranges widely with size and finish. A backyard Playkeep starts around $6,500; a garden Folly around $14,000; a finished Gatehouse studio around $28,000; a livable Keep (tiny home / ADU) from about $85,000; and a small Manor residence from about $240,000. Bespoke commissions are quoted after a consult. We’ll give you a clear, itemized estimate.
The livable ones absolutely are. Keeps and Manors are engineered and built fully to code as legal dwellings (ADUs, guest houses, homes). Playkeeps and Follies are ornamental/play structures, built to last but not as habitable space. We tell you exactly which category you’re in.
Roughly: a Playkeep 6–8 weeks, a Folly 8–10 weeks, a Gatehouse 10–14 weeks, a Keep 4–6 months, and a Manor 8–14 months. Permitting and weather can move the dates – we keep you posted with photo updates the whole way.
Yes – we build on your site, or craft in our workshop and deliver and set, depending on the project. We’re based in Las Vegas and regularly build across the Southwest; for larger commissions we travel farther. Ask us about your location.
A timber or steel structure, sealed and insulated as needed, clad in sculpted masonry or real/engineered stone for that centuries-old look. Roofing, iron, oak doors and leaded-style windows are chosen to match the style and the budget.
Safety is the whole point. Rounded edges, splinter-free finishes, rail and platform heights guided by playground-safety standards (ASTM/CPSC), secure drawbridges and non-toxic sealants. Play castles are decorative backyard structures rather than certified playground equipment – and built to take years of enthusiastic use from small siege engines.
Please do. Custom heraldry, colors, pennants, and even a name carved over the door are part of the fun. If you don’t have a crest, we’ll help you design one.
We build around a staged, milestone payment schedule so you’re not paying for the whole castle up front, and we’re glad to point you toward third-party financing options on request. Ask us what makes sense for your project.
Questions, ideas & napkin sketches.
For anything that isn’t a full project inquiry – just drop us a line. We reply within 1–2 business days.
Call or text
725-999-2369 – real people, honest answers.
Where we build
Las Vegas, NV & across the Southwest. Farther afield for larger commissions – just ask.