Greenback Castle Re-Visit With the Grandkids 2019

Action figure embedded in the walls of Greenback Castle 

Greenback Castle Re-Visit With the Grandkids 

Dana Koogler, Lydia Koogler, and Gabriel Koogler

Michael and Tessa Lindsey

Friday July 26, 2019

Greenback Castle Info

Greenback Castle Pictures starting with frame #98

( Photos in this album are combined from two visits)

Greenback Drugstore Diner 

Home Decor Resale Store 

Directions to Greenback Castle: 

Hwy 411 South-- a little over a mile past the intersection of Hwy 411 South with SR 95

turn LEFT onto N Trigonia Road and go 3/4 mile to a LEFT turn onto Lee Shirley Road

Go 0.10 mile on Lee Shirley Road to a RIGHT turn into a gravel driveway.  It is a residential area so go slow.   There are signs for the castle at the turn.  It is straight back the road and there are signs indicating where to park.  It is free, but take some cash for the donation box out front.

Coming north on Hwy 411 it is about 3.50 miles from the bridge across Tellico Lake to a right turn onto N. Trigonia Road 



       I had my grandchildren Friday to watch while my daughter started back to teaching.
Michael age 10 and Tessa age 5.  I talked to daughter in law Lydia and it was decided we'd all to visit Mr. Junior Banks' Fortress of Faith.. the Greenback Castle.  She said she'd never been and neither had the other two grandkids.   Gabe, Kenny, Jared and myself went a little over a year ago.   Gabe liked it, but I wasn't sure he'd remember it.   We figured on a visit to the castle.  Lunch at Greenback Diner, and if all went well a stop by the Home Decor Resale Store across the road from the diner.   

     We gathered everyone up and got on the road at a decent time.   Lydia was considering staying home to do some chores and letting me take the kids by myself.  I plainly told her if I had to take all three kids by myself I wasn't going.  The castle is not safe for one adult to handle three kids ages three to ten.  The space is chopped up and while it is fun, it is not safe for a kid to play alone especially little ones.  Junior cannot be expected to babysit and play tour guide.
She agreed to go and we set out.  It is not a long drive and we were there by about 9:45.  
We'd have arrived a little sooner, but I probably wasted fifteen minutes in the making of a wrong turn.  Somehow I missed the turn onto Lee Shirley Road and went two miles out of my way.  I recognized it much sooner, but had to drive further to find a safe place along the road to turn around.   It is a winding, narrow road in a residential area.

           Once we arrived at the Castle and parked the kids were immediately excited and so was Lydia.   It is quite something to see. Junior was up and about so we greeted him at once. I put our money in the donation box and we started our tour in a counter clockwise fashion.  We visited once before and went clockwise.  Counter clockwise is better!   It is far more dramatic.
The best parts are on this leg of the journey.   It also helped me to pick up parts of this property I had somehow missed the previous time!  It was one of the neatest things we've done. The place is mysterious, exciting, quirky, and beautiful in a grungey way.    It is a visual feast for the eyes and senses.   We spent 2 1/2 hours there and had to drag Michael and Tessa away!  They were not ready to leave even then.  They loved it and loved Junior.   They were talking about when could they go back again as we were leaving.  That speaks volumes.  They told me it was without doubt the neatest thing I'd ever done with them.    A big win for Nanny.  

 Above: Gabe heading in the entry door at the front

 Above: Front facade of the Castle

 Above: Granddaughter Tessa age 5

 Grandson Michael age 10

Above: All three kiddles on the thrones.  Junior was quick to remind me to get their photos taken on the thrones!             Gabriel had been before and was smaller and growing tired and hungry.  
He was ready to leave.   We took him back to the car and got him a dry butt and a drink and a small snack to hold him til we got to the diner.    It was only a couple miles to the diner .  Though it was busy we found a parking spot easily.   We also found a table immediately and were waited on promptly.  Our food arrived hot, fresh and delicious.  Everyone got their tummy full and felt better.  Lydia took the boys outside and I stuck around to let Tessa eat ice cream for dessert.   It was a fun day thus far.  Lydia and I realized the home decor store was not a good idea today. The kids were tired and restless.   We'd come back for that another day with just us women.   No kids.    Greenback is a charming little town.  It has a post office, a school that is K thru 12, a Farmers Co-op,  a diner, a couple churches, the home decor store, a historic museum, a grocery store, a library, hair salon, and veterinarian.  Greenback is a place full of history.  I envision several more trips to the area to visit, to learn and enjoy the area.   

 Above: Detail in one part of the courtyard.   Skull and all sorts of neat shells.  It is a feast for the senses!

 Above: Michael, Lydia, Gabe and Tessa in the chess game room

 Lots of neat alcoves and arches here

 Colorful corner

 Above: Tessa and Gabe going up the spiral staircase in the rotunda.  It was very exciting!

 Above: Michael stands by the White Horseman of the Apocalypse who Junior says has begun his ride.  The White Horseman is the first of the four... and he is Conquest.

 Beautiful woodwork and detail in the rotunda.

 Above: Daughter in law Lydia, grandson Gabe and Tessa in the courtyard

 Above: Two spooky looking prisoners peeping out of the "jail cell"

 Above:  Loved how this archway leads to another archway!

 Above: Gabe and Tessa come down the steps from one of the upstairs rooms.

 Above: Junior and Tessa. The kids really enjoyed this sweet gentleman.  He is a fine Christian brother and elder.

Above Grandson Michael and Junior with his cool shades on.        I took Lydia home. I took the kids home with me to play at my house for a few hours.  Once Crystal came to pick up Tessa and Michael I took Gabe home.   He was worn out and cried.  I sat down on the couch with him and visited. He put his little feet in my lap kicked back on the couch.  It wasn't long until he calmed down with Nanny rubbing his feet and toes.   He was snoring when I left.   Tired boy.   That is another win for Nanny when I can wear the kids out but still have energy left myself!  

 Michael amidst the crosses

 Above:  A beautiful wild area out back where Junior is working on a maze that is not yet finished. It will be made up of native cane! Sunflowers and sumac give the place some color.

 Archway of glass bottles!

Junior feeds the birds and provides watering spots for them.   A bird bath.   

All in all a fascinating and beautiful place. Not another one like it on the planet!         

        


          
    

Greenback Castle 2018

Beautiful okra blossom growing in Junior's garden behind the Castle

Greenback Castle 

Kenny, Dana, Jared & Gabriel Koogler

Saturday August 18, 2018

Greenback Castle on Facebook 

Greenback Castle Photo Gallery

   I had been seeing my friends Paul and Amanda Gamble's photos of Greenback Castle. I was 

curious about it.  I finally decided it was time to go visit this place for myself while the chance still

existed.    It was built by a man named Junior Banks who claims God told him to build it. 

Today we decided it would be an easy family outing for us.  Jared met us in Greenback on his way

up from Madisonville.   We all toured the Greenback Castle. Junior Banks himself was there to greet us.  It was a pleasure to meet him. He is a friendly, welcoming soul. He uses the Castle as a form of 

creative expression and a way to attract visitors in order to share the Gospel of Salvation through

Christ Jesus.      He does not charge admission, but has a donation box which we were happy to 

contribute to.   He also told me that yesterday he was working on the Castle and he looked out.

A group of young folks was doing some volunteer work for him. Picking up litter. Pulling weeds.

Helping out.  He said they even continued after it started to rain!  He was most appreciative and surprised. 

 

    Mr. Junior Banks up on the parapets of the castle.  He is the creator of all this work.


      We met Jared at the Greenback Dollar General and drove the short distance to the Castle.  We arrived just as a group of two men was leaving.  There is room to park three or four cars in the front
yard.   Signs greet you at the start of the lane directing you toward the Castle.  Signs also warn that
any professional, T.V. News folk are unwelcome.  Additional signs make it clear how Mr. Banks feels about the televangelists of the world.   No TV news. No TV preachers.    All others are welcome. If you are easily offended by Christianity this is no place for you.   The Castle was built by a Christian and as such is filled with religious iconography.  Once we arrived Gabe, Kenny and Jared took off in one direction with Gabriel on a dead run.  I stood and visited with Junior for a little while exchanging pleasantries.    He is most welcoming and instructed me on lots of particulars about the place.

The three images posted below all show off the enormity of the front of the Castle.   I started at the left and photographed toward the right just as if I were reading a book.

 
    Lots of intricacies went into the building of this place.  You can find some thought provoking words here for certain.    I meant to ask what Junior had done to prove the Almighty as scientific fact, but I forgot?!    No disrespect intended.   I look at it like this.  For the person of faith.. no explanation is necessary. For the unbeliever no explanation is possible.   Perhaps this is what the Presbyterians meant in their beliefs about predestination?!  I have found that quite often that overly intellectual personality types have the greatest difficulty believing in God and Christ.

  I no more got done talking to Junior than here came Jared and Gabriel back toward me. They were wanting us to all stick together.   I told him I was not going to be rushed.  Gabriel was running around really enjoying this odd place.

Jared and Gabe coming to get me.

Here is little closer shot of that area on the front of the Castle.   Junior asked me what I thought
of the red and black paint scheme? I told him I liked it very much. He said he was just in the process of sprucing things up with the paint job. 

Here is the first glimpse of the side of the Castle.  I had decided to work my way round it clockwise fashion.  

 Here is a view of the back side of that rounded portion of the castle. 
I like the vines overgrowing it.  The Summer vegetation really adds
a pretty touch to the place.

Here is another close up shot of one of the little alcoves along the walls.
Not everything is neat and some stuff doesn't even look like it belongs there.
The childs shape shorter toy, the plastic basket and the Tidy Cat litter bucket for example.

Above is a pile of left over roof shingles by a flower bed.
The detail in this wall panel is quite pretty.  He has used all manner of tools
and geegaws to build this place and deck it out.

Gabe sitting down on the job. He is being silly.

Once you arrive at this point where all the beautiful blue glass bottles are in the wall you must turn
right to continue along the back of the Castle.

Above is a look at some of the castle ramparts.   He has got a lot of architectural work in this
thought it is very freestyle.    To the bottom right you can see little Gabe walking along.
The tall plants just ahead of him are a patch of Sweet corn.  Junior planted okra, corn and
other veggies in a little garden along here.  Very nice.

   The Castle sits on what I think is called a 'cape" or a piece of land that is open on three sides. 

This one looks like a slender finger of land jutting south toward Tellico Lake in the distance.

It does sit higher than the surrounding terrain.   It is built in a residential area, but most of what I saw around it are abandoned or very delapidated but occupied homes.   

Abandoned building that sits behind the garden area. Not sure what this was.  I will try to remember
to ask Junior on any future visits.

Above: a very old pear tree grew in the garden here.  It is a close up of the pears.
They are not ripe yet, but even when they are they will not be the pretty, cosmetically perfect pears like you see in grocery stores. 

 Above.. Kenny has met back up with us in the area near the blue bottles.  Look how he has to duck to enter this archway!

Junior has at least two mock up cannons in his yard.  I like this one. It is built
facing the point of the cape of land. If all this tangle of trees and weeds was not there
the terrain would be open to reveal it is protecting the high ground where the structure sits!
so in this way .. this cannon set up is how one would really be
set up to protect an actual fortification.  Seize the high ground!
Another question I did not ask that will have to wait for another visit: 
Was the area of trees and weeds ever clear and open?  

A better look at the cannon.  Piles of ammo nearby.    The enemy could not see you nor you them with all that brush in the way!

 A more open view of the rear courtyard of the Castle. it is a pretty spot.

On around the way you come to a gaol area.   Junior warned me not to let the manequin startle me.
He said he put it there to discourage teenage partiers and he leaves a light on inside at night
for the same reason.  He doesn't want visitors prowling round at night. Who could blame him?

Above is another little vignette area along the walls. It is tiled with pictures of cartoon characters.
The items in the garden bed below are also cartoon character figures and toys.

Another gate area that has watchful eyes and knights!

Another back courtyard area very overgrown with vegetation.

This is a mantle/fireplace area. It is in a room with an open ceiling at the back. 

Above:  Some blurbs about U Tube  and some "unknown" science.  

Fact check.  I don't know what is meant by "250 stories" relating to U tube. 

Maybe there is a U tube I am unaware of.A search of YouTube on the other hand did not 

reveal 250 videos  or stories about the Greenback Castle. It found about thirty three

videos relating to it.  It appears at least two of those are duplicates.  Many of them focus on 

the paranormal and hauntings that I consider utter nonsense.   A great number of them

are about Junior's faith in God and to me that negates the possibility of any force of 

evil.  Any place where a child of God loves and worships is not going to be grounds for

evil to exist or stick around.   Another question I plan to ask Junior on an subsequent visits:

Do you believe this place is haunted or evil?  

Should he answer yes I will ask him how that can be if it belongs to the Almighty as he told me it did.

  As for the buoyance and gravity being the same force. They are related, but they are NOT the same force.   One counter balances the other and when buoyancy is overcome by an objects weight.. gravity wins!   

Don't know whose idea that UP must exist for gravity to exist as of 11/17/17. 

This is another missive.  Gravity can act upon something in side to side attraction. Up doesn't have to exist first. 

The bit as of 4/18/18 about Down not existing... true that directions are human concepts created to make sense of our world, but beyond that I don't know what to say of it.  Out in the universe

directions do not exist in the same way as we use them on earth as frames of reference.

As for the blurb in the middle about the gravity equation--No.

Here is the equation for gravity  g = GM/r2

 The inscription on this frieze says "welcome to the real world" it is pretty funny. 

The round room where the spiral staircase is.

 Looking up in the top part of the rotunda

Floor of the rotunda is only partial. 

Kenny going back down the stairs from the round room.

The downstairs part of the rotunda. 

 Ceiling of the rotunda. Beautiful craftsmanship.

Stairs that spiral to the top.   

 One area along the back side of the Castle.  Gabe running in and out of doors exploring.  He is loving this spooky, quirky old place!

Looking up through the trees at the ramparts of one of the rotundas.  A pretty scene.   

This area along the back of the castle is the pet cemetery area. 

Above: row of headstones with names on them.   I did not ask what they are supposed to be, but Lynn Harrison calls it the Pet Cemetery.   That may be exactly, literally what it is. 

Along this back wall there are lots of detailed panels with rock work.    Each one is different.

Pet cemetery area continues with ledges and panels inlaid with stones and shells.

The most spooky panel at Pet Cemetery.. the skull and arrows panel. 

In one of the alcoves along the back wall is a sitting area with a chess game all laid out.

 The next alcove is like an altar area for praying.  It is very pretty.

The primary message of the Castle is a great one. 

One alcove along the back has glass insulators and a buddha head.   I want to ask Junior

why a Christian would display a graven image?  

    

 Back on the beautiful grassy front lawn at the Castle.  Jared, Gabe and Kenny 

The two rotundas are connected by a very rickety looking wooden bridge!  I don't know if I'd cross that or not.  

    All in all our visit to the Castle was fun and very interesting.  I am glad we went.   I feel like I missed several rooms in it though.  I want to return when it is just me so I can be more systematic and take my time.  It has far too much detail and the lay out is a little odd.   It lies on this cape less than two miles from Tellico Lake. 

Looking at it from satellite view it is simple shape. It forms a capital L with the long leg of the L toward the front away from the lake and the short leg of the L on the end toward the east.    Junior Banks has put a ton of effort into making his dream a reality.   I've never visited anywhere like it before.     My favorite crime/mystery show ever was the very first season of True Detective starring
Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey. It was set in rural Louisiana and was based on facts from two true crime stories.    It was like H.P. Lovecraft stories come to life on the screen or Ambrose Bierce.  It reminded me of the terrifying and bizarre plantation ruins in True Detective. I thought I'd found Carcosa when I was at Greenback Castle.  It is not scary to me, but it is delightfully weird!  

Above: the scene in True Detective where Rust Cohle and Martin Hart happen upon Carcosa while searching for the King in Yellow.. the serial killer. 

      I look forward to not only returning to the castle, but expanding my explorations in this vicinity.

I was checking out the maps and satellite views of this place when I realized how close it was to Sequoyah's Birth Place, Ft. Loudon historic park and a place seen on the map is McGhee Carson Peninsula State Historic Park.   I had never even heard of the last one. Doing some further digging

about that McGhee Carson state park I learned that it is an abandoned state park!  It is still owned by

the state of Tennessee, but it is used as food plots for wildlife now.  I'll go over there to see it for myself. 

Directions to Greenback Castle:
 From U.S. Hwy 411 go 3.5 miles north of the bridge over the Little Tennessee River and turn right (East) onto North Trigonia Road.  Drive 0.7 miles on Trigonia Rd and turn left onto Lee Shirley Rd.
Drive 0.2 miles and as you top a hill turn right into a gravel driveway.  There is a sign at the end painted saying "Castle~~>"  The castle is at the end of the driveway.
From Dollar General in Greenback it is 1 mile south on Hwy 411 to a LEFT turn onto North Trigonia Road.
Drive 0.7 miles and turn left onto Lee Shirley Rd. Drive 0.2 miles and turn right into a gravel driveway as you top the hill.

PLEASE follow directions carefully and check your Google maps before setting off. I have cleared these directions up to reflect North Trigonia Road. I made a mistake in the previous set and people were trying to drive on a residents farm use only road. My apologies.  Only trying to help, but I am fallible. 

No admission/  Bring along a donation for the box.
Hours: Ok to visit from 8:30 a.m. to dusk.  Ok to visit whether Mr. Banks is there or not per the man himself.