28 April 2023 , 19:29
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An a bandoned castle with a dark past and links to eccentric millionaire Prince Mongo has been uncovered.
Ashlar Hall is a mock castle in Memphis, Tennessee, US, and is sometimes referred to as Prince Mongo’s Castle after being built by Robert Brinkley Snowden.
It is the property of an eccentric millionaire who called himself a prince after installing a restaurant, a nightclub and eventually a non-profit residence for military veterans.
Images show the imitation castle complete with turrets, stained glass windows and multiple arch ways.
The photographs were captured by urban explorer Leland Kent known online as Abandoned Southeast in Memphis, Tennessee, US.
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Ashlars Hall is complete with turrets (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)When Robert Snowden graduated from Princeton in 1890, he decided to return to his hometown to design and construct his family estate.
Mr Snowden, a prominent real estate developer, completed Ashlar Hall in 1896.
The 11,000-square-foot home has two floors with eight rooms plus a full basement and a large attic with servants’ quarters and stained-glass windows imported from Italy.
An old movie player left behind (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)An irregularly shaped swimming pool was once located outside, southwest of the house.
The final cost for construction was around $25,000, roughly equivalent to $725,000 today.
At the time, the Snowden property stretched for 3,000 acres, well into the state of Mississippi.
Eccentric Memphis millionaire, Robert “Prince Mongo” Hodges, purchased Ashlar Hall in 1990 and he really stormed the castle.
There are many rooms in the castle (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)Robert Hodges, more commonly known by his self-styled moniker Prince Mongo, is an American entrepreneur and minor local political personality in Memphis, Tennessee, who has continuously run for Mayor of Memphis and occasionally for Mayor of Shelby County since the 1970s.
He tends to be known locally for his eccentric personality.
Though much of his life remains unknown, he claims to have been born on the planet 'Zambodia' and is their ambassador on earth, apparently he is around 333 years ago.
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Stairwells are illuminated with large windows (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)Mr Snowdown claims that he was "sent by the Zambodian spirits" to "save the City of Memphis" and "protect it from natural disasters."
He always wears steampunk goggles and a long white wig in public, usually accompanied by flamboyant clothing. His reasoning for his seemingly odd appearance is that he just "damn well wants to."
However, Mr Snowdown first got attention after putting garbage-themed art on his lawn at his Central Gardens home.
A covered patio area at the property (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)He decided to run for mayor of Shelby County, Tennessee, and since 1979, ran for mayor of Memphis, Tennessee but has not performed well.
Mongo owned Ashlar Hall in the 1990s and turned it into a nightclub. During this time the building received the nickname "Prince Mongo's Castle."
"The Snowden family was considered Memphis royalty by the early 1900s and Brinkley Snowden was considered one of the premier real estate developers,” said Leland Kent on his blog.
Inside is grand and completed to an impeccable standard (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)The mansion was named Ashlar Hall due to it being almost entirely constructed of Ashlar Stone which was brought to town on barges.
Robert Brinkley Snowden lived in Ashlar Hall until he died in 1942.
The property was sold after the death of his wife in 1957. By the 1960s, the bedrooms had been transformed into dining rooms and the mansion was being used as a restaurant.
Graffiti is marked throughout the building (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)The front lawn was even paved to provide additional parking. Ashlar Hall was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
"During the 1990s, Prince Mongo turned Ashlar Hall into a local late-night hangout called The Castle nightclub," according to Leland Kent.
"The advertisements of cheap beer and wet t-shirt contests lured in patrons by the dozen. The nightclub became notorious for serving alcohol to minors.
“Two teenagers were killed in a drunk driving accident in 1992 after leaving The Castle."
There are high ceilings and detailed décor throughout (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)Hodges claimed he is innocent of any wrongdoing and no charges were ever filed.
He was able to get by many city infractions by putting the business in his employee’s name and just owning the property. Hodges claimed he only collected rent as an absentee landlord.
With pressure from neighbouring residents, the fire marshal changed the occupancy at The Castle from 451 to 88.
Large windows are topped with stained glass (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)The next day, the club was shut down due to over occupancy.
In response, Prince Mongo had 800 tons of sand dumped in the parking lot and moved the party outdoors to get around the fire marshal’s order. On occasion, Hodges would stand on the roof of The Castle and howl at the moon.
Once The Castle closed, Ashlar Hall sat vacant for several years. Due to mounting city code violations, Prince Mongo gave away the property to a close friend who supposedly operated a non-profit for veterans.
A sign marks the hours that the Castle will be open for pool and patio and for the nightclub (mediadrumimages/Leland Kent)"Urban Renaissance Initiative acquired Ashlar Hall through a quitclaim deed from Robert Hodges in 2013," said Leland.
“The new owner hired a contractor who removed restaurant equipment still owned by Prince Mongo, and pieces of copper that were a part of the roof and original stonework to sell."
These items were never recovered. A warrant was later issued for the contractor’s arrest in 2015.
In November 2018, media outlets reported the new owner, Juan Montoya, had made progress in repairing the building.
"He believed the entire renovation might require as much as $400,000, after which the property could be used as an event or office space," added Leland.
“In April 2019, Ashlar Hall served as the venue for the production “Rites of Spring” by Memphis theatrical group Lost In Found.”