Welcome To The Castle Tea Room
For over half a century, the grand Romanesque home standing at the southwest corner of Massachusetts and 13th Streets in Lawrence, Kansas has been known as the Castle Tea Room. Over the years, this elegant landmark has hosted innumerable weddings, rehearsal dinners, Christmas parties, engagement dinners and celebrations. The specter of so many personal histories living within the walls of the Castle would make it noteworthy, but the building has had a fascinating history of its own since its completion in 1894.
Designed by noted Kansas architect, John Haskell, the Castle was built as the home of General John Roberts just prior to the beginning of the Twentieth Century. The craftsmanship in the construction of this venerable home is superb, and the Castle is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cut stone mansion, virtually unchanged since its construction, features extensive custom woodwork and stained glass windows.
This grand home has had several owners, but the last owner, Libby Kriz-Fiorito had something special in mind for this splendid residence. In 1947, she opened a restaurant named the Castle Tea Room, which she operated until the time of her death in 2004. However, Libby wanted this beautiful building to continue to support the kind of special celebrations which she oversaw for so many years. Before her death in 2004, she established the Libuse Kriz-Fiorito Historical Foundation with the mission of preserving the physical and historic fabric of the castle and of insuring that the castle would remain open for public use and enjoyment.
The Castle Tea Room has recently undergone an extensive renovation and restoration and is again open to the public by reservation for special events and meetings. Whether your need is for a wedding, reception, rehearsal dinner, party, or business meeting; the elegant rooms of the Castle and it's outdoor patio can provide your guests with the historic atmosphere and service that you demand. Please review our Reservations page to see how you can incorporate the Castle experience into your next event.