The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Elda Castle, originally built by David T. Abercrombie, has a history marked by tragedy and abandonment. After Abercrombie's death, the property changed hands multiple times, with owners attempting renovations for various purposes like a paint factory or research firm, but these efforts often failed due to unexpected costs or disasters like fires. The castle's most recent owners also recently died, leaving the property in limbo.
“What would follow is a place of tragedy and death. I'm Glydal Go and this is Atlas of Scara. Celebrating the world's strange, incredible, and wondrous places. Today, author and Ossining town historian, Caroline Curvin, and I unpack the story of how a castle ended up in the upstate New York woods, and how a wealthy family's dream home was struck by subsequent tragedies and ultimately abandoned.”
“The first owner to buy the property used the estate for something far different than a family home. A paint factory. Due to the combustible chemicals, eventually, a fire occurred. The first of many. Buy, plan, sell. Buy, plan, sell. This is Elda's infinite cycle. Various owners bought the property, hoping to restore it for their own purposes or facilities, but fall flat due to the unexpected costs, due to how expensive it is to renovate.”
“Tragically, the buyer recently died, leaving the property to their family. Predictably, it has yet to be restored. This castle has always been like at a stalemate with itself. It's a little cursed. Yeah, it's a little cursed.”