On a sunny October afternoon in Greenback, a motorhome pulls up to its destination on Lee Shirley Road. Three travelers from Wisconsin emerge to have a look around. It’s not long before others drive up, park and begin to satisfy their curiosity of just what exactly they are getting themselves into on this Monday.
“Welcome to Greenback Castle,” says the greeter, who turns out to be the sole proprietor of the place. He gathers a few visitors around him at the entrance. “I started building this place when I was 47,” he tells them. “I’m 80 now. Go ahead, have a look around,” he bids them. And they are off. No fee required.
Floyd “Junior” Banks grew up on property nearby, earning a living building houses, he said, and farming. He decided to start building this attention-grabber as a way to do just that — attract the ladies. But somewhere along the line, Banks said God took over his plans, instructing him to build what he now calls the Fortress of Faith — with a prophetic purpose.
Materials in the construction include mostly recycled materials he obtained as U.S. Highway 411 was being widened and buildings torn down. He would go to the sites in the wee hours before workers had time to bury the debris, he said, bringing it back one pickup load at a time.
Over the years, Banks said God has revealed messages he wants the world to hear. One one wall of the castle, Banks has painted around an image he said just appeared there. He says it’s clearly the Pale Horseman, the fourth of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. “He’s here on earth,” Banks said of the Fourth Horseman. “He’s here on earth to announce the end times are upon us. This is real.”
High on one wall is a painted yellow frame with what looks like sun bursts shooting out. Banks said a closer look reveals a portrait of Jesus imbedded in the concrete. His brother’s face is there too, Banks said. “I paint around the faces to let other people see them,” he said. “At the bottom is an image of Christ. See the concerned look on his face. He is concerned and a little bit angry. He is fed up with this world.”
On other walls, Banks sees images of his father and grandfather. There’s also one of Sam Houston, he said, which he has also outlined in paint. Banks said Houston is a sixth cousin and that he possibly came through this very property while living among Native Americans.
Music videos have been made here. Just recently, two paranormal investigators came to the castle and filmed a documentary for Netflix, called “Sam and Colby: Paranormal Investigators.” Banks, who doesn’t have internet, said he’s not seen it. The two featured in the film come to the castle at midnight to see if there is any ghostly goings-on. They attempt to contact Banks’ brother, Randall, who died in a car crash decades ago. After his death, Banks began this building, in 1993. There are more than 30 rooms.
There is a room upstairs in the castle where the two investigators perform a ritual and try to take photographs of what they can’t see. Banks said no paranormal investigators have ever stayed the entire night, but he said they all “just make stuff up.” But Banks also points out that he doesn’t come here at night either. No visitors allowed at night states the signage.
Numerous crosses are painted on the walls. “Jesus is King” is spelled out in golfballs. Arrowheads are encased in concrete. Marbles and seashells make for interesting art everywhere. Beer bottles have been used to make an archway wall; Banks said the bottles are courtesy of his many girlfriends.
Out back is a pet cemetery. Banks said people used to dump stray animals on his property. He would take them in and nurture them back to health. “They were spoiled,” he said. Each now has a resting place here, complete with headstones.
For eight or more hours each day, Banks makes the short trek to the castle to greet whoever shows up. He might show them a card trick or make the castle rounds at their side, pointing out where the images appear on walls. He said he used his thumbprint to smooth the grooves in the brickwork. Floors are made of pieces of tile. Many of the rooms have no roof. He has done it all himself.
“If you see a measuring tape, someone else dropped it,” Banks said. “If you are building God’s building, you don’t have to measure.”
In one room, Banks has a display of the many newspaper and magazine articles written over the years. There is one about him donating thousands of Native American artifacts to area museums. He found cannonballs on site, too, he said and also donated one of them.
Banks’ brother made him a chess set out of marble before he died. It is displayed in a room where the paranormal investigators spent time to measure activity using special monitors. Banks said he never learned to play chess; as for Randal’s spirit lingering in this place, he wouldn’t say. He’s more interested in telling the castle’s story of the end of days. There are lots of painted signs Banks has displayed, words of wisdom, he said. “This isn’t meant to scare people,” he explained.
Decorative walkways featuring forks in the road and concrete with leaf impressions are part of this experience. There’s a jail room, with fireplace inside. Banks built a castle within a castle in one corner of another room. Most of the rooms have no electricity.
He and another man, Fred Scruton, wrote a book about the castle in 2024. He’s received visits from Russians, government officials and people living in the area. It all comes to about 7,000 curious adventure seekers per year.
Despite failing eyesight, Banks continues on, adding to his fortress as building materials are found and donated. He’s been given real headstones that are on full display. Because he feels led by God to bring this place into existence, he carries on. He calls himself The Castleman.
“Im afraid to quit,” he said.
