Exclusive: Midtown Atlanta’s ‘Castle’ to open with new restaurant

High on a hill, across 15th Street from the Woodruff Arts Center, sits a mysterious Victorian home. Nestled between high-rises, the stately mansion seems out of place in its current setting, but not unpleasantly so.

Fort Peace, as the five-story building is also known, was built as the personal home of eccentric businessman Ferdinand Dallas McMillan, who desired a house both "individual and peculiar.” Through the years, it’s been neglected and threatened with demolition; Mayor Andrew Young went so far as to refer to it as "a hunk of junk" in the 1980s.

Now, it seems, a new bar “Rose & Rye” could soon open in the revived landmark.

The opening would be a welcome change for the house, which has been off limits for years, save for the occasional tour. Plans for a bar, restaurant, and private club have been in the works for nearly a decade.

While a pop-up bar called HAUS had a brief stint at the property in 2015, there’s been nothing but radio silence (and no permit filings) since.

However, a liquor license was approved by the city in June, indicating that owner Bryan "Mike" Latham may be moving toward an opening. We have reached out to those associated with the building for comment, and will update with news when it becomes available.

For those who can’t wait to find out more, curious Atlantans will get a chance to venture inside the establishment next month as part of the inaugural Open House Atlanta event.

More information will be revealed soon about the festival, which will open up more than 40 buildings for the public to tour next week.

• Photos: Midtown Castle Ambles Toward Life as Private Club [Curbed Atlanta]