James "Jim" Roland Bishop, the Coloradan who built Bishop Castle, died early Thursday at 80 years old, his family announced on Facebook.Bishop spent 44 years of his life building a castle located along State Highway 165 in the Rye area that is now a staple of Colorado's history. In 1971, it began as a 40-foot metal cylinder encased in stone. By 1972, Bishop was determined to build his castle and the project took shape, changing and continuing to grow through the years. The castle features a fire-breathing dragon of stone and metal. Inside are three stories of interior rooms and soaring towers. It also has views of the San Isabel National Forest. Bishop never charged visitors to visit the castle. By the time the architectural feat was finished, Bishop had dedicated 44 years of his life building it. At 79, he told Denver7 he was ready for his next adventure: exploring our beautiful state. That included Rocky Mountain National Park, which he had never visited before. But he was in need of an adaptive wheelchair to do so. Denver7 Gives helped him reach this accomplishment. Our viewers raised enough money to cover not just one, but two adaptive wheelchairs. Bishop would have one and a local nonprofit called Always Choose Adventures would keep the other and lend it to anybody in need, free of charge. Thank you very much, Bishop said. It feels like freedom.In August 2023, he visited RMNP for the first time. On Thursday, Bishop was surrounded by loved ones in Pueblo when he died, the Bishop family said on Facebook. Funeral and memorial services will be announced at a later date.Fans of Bishop Castle are starting to share memorial tributes to him and his work of art on social media in the Discover Colorado | Through Your Photos group on Facebook.