GLADBROOK- Since 2003 Gladbrook, Iowa, has been a tourist destination thanks to the painstaking work of one man. He works with wood, but rather than starting with a huge chunk and whittling it down, he starts small and ends with something enormous.

Pat Acton started gluing matchsticks together when he was 23. The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is model number 61.

"I had all these winter days with no money and nothing to do. So I began making little buildings out of matchstick models and now 30 years later I'm making big buildings out of matchstick models," said Acton.

The Hogwarts Castle took about 600,000 matchsticks and more than two years to finish.

"I spend hours and hours, usually over 1,000 hours a year in my shop actually building models," said Acton.

Acton builds the large models in his home workshop. He makes them in pieces so they're easier to move.

But the newest addition to the Matchstick Marvels museum won't be in Iowa long.

"Originally they wanted to buy the entire collection I said no," said Acton.

Investors from the United Kingdom are buying Hogwarts for a museum in Spain.

"I tell people they wanted it worse than I did," he said.

The other creations on display at the museum include a soaring eagle, a space ship, a cathedral, and the U.S. Capitol. There are nearly 20 models for visitors to view.

"This isn't a career, this is my hobby gone wild."

By day, Acton works as a job counselor, but these masterpieces make him an artist.

"I tell people it keeps me out of housework -- I have to be in the shop honey, can't help."

With the castle selling for more than a dime per stick, his wife has come to accept that excuse. Acton isn't disclosing the exact amount- but we did the math and know he'll make at least $60,000 for the Hogwarts castle.

Your last chance to see the castle in person is now until it heads to Spain in December.

The Matchstick Marvels Museum in Gladbrook is open daily from 1 to 5 p.m.

Email Beth Malicki at Beth.Malicki@kcrg.com