Published: September 06, 2009 12:09 am      

For Strongstown couple, medieval dream becomes reality

STRONGSTOWN — If you have a dream, go for it and make it a reality.

That’s exactly what Cathy Homer and her husband, Mike Mahalko, did when they decided – despite some people calling them crazy – to build a medieval castle and call it home.

The couple broke ground on their early 14th century style Norman keep castle in July 2001, but the idea to build the structure came about in the late 1970s when the duo started collecting medieval weapons.

“We were always out at flea markets and antique shops looking for weapons,” Homer said.

But the ever-growing collection started to overtake their Nanty Glo mobile home, and they needed a bigger place to store their artifacts.

Homer said her husband was a WWF professional wrester and told her when he retired he wanted to build a castle in which to live happily ever.

“At the time we also were traveling from Renaissance fair to Renaissance fair and it started not be to fun anymore,” she said.

“We decided to build something where people would have to come to us, and nothing short of a castle would do.”

It wasn’t easy to secure funding or find someone to build the castle, but eventually it all came together. So with funds in place, architectural drawlings in hand and contractor Walter Lorek, owner of Oakridge Construction in Salix, ready to take on the job, the project was ready to begin.

Fourteen months later they moved into the castle – which they christened Dane Castle after their love of great Danes ­

– on Sept. 11, 2002.

That date was chosen for a reason.

“So many people lost their lives and dreams on Sept. 11, 2001, so we wanted to honor them with our dream coming true,” Homer said.

Upon entering the large double doors, you find yourself in the Great Hall and instantly feel as though you’ve been transported back in time.

In the room you’ll find hundreds of weapons lining the walls, suits of armor, chain mail, shields, medieval art and king and queen thrones. In the center of the room is a long rectangular dining table that can seat 40 people. Standing guard in the hall is Isis, a 5-foot tall blue dragon.

Homer decided to open the castle to tours and gatherings, such as weddings and private parties, and has had visitors from around world.

“We also have school groups come through to learn about medieval history,” she said. “We are offering living history here.”

Because the couple live in the lower level part of the castle, they ask all tours be pre-scheduled.

Tours are $5 per person and run from April through November.

Homer said they often hold jousting tournaments, and on weekends it’s not uncommon to find guests in medieval costumes creating armor and chain mail and wandering the couple’s 12 acres of land playing music.

“We call them our Dane family,” she said.

When castle business isn’t keeping them busy, the couple run Majestic Mountain Great Dane Rescue and work to find homes for unwanted dogs. They currently have two great Danes.

One is Doogie, a 3-year-old male who stands six feet tall and weighs 165 pounds. Homer affectionally calls Doogie as her “gentle giant.”

“We used to show and breed great Danes, but it became sad because we’d see so many unwanted dogs and we didn’t want to contribute to the problem,” Homer said. “Everyone wants a puppy, but after a year people don’t seem to realize how big they get.”

Since they started the rescue in 1978, more than 200 great Danes have been placed in caring homes.

Homer said when school tours come to the castle, she’ll also tell them about the great Dane, which was designated as the state dog on Aug. 17, 1965.

“You get medieval history and history on the great Dane,” she said.

For more information on Dane Castle or Majestic Mountain Great Dane Rescue, contact www.danecastle.com. or 749-7341.