Memories flow with demolition of Layton castle
The castle hosted many events and weddings. It was demolished by a new owner, who hopes to initiate construction of a small retail area in the next few months.
Ellie McDonald, 7, steps into Cinderella's carriage with her family to take a ride during the 3rd Annual HopeKids Grand Princess Ball at The Castle in Layton on Wednesday, August 1, 2012. (KERA WILLIAMS/ Standard-Examiner)
The castle hosted many events and weddings. It was demolished by a new owner, who hopes to initiate construction of a small retail area in the next few months.
The castle hosted many events and weddings. It was demolished by a new owner, who hopes to initiate construction of a small retail area in the next few months.
Musician Kurt Bestor performs during a fundraiser for the Davis Arts Council at the Layton Castle Thursday, September 28, 2006. (Standard Examiner Photo/ Robert Johnson)
LAYTON – Franki Galbraith had such an emotional attachment to a local wedding/reception center that she and a friend contemplated dressing up and having their pictures taken in front of the place one more time, even though the structure had been torn down.
Galbraith, a resident of Riverdale, was married 11 years ago at the former Castlebrook facility on Antelope Drive. Last week, the former wedding/reception center was torn down to make way for a new small retail development. Three new buildings will be built on the two-acre location to accommodate four new retail companies, according to the property owners.
“It’s sad they couldn’t make it work. From the beginning I always wanted to be married there. It was such a gorgeous building,” Galbraith said of the local center.
Her reaction was similar to Chantal Fitzpatrick, who also exchanged wedding vows on the property 11 years ago.
“I won’t be able to show my kids where we got married. I’m not really surprised since it’s been owned by several different people at this point. I know business wasn’t great,” Fitzpatrick said.
Brandon Rypien, a Layton City planner, also felt bonds to the facility since he had his reception in the facility in 2005. He wanted a brick from the structure and had even thought about asking the developer for the bridge, where he and his bride had photos taken following their nuptials.
TerraForm Companies purchased the facility in June of this year from D & EP LLC. Elliott Smith, one of the owners, declined to say why previous owners had failed to make the center financial viable. There were six different owners of the property since the former Harris farm was purchased for development in 1989, a property search shows.
Smith described much of the facility as being “functionally obsolescent.” He said he expected an emotional reaction to the facility coming down, because of its ties for many couples in the region. He said at one point they considered opening access to bricks and materials from the structure as mementos, but opted not to.
He said some people have called and purchased bricks or other memorabilia and said others have simply stolen them.
When demolition of the property, located at 930 West Antelope Drive, is complete, Smith said crews hope to get the foundations on two of the three anticipated buildings on the site in place before the ground freezes.
Besides hosting weddings and receptions, the center was also the meeting place for the Layton Rotary Club, which met on the side weekly for years.
Haven Barlow, former president of the local club, also lamented the facility didn’t make it.
“It was such a beautiful building. It’s a darn shame they had to tear it down,” Barlow said.
