Castle Ladyhawke

Written By: Shayna Bigazzi | Issue: 2020/09 – September

Once upon a time, there was a girl, and this girl had a very big dream. 

She dreamed of herself walking through a castle. Over and over this dream occupied her nights. She would wake each morning with a clear memory of all she saw in slumber. She knew she was destined to not just walk the halls of this special place but to also call it home.

What she did not realize, as she dreamed of this magical home, was that her dream would go on to fulfill the dreams of so many others as well. Into adulthood, her dreams remained. 

Douglas H. Everett said it best, “There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other.” 

And, after a trip to Scotland, where she visited numerous border castles and manors, she set her sights on making her dream just that, a reality!

Luckily, she grew up in a family of land developers and had the know-how to set her plan into motion. 

From the start, she had a clear vision for how the castle of her dreams would look. Like any true Scottish border castle, it would combine “fortification and residence.”

Despite knowing exactly what she wanted, many of the architects she worked with did not share her vision. In fact, she hired and fired three different architects before deciding to be her own architect with an engineer consulting for structural elements.  

The result is Castle Ladyhawke, a 10,000-square-foot castle with 30-inch stone walls, three stories, multiple terraces and balconies and a large deck with daydream-inducing views of the Tuskasegee River Valley. 

Many say its soaring tower is the heart and soul of this structure. It’s impossible to deny how impressive it is, and the dizzying internal wooden staircase really is a showstopper. 

But I’m partial to the views from the king bed in the master suite!

Construction of Castle Ladyhawke wrapped in 2005 and the estate acted as a residence for the first part of its life. However, after a while, the owners decided to relocate and open their (salvaged European church) doors to couples wishing to make their own dreams come true with a castle wedding. 

And did they ever! The castle quickly won accolade after accolade as couples shared their praise for this unique and special wedding venue. 

But, it fell into disuse after winning the hearts of so many.

Enter Bear Lake Reserve, who purchased this “Jewel of Western North Carolina” last year with a mission to bring it back to its former glory – and then some! 

The soaring ceilings of the great hall with its oversized stone fireplace, exposed beams (with their own scandalous local legend), and romantic salvaged stained glass, is enough to make any couple lose themselves in fantasy. 

Add to this the amenities and hospitality of Bear Lake Reserve as well as catering from Library Kitchen’s Chef Johannes Klapdohr and you have the most exciting and distinctive venue in all the land. 

Where one girl’s dream can become your Happily Ever After!