Valley Girl Views: Dane Castle, Strongstown Pa

Friday, August 2, 2019

Dane Castle, Strongstown Pa

Located about two hours west of the Central Susquehanna Valley, past Altoona,

at the corner of 403 and Fredericks Road in Strongstown Pa, sits 14th century style Norman Keep Castle.

GPS Coordinates 40.55963, -78.91763

Once a museum & private residence, we are unsure what the status of this property is currently. It is easily visible from the road, and signs direct you to the driveway around back, but there is nothing giving hours or details for the public. The website no longer exists. Mihalko passed away in 2021, at age 70 - I have no idea what the status of the castle is, but I would assume this is something you can only see in passing, from the road, at this time.

In the 1970's, Mike Mahalko was a professional wrestler for the World Wide Wrestling Foundation, known as "Iron Mike Mahalko, the Executioner". He said that when he retired, he wanted to build a castle in which to live happily ever after.

In 2001, he did just that. It took some time to convince someone to build it for him and his wife Cathy Homer, but on September 11 2002, they moved into the castle and christened it Dane Castle, after their love of Great Danes.

The date was no coincidence. "So many people lost their lives and dreams, we wanted to honor them with our dream coming true."
The castle is located less than an hour north of the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville Pa.

"Step back in time as you walk onto the drawbridge spanning a dry moat. You will be enchanted by a time of Knights and Princesses, Wizards and Dragons. Enter through the big double castle" - From the now defunct Dane Castle Website

In 2009, public tours were held for $5 a person, from April through November. But the website is now defunct and there is no sign that tours are still available at this time. The castle however, can be seen easily from the road, even if tours of the inside are no longer available.

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