WLM | home
‘Me too! I’m looking forward to it - I love snow.’ Later he found out that I
was the owner of the house and he apologized to me.”
Owning a construction company with Deon’s level of expertise certainly
had its advantages when it came to building the home. His company that he
owns with his brother, Continental Construction Company, creates “timeless
structures that we design and build … landmarks … structures that will
stand the test of time,” Deon reports. This castle, however, was a special
project for him. “There was one man that wanted {us to build a castle} but
the height limit in his area was 35 feet,” Deon explains. “You can’t build a
castle and keep it under a hundred feet.”
The first question our editor, Kati Hime, had, and many readers may share –
who cleans this castle? The answer – Deon’s wife of almost 40 years, Cheryl,
a Canadian native who raised their five children (with two sets of twins!) in
the castle with her husband who does it all with no housekeeping staff. “Our
oldest was ten when we moved in,” Deon says. “I made three of the girls share
a room so that they would learn to love each other. They still do – I’d say it
worked!” The children grew up sledding down the mountain, snowmobiling,
snowboarding and skiing. Now the couples’ nine grandchildren enjoy the
castle, which includes nearly a mile of tunnels. Future plans for the home
include completion of the moat that surrounds the house, and the addition of
an indoor swimming pool. “We just add to it a bit at a time,” Deon says.
I asked Cheryl if their children were treated any differently growing up
because they lived in a castle; she replied that she didn’t think so. Curious
friends visited, certainly, but “…we are just a normal family,” Cheryl adds.
The family is also visited by the abundance of wildlife around the home. “We
have moose that lay in the yard. They’ll chase us off! Cats, everything – cats
are a lot more dangerous than bears. Bears are afraid of people around here,”
Deon explains. An avid nature lover and hunter, Deon’s collection of trophies
throughout the home include stunning animals from Labrador and Greenland,
and the largest collection of mule deer trophies in the world. While Deon
professes his trophies aren’t Cheryl’s favorite items in the home, Cheryl adds
that she doesn’t mind – but that they aren’t in all the rooms of the home.
Deon’s hobbies also include aviation, a popular Star Valley pastime, and
a private air strip can be seen in the valley from the castle. Of course, one
already has such a high, panoramic view of the area that it doesn’t take much
imagination to picture the view from an airplane. The tallest turret, with 360
degree views, makes you feel as if you’re sitting on top of the world. “Sitting
up here in a thunderstorm is an incredible experience,” Deon says. “It’s
something to be able to look down on the lightni