Winter mode. Building stained glass windows, solid hardwood doors, hardwood stairs, and cabinets as winter snows pile up outside.
Construction on Castle Kataryna. Tons of snow outside with great skiing as we work on the interior of Castle Kataryna
Construction on Castle Von Frandsen. Another level was added to castle Von Frandsen before winter snows rolled in and shut us down for the winter just before Thanksgiving.
Construction on Castle Kataryna. Weather has begun to cool and it will be time to head back to castle Von Frandsen mid-September.
Construction on Castle Kataryna.
Construction on Castle Von Frandsen. Winter snowfalls lasted until May 7. Then we went directly to sunny summer.
Construction continues on Castle Von Frandsen. Summer building and boating season is just around the corner on Lake Pend Oreille. Still winter and ten feet of snow at Schweitzer's Castle Kataryna.
Construction continues on Castle Von Frandsen through the summer.
Construction continues on Castle Von Frandsen & Castle Kataryna through the winter.
Construction continues on Castle Von Frandsen & Castle Kataryna through the winter.
Constructing Castle Von Frandsen & Castle Kataryna this fall & winter.
Constructing great hall for castle.
Constructing the top stone battlements for castle.
Big winter mode tent being removed from castle site in preparation for summer construction.
Still in winter mode. Lotsa snow for the beginning of March. We are looking forward to summer when we can take the tarps off and see outside again.
Work continues on castle hidden under the big tent for winter.
Winter mode. December snowstorms have given away to January sunshine again.
Work continues on castle hidden under the big tent for winter.
Winter mode. Just a bit of light snow and lots of sun so far this winter for northern Idaho.
First real snowstorm arrived on December 12 with one to two feet of snow for the northern mountains. Clear & cold now.
White Christmas for Sandpoint again.
Ten stone arches built for castle.
CastleMagic goes YouTube.
The summer building rush ran into the fall rush of getting ready for winter snow.
Castle beginning to taking shape and more work on the grand dining room for Callice de Lago.
Stones delivered for new castle.
Stones and more stones.
Spring has begun in the northwest states.
.
Another perfect snowy December followed by sun & snow for January in northern Idaho.
Inside work time.
Snowy on the mountain and in the valleys now. Another magical winter.
Clear and cool on the mountain now. Winter mode as the castle towers are now heated to keep the mortar from freezing.
The quarying and splitting of 300 tons of perfect stones for new castle began in late October.
Snow began to fall on the mountain tops on September 20. By October 1, the snow level had dropped to just above the ski village at Schweitzer. Snow reached Kataryna on Oct 3. Appears it will be a great snow year for the Schweitzer Mountain Resort.
Forrest Bird's new aviation and invention museum is open on Lake Pend Oreille just east of Sandpoint in the northern panhandle of Idaho. A must see for everyone of all ages.
New tower for Kataryna. Still warm and sunny. Calm.
Castle building on the lake. Warm and sunny. Calm.
Stone by stone, the towers continue to rise. Warm and sunny. Calm.
Stone by stone, the towers rise. Warm and sunny. Calm.
Big news for Schweitzer this year: two new chairlifts.
Warm and sunny. Calm.
Warm and sunny for the start of April here. The castle stones are being stacked now.
In like a lion, out like a lamb. March began with three feet of new snow in the first few days, and then went straight to warm spring days and sunshine.
Our winter storms have shifted to the east now as the sun shines almost everyday on the mountains here.
Inside work while the snow piles up. While the east waited for winter, northern Idaho has had the best winter ever, which began full force in November. Clear and cold now. With 300 tons of stone ready to be placed, we are already anticipating a record building season come spring.
Winter construction mode. Inside work.
Winter construction mode. We have 100 tons of rock buried by six feet of snow.
First snowfall in the mountains of Northern Idaho.
Another perfect Indian summer in Northern Idaho.
We were treated to another perfect summer in Northern Idaho.
Castle von Frandsen continues to grow. May be viewed only from the water when the summer boating season begins in June.
Macrh began with spring sunshine and cool temps...and then winter rolled right back in bringing the snowpack at Kataryna
to fourteen feet. The skiers are in heaven here. The storms also dumped 10 inches of snow at Castle von Frandsen. The building kept
going as we were all working inside of the big tent. Sun and spring returned by the 18th of March.
Thanks so much for the many requests for us to get the photos updated.
Macrh began with spring sunshine and cool temps as the construction march is on. Still ten+ feet of
snow at Kataryna, while the snow has melted at Castle von Frandsen.
Castle von Frandsen's medieval towers once again rising up as hints of an early spring prompt an early start to the
construction season.
Interior work on Castle von Frandsen's stone cottage continues as the snow piles up outside now.
The snow is ten feet deep at Castle Kataryna now.
The Big Build again on December 8th, History Channel 12 noon & 6 PM.
Winter wonderland in northern Idaho now.
Missed The Big Build ? Click here
to purchase the DVD, a historical and humorous look at building a castle tower.
Snow arrived in the mountains on October 26th. Under construction for the winter will be Castle von Frandsen, a great hall, and a stone cottage.
Buzy getting as much construction done before the snow arrives. So far,
it has been a great indian summer here. Mild and calm with lots of sun.
History tower
The Big Build premier is set for November 21.
Actuality Productions visited last April to film a castle tower built.
Here is the what became of the filming:
The Big Build
The Castle Tower
Premieres: Monday, November 21, 2005 @ 11pm ET/PT
History Channel
The Big Build's host, Nick Nystrom, lands in Northern Idaho to erect a 2-story medieval castle tower. Nick and
CastleMagic builder Roger DeClements have two weeks to turn the earth's materials of stone, wood, and a bit of modern
reinforcements such as steel to build a 24 foot tower (weather permitting). Will Nick be able to relax and gaze upon the
stars from atop the tower before "reveal" day? Will Northern Idaho's weather cooperate? And will Nick finally be able to
present the tower on reveal day? TVPG cc
Cool fall weather on the way.
New granite castle stones available now.
Three towers now under construction at Castle von Frandsen.
Work has resumed on the History tower as another two floors are being added. Backfilling is underway at Castle von Frandsen.
Back to castle building and sunshine. Current project underway is a thirty foot diameter castle tower.
"Twas the month of The Big Build castle tower built in two weeks. Many thanks to Blackmores Night, Hester Excavating, Actuality Productions, 2nd Avenue Pizza, Evergreen RV, Lake Pre-Mix, and Joe Jones and the crew.
The winter snows melted early this year. Within a week, we will be starting up again for another season of castle building. We spent the winter building the dock and crafting out of black walnut to be used in the towers of Castle von Frandsen this summer. We were able to break away for a few days and catch Blackmores Night on their west coast tour. Can't wait for their next concert.
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