A Kentucky landmark castle that remained vacant for three decades has been destroyed by fire. The blaze broke out around 8:40 Monday night at the castle on Versailles Road outside Lexington. WAVE 3's Eric Flack reports.
The glow from the flames could be seen for several miles and most of the structure literally burned to the ground. The smell of smoke filled the air in Lexington, 10 miles away. Traffic was backed up for several miles as hundreds of onlookers stopped to watch the structure go up in flames.
Firefighters from several agencies responded to the blaze. Debris was thrown as far as a quarter-mile away as many of the inner towers collapsed.
Inside the castle wall, much of the house had collapsed. Woodford County Fire Chief Bennie Green said the cause was unknown and the investigation would continue Tuesday. No one was injured. Green said it was difficult to get water to the blaze because of ditches that had been dug as part of a renovation.
The structure was built nearly 30 years ago by a wealthy developer named Rex Martin. Historians say he bought 50 acres and had the castle constructed for his wife, Caroline, after a trip to Europe. But they were divorced before it was finished and it sat vacant for decades.
Miami attorney and UK graduate Thomas Post bought the castle for $1.8 million in November and renamed it The Castle Farm of Thomas R. Post. He and his wife were planning to renovate the building and convert it into a bed and breakfast. We'll have the latest coming up on WAVE 3 News.
