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Redstone Castle to reopen in spring

Dennis WebbGlenwood Springs correspondent
The Redstone Castle was auctioned off to Ralli Dimitrius in 2005. He hopes to open the historic landmark to visitors in the spring. (Kara K. Pearson/Post Independent)
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REDSTONE – It will be a warm day in Redstone before its castle reopens to the public.Ralli Dimitrius, the new owner of the historic property, said delays in getting a boiler serviced mean the castle won’t be open to tours until spring. He also hopes to begin taking overnight guests when the weather warms.He said difficulties in getting a subcontractor to look at the castle boiler are preventing him from opening up for business sooner.”If we don’t have heat and hot water there’s not much comfort there for tours,” he said.Still, news that the castle could reopen later this year should come as welcome news to Redstone business owners. Lisa Wagner, owner of Crystal Dreams Bed & Breakfast, hopes the castle plans come to pass for the sake of the hamlet’s economy.”It will be a boost because it’s one other thing that Redstone has to offer here,” she said.Dimitrius, a part-time Aspenite, made the winning $4 million bid for the castle in a federal auction last March. The Internal Revenue Service took possession of the castle in 2003 as part of an investigation into a $56 million investment scam by the former owners. Proceeds from the castle sale went toward a restitution fund for victims.Coal baron John C. Osgood built the 42-room castle at the start of the 20th century.It was closed to tours last summer, and hasn’t been open to the public for several winters. Because the boiler has been out of service for a few years, Dimitrius needs to have it looked at and possibly updated before it can be used, he said.But even castle owners can have troubles lining up repairmen. Dimitrius said his boiler contractor “hasn’t been able to make it because of his busy schedule.””He’s coming in April, so we’re kind of sitting still until then,” he said.He said he has people working at the castle every day, but because of the cold they’ve been limited to doing things such as visual inspections. Still, he’s generally happy with the state of the castle.”The building is ready. It’s in top condition. Everything is clean and ready to go. You can’t do much without heat and water,” he said.