Today was different - we went to a junk yard and paid $10 a head to get in. It wasn't just any junk yard, and based on the creativity exhibited, you'd have to say it was more than mere junk, it was "junque" at its very best. The owner/builder/artist excelled in turning cast offs into art using car parts, appliances, tools, kitchen utensils, oil drums, coat hangers (you name it, he used it). He then turned these materials into whimsical creatures using a level of creativity beyond belief. In addition to metal sculpture, all windows were done in stained glass by the artist. One turret featured zodiac signs, another depictions of the planets. Not sure if Pluto was up there, or back at Disney.
Built by a fellow named Howard S. Solomon, the castle and the adjacent "boat in a moat" restaurant is located in Ona, Florida in rural Hardee County. For us, it was a 120 mile round-trip journey in the Corvette, and we were one of eight Corvettes participating in this day trip.
Leaving the assembly point at Burger King and I-75, we journeyed east on State Road 64, a typical Florida two lane with a 60 MPH speed limit. Traveling in a group, we pretty much obeyed that limit, and being third in line and never having been to the destination, I found discretion the better part of valor when it came to staying in line and not following the temptation to pass the leader and then miss the turn. On the way home, I was first in line, and temptation won from time to time. I got a chance to give the beast it's head, and we used the 430 horses to pass a few folk nearing triple digit speeds, but thankfully nobody was hurt (or arrested).
The drive was fatal however for a good 100, maybe more, "love bugs" which are those pesky May visitors to Florida who "fly United" and hopefully enjoy themselves before becoming a hood and windshield ornament. I cleaned at least one hundred, probably more when I returned to our island. Figuring eight Corvettes and a Mercury (obviously somebody who wasn't wanting to expose her Corvette to love bugs), all traveling at or slightly above 60 MPH, I believe at least a thousand love bugs died for our sins on the fiberglass crossed flags of Chevrolet Corvettes.
After the tour of the castle home (he actually lives there on the upper floors), we went to the "boat in the moat" made of recycled lumber in a three-quarter sized replica of one of Columbus's ships. It was air-conditioned fortunately, and our group was able to find room inside where we enjoyed the cuisine and the conversation with fellow Corvette owners. When it came time to pay the bill, we were told the cashier was in the nearby (outside) gift shop. Very clever way to encourage more purchases.
The lady in the gift shop told us Mr. Solomon, who personally led our tour, slept but three hours a night. The rest of the time he was creating sculpture with cast off machine parts, and recycled lumber. He did a number of homages to famous artists, using wood in three dimensions. Mr. Solomon also had a pun for every item's description. If this tour of the "cast offs as art fodder" doesn't work out, he's got a future as a warm up act in Vegas. At ten bucks a head, Solomon and two additional employees moving three tour groups an hour through the house, I figure they were clearing $500 an hour (each group was around 20) after wages. The restaurant was quite reasonable, in quality and price of the food, and some of our group also dropped some bucks at the requisite gift shop. Despite being way off the beaten path, the place had lots of business. You can learn more about the place by looking on the Internet at www.solomonscastle.com.
Oh, that aluminum look to the place - it comes from recycling offset printing press plates. Next to a White Castle (a northern staple), this is now my second favorite Aluminum Room.
Built by a fellow named Howard S. Solomon, the castle and the adjacent "boat in a moat" restaurant is located in Ona, Florida in rural Hardee County. For us, it was a 120 mile round-trip journey in the Corvette, and we were one of eight Corvettes participating in this day trip.
Leaving the assembly point at Burger King and I-75, we journeyed east on State Road 64, a typical Florida two lane with a 60 MPH speed limit. Traveling in a group, we pretty much obeyed that limit, and being third in line and never having been to the destination, I found discretion the better part of valor when it came to staying in line and not following the temptation to pass the leader and then miss the turn. On the way home, I was first in line, and temptation won from time to time. I got a chance to give the beast it's head, and we used the 430 horses to pass a few folk nearing triple digit speeds, but thankfully nobody was hurt (or arrested).
The drive was fatal however for a good 100, maybe more, "love bugs" which are those pesky May visitors to Florida who "fly United" and hopefully enjoy themselves before becoming a hood and windshield ornament. I cleaned at least one hundred, probably more when I returned to our island. Figuring eight Corvettes and a Mercury (obviously somebody who wasn't wanting to expose her Corvette to love bugs), all traveling at or slightly above 60 MPH, I believe at least a thousand love bugs died for our sins on the fiberglass crossed flags of Chevrolet Corvettes.
After the tour of the castle home (he actually lives there on the upper floors), we went to the "boat in the moat" made of recycled lumber in a three-quarter sized replica of one of Columbus's ships. It was air-conditioned fortunately, and our group was able to find room inside where we enjoyed the cuisine and the conversation with fellow Corvette owners. When it came time to pay the bill, we were told the cashier was in the nearby (outside) gift shop. Very clever way to encourage more purchases.
The lady in the gift shop told us Mr. Solomon, who personally led our tour, slept but three hours a night. The rest of the time he was creating sculpture with cast off machine parts, and recycled lumber. He did a number of homages to famous artists, using wood in three dimensions. Mr. Solomon also had a pun for every item's description. If this tour of the "cast offs as art fodder" doesn't work out, he's got a future as a warm up act in Vegas. At ten bucks a head, Solomon and two additional employees moving three tour groups an hour through the house, I figure they were clearing $500 an hour (each group was around 20) after wages. The restaurant was quite reasonable, in quality and price of the food, and some of our group also dropped some bucks at the requisite gift shop. Despite being way off the beaten path, the place had lots of business. You can learn more about the place by looking on the Internet at www.solomonscastle.com.
Oh, that aluminum look to the place - it comes from recycling offset printing press plates. Next to a White Castle (a northern staple), this is now my second favorite Aluminum Room.
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