Castle Kyalami

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Coordinates: 25°59′22″S, 28°4′36″E

Castle Kyalami
Building
Type Castle
Architectural Style Arthurian
Location Kyalami, Johannesburg, South Africa
Owner Church of Scientology
Construction
Completed
Floor Area 64,000 square feet
Design Team
Architect Demos Dinopoulos

Castle Kyalami (also referred to as Kyalami Castle) is a castle located in Kyalami in the province of Gauteng, north of Johannesburg, South Africa. Formerly a tourist attraction and hotel, the castle was purchased by the Church of Scientology in March 2008.[1]

Contents

[edit] Background

Castle Kyalami was built in the 1990s by Greek millionaire and architect Demos Dinopoulos, who had intended it to be status symbol for his extended family.[2] Located in the northern Johannesburg suburb of Kyalami, the castle is set on 22 acres.[3] The 64,000-square-foot castle castle has an Arthurian style, and contains a spa, 24 suites, a luxury hotel, a restaurant, a conference centre and its own helipad.[4][2][1][5]

In the guidebook Lonely Planet: South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, Fitzpatrick et al. describe the "mock castle" as "one of Jo'burg's true oddities".[2] When the castle was still a tourist attraction, Abigail Wills of the publication Conference & Incentive Travel recommended it for those visiting the area: "Former private residences such as Ballito Manor, 50km from Durban, The Castle in Kyalami and the Saxon in Johannesburg are ideal for exclusive use."[4]

The castle was the site of the "Ika East Meets Africa" fashion show on August 13, 2003,[6] and has been used in the past for business conferences.[7][8] Prior to being purchased by the Church of Scientology the castle functioned as a hotel,[9] and as of July 2006 the castle was the flagship for Planet Hotels.[10]

[edit] Purchased by Church of Scientology

In March 2008, the castle was purchased by the Church of Scientology for an undisclosed amount.[1] Paul Sondergaard, National Director of the Church of Scientology's Public Affairs Office, stated that the grounds will serve as a Scientology retreat: "We were looking for a building big enough for these purposes, that had some character and was out of the city rush".[1] In a Scientology press release, Sondergaard also said that Scientologists would conduct advanced spiritual training at the castle: "For all African Scientologists, this is a dream finally come true ... It means a lot to the future expansion of the Church in Africa."[11]

The purchase was part of an expansion into South Africa by the Church of Scientology, which purchased buildings in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Pretoria around the same time.[12] The Castle Kyalami is the Church of Scientology's 66th global acquisition to their international property holdings.[13] According to Scopical, "It is believed that the new property will be used as a central base for the organisation's expansion in Africa."[13]

[edit] See also

Scientology Portal
South Africa Portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Gerardy, Justine. "Scientologists buy Kyalami Castle", The Saturday Star, March 15, 2008, pp. 2. 
  2. ^ a b c Fitzpatrick, Mary; Becca Blond, Gemma Pitcher, Simon Richmond, Matt Warren (November 15, 2004). Lonely Planet: South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Lonely Planet Publications, 386. ISBN 1741041627. 
  3. ^ Staff. "South Africa: Get Away From It All", AllAfrica, AllAfrica.com, March 16, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-08. 
  4. ^ a b Wills, Abigail. "South Africa - Incentives: The African Experience - As well as aspirational options such as safaris, ground operators are offering groups a taste of the 'real' Africa, as Abigail Wills discovers", Conference & Incentive Travel, Brand Republic: Haymarket Media, December 4, 2002. Retrieved on 2008-04-08. 
  5. ^ Shah, Neel. "Scientology Sets Sights on African Expansion", Radar Online, Radar Magazine, March 25, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-08. 
  6. ^ ANTARA, The Indonesian National News Agency. "Mardiana Ika Brings Indonesian Fashion to Johannesburg", Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, August 8, 2003. 
  7. ^ Staff. "Chris Sweeney: Managing executive, Absa Card", Moneyweb Power Hour, Moneyweb Holdings Limited, April 19, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-04-08. 
  8. ^ South African Press Association. "Private Doctors to Assist With HIV/AIDS Treatment", Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, March 29, 2004. 
  9. ^ Staff. "A celebrity chef for every culinary fancy", The Star (South Africa), October 25, 2007, p. 17. 
  10. ^ Staff. "Exploitation dressed up as entrepreneurship", The Star (South Africa), July 14, 2006, p. 2. 
  11. ^ Church of Scientology. "Church nationwide expansion gains significant expression: Church of Scientology Nets Famous Joburg Landmark - Kyalami Castle", Press Release, PR-inside.com, March 26, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-08. 
  12. ^ Staff. "Church of Scientology buys Kyalami Castle", The Weekend Argus (South Africa), March 16, 2008, p. 12. 
  13. ^ a b scopical.com.au. "Scientology adds African castle to property list", Scopical, Scopical Pty Ltd, March 26, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-04-08. 

[edit] External links