Wrecking Crew Takes Down "The Castle" in Vestal

A demolition team made quick work of a project to remove a dilapidated Vestal building some residents referred to as "The Castle."

Bill Stewart and Felicia Davis acquired the property on Route 26 just over a year ago with plans to make available a couple of apartments in the building for renters.

Shortly after they bought the site, the structure was deemed uninhabitable and beyond repair, so preparations were made to take it down.

Image: Facebook/Funky Beez

"The Castle" earned a fleeting two seconds of fame about a decade ago when it appeared toward the end of Taylor Swift's video for her song "Back to December"

Stewart and Davis came up with a new plan for the property when they learned the apartments would no longer be available to generate income.

Workers from LCP Group removed debris from a Route 26 demolition site on April 7, 2023. (Photo: Bob Black)

They decided to set up what Davis described as a "family destination" in an existing detached garage. The place will be called "Funky Beez." It initially will feature ice cream and hot dogs. Eventually, some additions will be made to the menu.

Davis said there'll be outdoor games, a walking path, murals, sculptures and more. It's expected to open sometime in June.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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