Landoll’s Mohican Castle lights up holiday season despite pandemic

LOUDONVILLE — Though the pandemic has canceled many holiday celebrations, COVID-19 isn’t stopping people from enjoying the traditional light display at Landoll’s Mohican Castle.

Christmas at the Castle a Kingdom of Lights returned in late November and will continue through Dec. 31, featuring outdoor views of more than 100,000 lights, Christmas trees and socially distanced visits with Santa Claus. 

According to Landoll’s Mohican Castle general manager Anthony Garofalo, the Loudonville business proceeded with a revised version of its annual event after seeking permission and advice from the Ashland County Health Department.

“What we realized is the holidays are about tradition, and even though this may not be a 20-year long tradition, it is a tradition not only for us, but for many of our guests that come,” Garofalo said. “We have a fair number of guests who tell us that they come back year after year.” 

The Landoll’s first decorated their property for the season more than a decade ago. They paused for awhile, but about five years ago, the local family brought back the holiday decor and invited the public to visit.

People came from Cleveland, Columbus and further. Ashland County residents came by to see the castle, too.  

“Little did they know, it would be hugely popular,” Garofalo said. “There was a line of cars, a mile, mile and a half. It started a tradition.” 

The following year, they organized a holiday meal for guests. The buffet highlighted the “best of wintertime foods,” Garofalo said. 

The staff at Landoll’s Mohican Castle begins decorating in September. Three employees do most of the setup, switching back and forth between raking leaves and hanging lights. 

At the entrance to the castle, a 14-foot tree is illuminated.

Nearby, four more trees were decorated as part of the staff’s “tree trial.” Each department decorated a tree to represent their jobs. For instance, a pack of toilet paper with a bow affixed to the top was placed below the housekeeping tree. The hospitality team’s tree featured a wedding dress bodice as the tree topper.

As cars enter the castle property, they receive tickets to vote for their favorite tree. 

On an outdoor stage, Santa’s throne is positioned behind a stack of presents and signage asks visitors to maintain a reindeer’s length between one another. Santa is there every Friday and Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Inside, staff positioned tables in the ballroom to allow for better social distancing. The traditional buffet has been replaced with individualized meals. 

“It’s now become a thing people tell us they come to every year. They make a special pilgrimage, so we’re happy we can offer this,” Garofalo said.

Admission is $8 per car on Friday and Saturday. It is free all other evenings. Buy your car pass in advance through Eventbrite.

The event continues every night through Dec. 31 with the exception of Dec. 24 and 25.