At the north end of Spadina Ave., the beautiful towers of Casa Loma rise above the trees. The grey and white stone built into the elegant structures, surprise and welcome their visitors to the whole of the edifice known as Casa Loma - the House on the Hill.

Casa Loma was an extremely ambitious project of Sir Henry Pallett, who wanted to construct a wonderful castle for his wife. He and his architects concocted a true castle of mixed styles: Gothic revival and Edwardian: dark and light.

After some years of building and huge expense, Sir Henry and his wife and 39 servants moved into the castle in 1913, where the rooms they needed for their immediate use were ready, although some of the castle was still unfinished.

WWI caused his real estate investments to sour, for he owned a great deal of land north of the castle which he hoped to develop into luxurious homes. The decline in property values took him (and the banks) down so that by 1914, he had lost most of his possessions, although he managed to keep his beloved castle which was in his wife's name.

Eventually, he sold it to American investors who wanted to make a top class hotel of it. However, down by Union Station, the Royal York Hotel was established and the competition it created plus the slump in the economy caused the Americans to forfeit the castle back to Sir Henry.

In the long run, the City of Toronto confiscated the castle to pay for back taxes; unable to maintain and run, the city leased it to the Kiwanis who still hold and maintain it, much to the relief of it of its many fans.

Now it is a going concern, scene of so many attractions and events, a wonderful place to visit for young, middle and old.

Although the castle is a great tourist attraction, a place of interest to one time travellers to Toronto, the administration is quite determined to entertain and recall us, the locals, as often as possible, to make the castle part of the local Toronto scene.

Naturally, it is an ideal setting for many occasions - weddings, fashionable soirees (my words), and "appropriate events" - proms and the like.

The administration of Casa Loma also offers regular programs: an archery course for intermediate and advanced archers; organ concerts on the grand white organ that Sir Henry installed, taking place on the first Monday of each month.

There are teddy bear picnics and sunrise yoga.

The Toronto All Star Band play big band music in concert (and for dancing), which is an extremely popular event. The swordsmen of Barrie Sword Play will be doing demonstrations on 15th August.

In addition to all this, the team at Casa Loma love the public to contact them with ideas and suggestions.

Of course, you could not have a castle without the ghosts and, in this, Casa Loma does not disappoint.

Says Leu Seiler, marketing manager of the castle, "A number of night cleaners have quit after they felt a tap on their shoulders when there was no one there." He went on to say, "Especially when a person first starts to work here, they have encounters of one sort or another. One of our designers was arranging a cabinet of display. When she came in the next day, all the pieces were back in their original places. So, she re-arranged the items again. The next there they were back where they had been. So, she gave it up: 'If that's where you want them, that's where they can stay,' she said."

There are ghost tours at Casa Loma around about Hallowe'en.

Mr. Seiler pointed out that combined architecture alone makes the castle worth visiting: the Great Hall with its 70 foot tall bay window; the conservatory which is all glass and sports a tremendous glass dome.

Outside, the gardens are all that you might hope for. I met the lady who tends them. She is an English lady in her middle years, who spends her days watering, weeding and no doubt, in the spring, planting. I said to her that she had a very pleasant job and she grinned at me in agreement.

The best route to Casa Loma from Orangeville is down the Hwy 427 right to the Gardner to the Spadina exit. Travel through China town around the Victorian building in the middle of the road at College St and continue north right to Casa Loma. It takes about an hour, given the traffic and is worth every minute.

The website is casaloma. org and the telephone number is 416-923-1171, which is, refreshingly, answered by a real person, who is the epitome of pleasant manners.

Happy travels.