Phoenix man buys castle for $1.45 million

[June 05, 2012]  PHOENIX (AP) -- A castle in Phoenix that has secret passages, a dungeon and a drawbridge has sold for $1.45 million.

The Arizona Republic reports (http://bit.ly/LaP63q) Robert Pazderka of Phoenix bought the 7,900-square-foot Copenhaver Castle, which was a financial nightmare for several previous owners.

Pazderka says he bought the unusual fortress on Camelback Mountain to get some publicity for his company, which makes armored trucks and cars in Detroit. He plans to spend $3 million to $5 million to renovate the castle before moving in and trying to get it designated as a historical landmark.

The castle was built by Dr. Mort Copenhaver, an orthodontist, over the course of a decade starting in 1967.

Copenhaver tried to sell it for $7 million in 1985 but lost the property in a bankruptcy when no buyer emerged and his business collapsed.

The castle has changed hands a few times, with each owner ending up in bankruptcy and foreclosure.

[Associated Press]

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